The Boys & Girls Club Story

South Texas Clubs Pave the Way for Great Futures

I recently completed a visit to the Boys & Girls Clubs in Edinburg Rio Grande Valley and Pharr, Texas, in the southernmost part of the country and near our nation’s border with Mexico. I found it rewarding and gratifying to see and hear about the tremendous progress each Club is making to deepen its impact on youth, even while seeking to extend its reach.

At a breakfast reception with the Edinburg community, we talked about the challenges faced by local youth and how the Club is expanding its services to meet those needs. This includes the building of a new teen center that will provide additional facility space for youth of all ages. Special thanks to CEO Sabrina Walker-Hernandez and COO Adriana Rendon for the great job they are doing in creating great experiences for kids and teens. It’s easy to see why the surrounding community takes such pride in its Clubs and in supporting the organization.

At the Pharr Club, Board Chair Eddie Cantu and CEO Freddy Mata are also focused on adding a new site in the near future. This will expand their Club’s capacity to serve youth, which is greatly needed.

I enjoyed a visit with the staff of both Clubs, as well as the opportunity to attenda special teen focus group about the challenges teenagers are facing and the solutions they’re finding at Boys & Girls Clubs. These energetic, well-grounded groups provide tremendous hope and inspiration for the future, with their own great ideas for improving programs and experiences for their age group. I even found time for a quick ping-pong game with the Pharr Club champion!

In all, it was a wonderful time in Texas and extremely special to see the level of care, compassion and mentoring taking place at these two Clubs.

 

A July Fourth Salute to Military-Connected Youth

With the Fourth of July a day away, I’d like to pay tribute to the men and women of the U.S. Armed Services who serve and defend our nation, and the families who support them.

Each year, I visit BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on domestic and overseas U.S. military installations. Recently, I spent time at Naval Station Rota in Spain and Naval Air Station Sigonella in Italy. My discussions with Youth Center staff and military personnel offered valuable knowledge to sustain, and even improve, how we support them.

Since 1991, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Department of Defense have worked in union to serve military youth and their families. These kids deal with multiple ongoing challenges, like family separations due to the deployment of a parent. Frequent moves are also common, with military-connected youth moving an average of nine times between kindergarten and twelfth grade.

Youth Centers help members build resilience and character to surmount such challenges, and provide them with access to Boys & Girls Club programming and activities. With extracurricular pursuits usually limited to on-installation offerings, kids often rely on Youth Centers for after-school activities.

This trip left me feeling inspired. There’s such positive energy at the command level for our partnership, with senior military staff expressing gratitude for the support we offer children and teens. As a Movement, we can be proud of the small yet critical contributions we are making to support our military families. Happy Independence Day, everyone.

Game on at Naval Station Rota!

Honored to recognize Amelia, on the right, as 2018 National Winner of BGCA's ImageMakers
photography program during my visit to NAS Sigonella.

My new friend Alwen filled me in about stick bugs at the NS Rota School Age Care facility.

Stepping Up for Safety

This past week, I hosted leaders from 10 national youth-serving nonprofit organizations to talk about leveraging our collective strengths to promote the physical and emotional safety of youth. Following the tragedies in Parkland, Florida, and Santa Fe, Texas, I pledged to convene these leaders and work together more urgently to address the safety crisis in our country.

In partnership with youth leaders from participating organizations, we discussed how we can continually enhance our own safety policies and practices. We also focused keenly on how we can foster and elevate youth voice and action at all levels. Violence is a major public health issue in this country. In our commitment to address this crisis, we know that every voice deserves a seat at the table.

Youth leaders, including National Youth of the Year Carlos P., joined us to brainstorm, advise and share perspectives. Ensuring young people have the skills and platforms they need to be effective, respected advocates is essential to driving the change we need. When young people have the voice and agency to address the issues that impact them, we can better craft solutions that work to meet their needs and the needs of their communities.

“I am the voice. I will lead, not follow. I will create, not destroy. I am a leader. I am a force for good. I am a force for peace.” – Carlos P., third from left

With millions of youth served during out-of-school time, those needs are as diverse as kids themselves. At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we know safety is foundational to all we do. But as advocates for those who need us most, we know we can’t reach every young person alone. By stepping up our efforts to ensure children’s physical and emotional safety in Clubs and similar after-school programs, we can share and implement elevated best practices in site security, trauma informed practice, and youth advocacy.

