Senator Cory Booker with Newark Little Brother Que Riggins; Carlos Lejnieks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties (BBBSEHU); Artis Stevens, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA); and BBBSEHU staff and trustees. Photo courtesy of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties.

Washington, DC. April 6, 2026 — Big Brothers Big Sisters of America (BBBSA) honored U.S. Senator Cory Booker (D-NJ) as its Advocate of the Year, recognizing his longstanding national leadership in advancing mentoring and expanding opportunity for young people.

Senator Booker was recognized at a national celebration in Washington, DC on February 25, attended by leaders, “Bigs”, “Littles”, trustees, and supporters from across the country — including representatives from Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties (BBBSEHU), the New Jersey agency Senator Booker helped bring to life nearly two decades ago based in Newark.

“Senator Booker understands that mentorship is one of the most powerful tools we have to expand opportunity, enhance social mobility and strengthen our communities,” said Carlos Lejnieks, CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties. “Cory’s leadership has helped transform lives here in Newark and has shaped youth mentoring efforts across the nation.”

In his remarks about Booker, Lejnieks reflected on an initiative they both conceived of during Booker’s time as Mayor for the City of Newark. “’Bigs in Blue’ came from the desire to build stronger connections between law enforcement and children in our community,” said Lejnieks, who introduced the Senator for his award. “And Cory not only immediately got it, but he ensured we had a platform and resources for people to take action.”

“Bigs in Blue” is an initiative that engages law enforcement and first responders as volunteer mentors. What began as a local effort to strengthen trust and relationships between youth and public safety leaders has since grown into a model replicated across the nation, strengthening communities while creating life-changing mentoring relationships.

In accepting the award, Booker spoke to the greater purpose of mentoring and the transformative power of relationships.

“I want you to know that there’s something deeper that our society needs right now. We are struggling with poverty in America — not just material poverty, but a poverty of empathy, a poverty of love, a poverty of community, and a poverty of connection,” said Booker to the audience in the Hart Senate Office Building. “In so many ways, what you all are doing shows that one plus one isn’t two. One plus one can be infinity — something transformative that changes perspectives and lifts people to the highest heights.”

Booker also reflected on his own experiences as a mentor, sharing that several young people he began mentoring as children in his Newark neighborhood are now young men whose relationships continue to enrich his life. He also honored the mentors who shaped his own journey, including his mentor Frank Hutchins, a legendary Newark community organizer who helped him understand the power of truly seeing people and their potential.

“Senator Booker didn’t just support mentoring — he helped build it,” added Lejnieks. “His belief in the potential of our young people continues to inspire mentors, volunteers, and communities across the country.”

The Big Brothers Big Sisters of America Advocate of the Year award recognizes leaders whose vision and action have advanced mentorship and expanded opportunity for youth nationwide.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson & Union Counties, NJ

Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, & Union Counties, NJ, creates and supports one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth and is a credible social justice organization embedded in our community. Founded in 2008, the local affiliate is a nationally recognized leader for its public-private partnerships and delivery of a culturally responsive continuum of services rooted in each youth’s one-to-one mentoring relationship with an adult volunteer. Over 90% of the mentoring relationships last over 12 months, a nationally leading “impact” statistic. Local agency youth achieve an average four-year high school graduation rate of 96%. An affiliate of the national organization, Big Brothers Big Sisters of Essex, Hudson, and Union Counties has been nationally recognized as a “Gold Standard”, “Quality Award”, “Growth Award” and “Platinum Award” winner and has served over 5,200 youth since its inception.

Learn more at http://www.BigsandKids.org or follow the local agency on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, or X.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters of America

Founded in 1904, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is the largest and most experienced youth mentoring organization in the United States. The mission of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America is to create and support one-to-one mentoring relationships that ignite the power and promise of youth. Big Brothers Big Sisters’ evidence-based approach is designed to create positive youth outcomes, including educational success, avoidance of risky behaviors, higher aspirations, greater confidence, and improved relationships. Big Brothers Big Sisters local agencies serve more than 5,000 communities across all 50 states. For more information, visit: bbbs.org.