Omari Aarons Joins Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern MA Board

CAMBRIDGE, Mass. – Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts (BBBSEM), one of the nation’s leading one-to-one mentoring programs and New England’s largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate, is pleased to welcome Omari Jahi Aarons, Founder and Managing Partner at Aarons Group LLC, to the nonprofit’s Board of Directors.

Aarons, 35, of Cambridge, brings more than a decade of experience working as a disruptive leader and transformation coach, working to build infrastructures to support culture change efforts and originated roles within companies and nonprofit organizations. In 2019, he founded Aarons Group LLC, a network of experts who help to diversify organization strategies, which he leads while also going to school full time at Boston University’s School of Theology where he is a candidate for a Master of Divinity with a concentration in global community engagement. Previously, he worked in various operations, customer service, learning and development and Human Resources positions with Apple's Higher Education Division, Macy’s and Liberty Mutual Insurance.

Outside of work and school, Aarons is a role model for young black and brown children and young professionals. Following in his parents’ footsteps, who were both first generation to go to college on both sides of their families, hardworking and actively involved in their community, he is Inaugural President of the National African American Insurance Association of Boston, a graduate of the YW Boston’s LeadBoston 2020 Cohort, and a mentor for BBBSEM’s Mentor 2.0 program, the nonprofit’s technology-enriched one-to-one youth mentoring program directly targeting high school students. He also serves as a Big Ambassador for BBBSEM, helping to recruit other adult volunteer mentors and lead community conversations around diversity, equity and inclusion. He was recently included in the Boston Chamber of Commerce’s list of Ten Outstanding Young Leaders and received two awards from Insurance Business of America: the Rising Star and Leader of Change awards.

“My parents understood that as much as they had been given and had earned in terms of opportunities to go further in life, a major part of that was people helping to bring them farther along and showing them the pathway,” says Aarons. “I’ve mentored in Mentor 2.0 and helped with recruitment as a Big Ambassador and dabbled in fundraising. I’m looking forward to learning about how the agency works and figuring out how I can help in any way that I can to reach as many youth and families as possible.”

BBBSEM Board of Directors commit to serving the organization over the course of two years. As a member, Aarons will help to advance the agency’s mission, service to children, and impact. As a group, the Board establishes Agency policy and sets strategic goals, as well as provides leadership and counsel to staff for specifically identified strategic initiatives. Board members serve as enthusiastic goodwill ambassadors and actively advocate on behalf of the nonprofit.

“Omari is a mentor at heart,” says Mark O’Donnell, President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts. “His commitment to our agency and role as a Big Brother has already had tremendous impact. Omari is a respected leader in our community, His knowledge and leadership, especially in Diversity, Equity and Inclusion, will play a large role in fulfilling our commitment to being an anti-racist organization. We are thrilled to welcome Omari to the Board of Directors.”

For more information about Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts and to view a complete list of the Board of Advisors and Directors, visit www.emassbigs.org/about/leadership.

About Big Brother Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is an innovative, energetic organization that is making a real difference in the lives of nearly 4,000 youth annually by providing them with an invested, caring adult mentor in long-term, professionally supported relationships. With research and proven outcomes at its core, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Eastern Massachusetts is working to defend the potential of children facing adversity and ensure every child has the support from caring adults that they need for healthy development and success in life. The organization’s vision is to inspire, engage and transform communities in Eastern Massachusetts by helping youth achieve their full potential, contributing to healthier families, better schools, more confident futures and stronger communities. Throughout its 70 years, the largest Big Brothers Big Sisters affiliate in New England has created and served more than 20,000 matches. For more information about the agency and its mission, visit www.emassbigs.org.

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