While we might not know everything yet about the road ahead, I know I’m in good company as we fight to make sure every young person has access to a caring adult and a safe place that meets their physical and emotional safety needs.

To learn more about Child & Club Safety at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, please visit BGCA.org or email Partnerships@BGCA.org.

Play Ball!

This week in Washington, D.C, Major League Baseball Commissioner Rob Manfred and I had the opportunity to address the U.S. Conference of Mayors at its 86th Winter Meeting. The Conference is a major supporter of MLB’s “Play Ball” initiative, which encourages children and teens to get outside and play baseball and softball, including through formal leagues, special events and casual games.

Commissioner Manfred and me in D.C.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America is also excited to support this great initiative, which is aimed at energizing communities and reintroducing kids to the simple joys of playing ball. And, as they’re having fun running the bases and playing the field, they’re also engaging in physical activity that can foster an active, healthy daily routine.

Over the past three summers, hundreds of mayors have initiated Play Ball activities with youth in their communities. Clubs joined in the fun, too, with more than 1,000 participating in Play Ball activities last year alone. It’s a great way to get kids outside and moving. That’s why I’m encouraging our thousands of Clubs around the country to join the fun 2018 by partnering with their mayor’s office to host a Summer Play Ball event.

As the official charity of Major League Baseball since 1995, Boys & Girls of America has seen MLB’s commitment to engage children in communities across the country time and again. This summer, let’s give more kids, especially in underserved areas, the opportunity to play ball.

MLK Day 2018

Martin Luther King Jr. Day is not just a day off, but also a day on. Last Monday, Boys & Girls Clubs around the country celebrated Dr. King and his values by giving back to communities in many different ways. It was an important day for me and some friends, as well.

Every year to commemorate the MLK Day of Service,

Measure twice, cut once, as any carpenter can tell you.

BGCA’s senior leadership team volunteers at a Club. Last week at the Boys & Girls Club of Pulaski in Tennessee – a unit of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Maury County – Club staff and volunteers welcomed us for a day-long Clubhouse renovation. Improvements included Tech Center updates, new furniture, fresh paint, new gamesroom gear, the addition of big screen TV’s, and new restroom basins.

That evening during an event celebrating the day of service, we discussed the importance of youth development and its impact on community. Speaking about her Club’s partnership with Maury County Public Schools, CEO Robyn Peery told us how a school tutoring program helped Club members advance to the next grade level. Through a unique data sharing agreement, the Club has access to academic information that enables it to show 96 percent improvement in at least one subject area. Last year, over 80 percent of Club members improved their GPAs. It was a privilege to help the Club continue its mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to achieve their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Postscript: On Jan. 13, The King Center in Atlanta presented Boys & Girls Clubs of America with The Coretta Scott King Organization A.N.G.E.L. (Advancing Nonviolence through Generations of Exceptional Leadership) Award for exceptional leadership in the areas of peace, social justice, and nonviolent social change, and further citing the work Clubs do on a daily basis to save and change the lives of children and teens. Clearly, this award belongs to the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement.

My.Future Evolves to Meet Club Kids' Digital Needs

In today’s digital world, new technologies and social-sharing platforms abound. Studies show that more than 90 percent of youth, especially teens, engage in some sort of social media activity daily. Now, Boys & Girls Clubs join this virtual space with a dynamic digital experience that’s more powerful than that of any other youth-based organization in the country.

With a goal to meet youth no matter where they are with digital engagement, this month Boys & Girls Clubs of America, in partnership with Comcast NBCUniversal, unveil the latest evolution of My.Future in Clubs across the country. My.Future is a safe, fun, interactive digital platform that lets kids create online accounts to learn, play and socialize on.

Introduced in 2014, My.Future has progressed from an innovative website staff members used to facilitate programs at Clubs, to a youth-led user experience that members can access at the Club and, importantly, outside Club walls. Kids can interact with one another – through likes, follows and shares – showcase their work and earn recognition in the form of stars and badges. As a positive social platform, My.Future allows kids to make friends and build a positive self-image. It’s also a way for Club staff and volunteers to engage youth in a more relevant manner – even during non-Club hours – no matter where they live.

