Young Voices. Big Potential.
Giving young people a platform to lead, inspire, and shape the future of mentorship.
Young people know the power of mentorship because they experience it firsthand.
Voice of Potential gives youth at Big Brothers Big Sisters of Orange County & the Inland Empire a platform to share their stories, develop their leadership skills, and inspire others to believe in the power of having someone in your corner.
Through speaking opportunities, storytelling, community engagement, and leadership experiences, our Voices of Potential (VoPs) are helping bring the youth perspective to conversations that too often happen without them.
Could You Be the Next Voice of Potential?
Your story could inspire someone else.
Each year, Big Brothers Big Sisters invites eligible youth to apply to become a Voice of Potential.
Applications for the 2026-2027 cohort are now open.
Voice of Potential Gives Youth the Opportunity to…
SPEAK
Share their mentorship journey through public speaking, storytelling, media, and community events.
LEAD
Build confidence, communication skills, and leadership experience while representing the youth perspective.
INSPIRE
Help families, volunteers, donors, businesses, and community leaders understand what mentorship looks and feels like from a young person's perspective.
MEET OUR VOPs
Every Voice of Potential brings a different experience, personality, perspective, and dream to the program.
Yahaira Montes de Oca
Orange County Voice of Potential
“This program has shaped me into being a more outgoing person and has shown me the importance of mentorship and how one person can make a huge impact in someone’s life.”
Angel Hernandez
Orange County Voice of Potential
“I want to share my story because I know there are others who feel the way I once did. My dream is to give strength to the ones who feel invisible, the ones who don’t yet see their own worth.”
Saidee Acevedo
Inland Empire Voice of Potential
“I want people to hear my story and how Big Brothers Big Sisters helped me from being at my lowest to finding myself again.”
Omar Sapiens
Inland Empire Voice of Potential
“My goal is to be able to guide younger kids and to show them all the benefits and opportunities they can get from joining the program.”
VoP Objectives
TELL THEIR STORIES
Use their experiences to help others understand the power of mentorship.
REPRESENT YOUTH
Bring a young person’s perspective to BBBS events, conversations, and community spaces.
REPRESENT YOUTH
Develop leadership, communication, and professional skills that extend far beyond their time in the program.
The Impact of a Youth Voice
When young people are given a platform, people listen.
Our Voices of Potential speak to what mentorship can make possible—not from a statistic or a program description, but from lived experience.
Their stories help a community see mentorship differently. They remind us why relationships matter. And they show other young people what’s possible when someone believes in their potential.
Bring a Youth Voice to Your Next Event
Want to hear directly from a young person whose life has been impacted by mentorship?
Our Voices of Potential participate in select events, panels, speaking engagements, corporate gatherings, community conversations, and media opportunities.
If you’re interested in having a VoP share their perspective at your next event, we’d love to hear from you.
Interested in booking a youth speaker?
- Contact Casey Gomez, Sr. Director of Marketing & Communications
- cgomez@ocbigs.org
