By Michael Morton
In Queens, they want more.”It's always a challenge,” said Dimitry Cook of the borough's Big Brothers Big Sisters program, referring to the need for male mentors age 21 and older. While girls applying for a Big Sister through the Queens office in Jamaica wait an average of six months, boys usually wait a year. Despite holding recruiting events and linking up with Jamaica's York College and Flushing's Queens College, the gap still cannot be closed, and staffers do not know why.”That's what we're not sure of,” Cook said.Big Brothers and Big Sisters mentor for an average of three years, and in Queens 200 boys and girls have participated since July. Cook is hoping for 50 more youths to participate, but needs the manpower mentors provide. One borough resident who has heeded the call is Dan Allen of Astoria, a 31-year-old customer service representative at LaGuardia and an aspiring comedian. “I don't have any family here,” Allen said during an interview at the Big Brothers Big Sisters office at 89-56 162nd St. As the son of a single mother, the 31-year-old had a Big Brother growing up in San Antonio and is the eldest of three children. “I guess to move here and become a comedian, I really needed a little brother,” Allen said.Like all potential mentors, the Astoria resident filled out an application, went through a rigorous screening process-three referrals and a background check-and came in for an interview. Based on similar interests, more than a year ago the Astoria resident was paired up with Dujon Ellis of Laurelton, now 13 and a freshman at Hillcrest High School in Jamaica Estates.Ellis is also the son of a single mother, and she encouraged him to sign up. But beyond their family circumstances, the 13-year-old from Laurelton and the 31-year-old from Astoria have found they have other interests in common. Both like basketball and math. While Allen wants to become a full-time comedian, Ellis wants to become an actor. And both have discovered an outlet for developments they would not share with other people.”It's just not something I tell other guys,” Allen said of the passion for poetry he has passed on to Ellis. “I knew if I went to my mom it would have been a whole different story,” the 13-year-old added, referring to a fight he was goaded into, then talked about later with Allen. The 31-year-old advised him how to walk away from confrontations.During their time together, Allen and Ellis have watched movies, gone out to eat, played basketball, attended poetry workshops and visited the Natural History Museum in Manhattan. They have tried to hang out every other weekend, easily meeting the minimum requirement of meeting for four hours twice a month.Before he signed up for the program, Allen said he thought he could not spare the time, but then saw how his married friends with children managed their lives.”I figured they have time,” he said. “I just made a decision I want to do this.” He still worries, however, that he will disappoint Ellis.”I know what it feels like to be let down by a male figure,” he said.Ellis seemed confident Allen would not follow suit.”They're trying their best to help,” he said of the Big Brothers. Reach reporter Michael Morton by e-mail at news@timesledger.com or by phone at 718-229-0300, Ext. 154.