Check out the following video, as 12-year-old D’ontae and Club professionals from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Muskegon Lakeshore in Michigan describe what My.Future means to them.

Using a combination of facilitated and self-led experiences, as well as digital gaming, kids learn important digital skills they can use in school, and eventually, the workforce. This is important because without access to technology, kids are likely to be left behind. We’re excited to keep meeting the needs of young people and teens who need us most with meaningful and innovative resources like My.Future. With the continued support of partners like Comcast NBCUniversal, a great Club Experience is only a click away at MyFuture.net.

BGCA Partners Help Clubs Recover from Hurricanes

The series of natural disasters we’ve seen the past two months is like nothing I can recall. Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria destroyed or damaged hundreds of communities, particularly in Puerto Rico, Florida and Texas. The devastation in each of these communities continues to affect many, many people. And that includes Club staff people, their families and the kids they serve.

A BGCA volunteer snapped this photo of a storm-mangled gas station outside Houston.

We responded quickly, doing everything we could to get Clubs back up and running, including providing volunteers and supplies. Probably the most important thing we’ve done is raise money for them. Like any organization, Clubs need a lot of money to recover from these climatic events and continue providing services and a sense of normalcy to kids who need us most.

We reached out to partners and supporters, asked them to help repair and rebuild damaged facilities and aid the recovery of our Club members and staff. And they stepped up, donating millions in cash and in-kind donations to recovery efforts.

Deerbrook Charitable Trust donated $1 million. Toyota donated 29 vehicles to affected Clubs in the Houston area. Many more – including Build-A-Bear Workshop, Charles Schwab, Choice Hotels, Finish Line Youth Foundation, Lenovo and Old Navy – answered the call, too. So did many of our national trustees and board members. BGCA is tremendously grateful for these generous contributions that have allowed Clubs to reopen and serve their communities.

Volunteers unload relief supplies at Jacksonville Club.

Club recovery efforts continue to progress in Texas, Florida, Puerto Rico and other areas. Most mainland Clubs have reopened and are once again serving youth. In Puerto Rico, Club staff are providing programming around the island, though several sites continue to serve as makeshift hospitals and health centers. And NFL All-Pro player Josh Norman and his Starz24 Foundation launched a campaign to raise $250,000 for Clubs in Puerto Rico.

Recovering and rebuilding from a natural disaster is a long-term endeavor. Our deepest thanks go out to everyone who is helping our affected Clubs to prepare for this journey.

Hello from Houston

By Kevin Hattery, President and CEO, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston

As you know, it’s been a rough couple of weeks for everyone in Houston and surrounding communities. But it's children who are always the most vulnerable in situations like this. That’s why it was critical to get back up and running. Our team worked so hard to stand up Club operations quickly as possible to serve the communities most in need. Five of our locations opened on September 1 (just days after the storm), while all but one of our other locations opened on September 5.

Safe and happy Club members and staff in Houston.

We knew that at a time when people are trying to rebuild their lives, it was important to give children and families a safe and secure place to go, so we provided full day operations to allow families to get back to work or start their own recovery process while schools remained closed. We’ve also been working at the shelters with pop-up Clubs serving about 100 kids per day. That’s the role we play in our community every day, and it’s amplified during critical times of need like we are experiencing now.

At the same time, our staff were impacted by the storm. About 20 people – approximately 15 percent of our total staff – have been able to make it here and help with the kids. It’s a tough time and everyone is dealing with getting their own lives in order… we are working to get our Club team back on their feet as quickly as possible, and our staff is truly selfless. They’ve been working overtime doing whatever needs to be done. Even though they had their own personal devastation to deal with, they were here - cleaning, removing debris, serving meals. Just a selfless group of people who’ve put aside their own losses to give the kids of Houston some respite from the chaos of the past two weeks. I am so grateful for every one of them. They’ve truly risen to the occasion to meet the needs of the kids.

