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Martha Barksdale, Program Coordinator, Big Brothers Big Sisters
of Haywood County (Big Sister) & Maddie, 7th grader (Little Sister)
“Beautiful, smart and amazing,” Haywood County 7th grader, Maddie, says just as quickly as the words can come
out, when describing her ‘Big,’ Martha Barksdale. Martha presses her hand to her heart as she hears the words. Big
Brothers Big Sisters (BBBS) is the oldest mentoring program in the United States, and it has obviously earned its
longstanding status for good reason. Martha is the Program Coordinator of BBBS of Haywood County and has been
the ‘Big’ to ‘Little’ Maddie since she was a student at Lake Junaluska Elementary.
Maddie expressed interest in BBBS and was sent home with an enrollment form. “I really had nothing to do,
and I wasn’t focusing on my work,” Maddie says. “I knew I could do something to improve my skills.” Maddie was also
searching for a relationship outside of school; she wanted to experience new things and cultivate a special friendship.
“When I interviewed Maddie to find out her interests, I thought, ‘this is the little sister I want,’” Martha remembers.
“For some reason, she just stood out. She just lit up.”
Written by Amanda Mann Interviewed by Nikki White