It has meant the world to our team to have support from around the Movement. Clubs across the country have been sending financial donations and supplies. A busload of smiling faces from our friends at Boys & Girls Clubs of America helped lift our spirits and helped recovery efforts, while Kathy Holland, Director of Operations at the Boys & Girls Club of Kenosha drove 17 hours from Wisconsin to bring supplies, hugs and donations. It’s incredibly rewarding to see these signs of hope in what is definitely a widespread, catastrophic event.

Helping little ones stay happily occupied post-Harvey.

We’re grateful for what Boys & Girls Clubs of America and Clubs from across our Movement are doing for us. The immediate relief is starting to dissipate and leave. But we’re here, doing exactly what our mission is intended to do. And we are going to be here for the long term, serving all the kids who need us today and every day.

Houston Clubs Stay Strong Post-Harvey

Southeast Texas continues to assess the massive destruction caused by Hurricane Harvey and its unprecedented rainfall and floods. That includes at least three Houston-area Boys & Girls Clubs that suffered major structural harm:roofs blown off, severe wind and water damage, basic equipment and supplies lost.

Volunteers from Atlanta hard at work.

But somehow, in the midst of terrifying and historic floods, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston continues to serve its community, even extending hours at the five Clubhouses its managed to re-open.

At Boys & Girls Clubs of America, we’re working with our Board of Governors, leveraging our partnerships, and calling on the public to make a donation and help affected Clubs continue to serve the kids of their communities.

Clearing brush and fallen tree limbs was just one of many tasks Club kids and volunteers tackled together.

Clubs and kids are stepping up, too. From bake sales and raffles to supply drives, Club members around the country are demonstrating values that we work so hard to instill, such as leadership and civic duty, to help all hurricane victims.

On Monday, I plan to travel to Houston to meet with local Club leaders, see what we're dealing with, and help however I can. BGCA will continue to monitor Hurricane Irma, and keep close contact and provide counsel to Clubs that could be in its path. Those wanting to make a donation to help affected Clubs can visit BGCA.org/DisasterRelief. All donations will go directly to impacted Boys & Girls Clubs.

Continuing the Conversation: A Visit to Charlottesville

Boys & Girls Clubs have often been a place for kids and teens to find comfort and guidance in a safe, welcoming space. Since last weekend’s horrific events in Charlottesville, Virginia, thousands of youth development professionals have talked with Club kids and teens about what happened – giving young people the space to share their thoughts, concerns and grief, while fostering a dialogue that can build understanding and take the first steps toward healing. 

We’d scheduled previously to be in Charlottesville on Aug. 18, for an event with the American Counseling Association (ACA) to talk about the critical need for not only the physical safety but also the emotional wellbeing of developing young people. As kids and teens question what is happening in their communities, this conversation is more important now than ever. For millions of kids, Boys & Girls Club youth development professionals and mentors are anchors of support in the face of adversity, and it’s critically important that they are equipped with the right tools to guide young people during daunting times.

Together with the ACA and other resources like The Harvard School of Graduate Education, our Clubs’ youth development professionals can deploy resources in times of crisis to create a positive space for kids to share feelings and navigate traumatic events. For some young people, opening up and acknowledging an event has affected them can be the first step in beginning to process their feelings or fears. Youth development professionals at Boys & Girls Clubs work with kids and teens to comfort and reassure them that their voice does matter and that their opinions and feelings are important. Programs like our Keystone leadership club encourage and empower teens to explore issues that impact them and find constructive ways to channel emotions and create positive change in their communities.

The disturbing demonstrations and violence we witnessed last week are in direct opposition to every ideal of character and leadership that Boys & Girls Clubs model and strive to impress on the 4 million children and teenagers we serve. From tragedies like Charlottesville or the countless others that have come before, it’s our hope that young people, with positive guidance and a safe place to share, can learn the difference between right and wrong. Divisiveness, bigotry, and racism have no place in our society, and certainly not with our kids and in our Clubs. Boys & Girls Clubs of America encourages all parents, guardians, loved ones and youth development staff in Clubs across the country and on military installations abroad, to continue these conversations so that the next generation is equipped to support, nurture and make a positive difference in the future of America, for a brighter tomorrow for all.