Do You Have Enough?

Guest Post By: Stephanie Bunsey

This Sunday during his homily, our priest asked, “Do you have enough?”

I began to think back to a story my aunt told me about my Grandma Dorie. My grandma grew up dirt poor in the hills of rural Virginia, back when children were only to speak when spoken to and when girls were second to boys. During especially lean times, my great-grandmother would feed the adults in the house before she’d feed the children. The adults, especially the men-folk, had to be sustained for their hard physical labor.

I imagined being my grandma as a child; smelling biscuits baking from scratch, mashed potatoes warming on the stove top, a roast finishing on the countertop, and knowing that if the grown-ups didn’t finish the meal, then I might be able to have a bite or two of what was left over. The physical pain of hunger couldn’t possibly measure the emotional pain of being denied the basic human need for food.

With that thought, my mind wandered to the kids we serve at the Boys & Girls Clubs. They often don’t have enough. They experience the same childhood hunger in inner-city Cleveland that my grandma suffered all those years ago in rural Virginia.

Meal Distribution at Broadway Club

The difference is that my grandma had nowhere to go to get help; the kids in Cleveland do! They have us! And we have a partnership with The Cleveland Foodbank that ensures that every young person who visits us will get to eat a solid meal that day, no restrictions. We are also sending some kids home with backpacks full of food for the weekend. We are lessening the pain of childhood hunger for these kids.

You know, children can’t help where or when or to whom they are born or control their environments, but we, as adults, can help where or when or whom we help, and we can change the lives of children, provided we have enough.

Do you have enough?

*For more information about volunteering or making a donation, visit www.clevekids.org

Fun Photo Friday: Snow and Baseball?

Travis Hafner & Slider with Club Kids at Snow Days Holiday Party

On a snowy, blizzardy, day like today, why not look back on all the fun we had at our annual holiday party. Even though it was two months ago, there is still plenty of snow on the ground to remind us of that Winter Wonderland at Snow Days! For more Snow Days pictures, check out our Facebook page.

With spring training about to begin, we can also reflect upon the support we have received over the years from the Cleveland Indians, and especially Travis and Amy Hafner. Thanks to the Hafners, our Youth of the Year, Kinyatta, will have a $5,000 scholarship to get her started next fall. And as you can see from the picture above, Travis is never too busy to stop by and have some fun in the snow with our kids!

Making Financial Literacy Count

Teaching youth financial literacy is a skill that is often overlooked, but in today's society, could not be more important. Giving kids the education and tools they will need to make sound financial decisions when they get their first job, start paying for college, and investing in their families is critical. With many of our youth coming from families that live in poverty and are often unemployed, learning how to set goals and manage their finances is not something they usually learn at home.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a program called Money Matters that is designed to promote financial responsibility and independence in teens. From October through November of last year, our Director of Finance and Administration, Chris West, ran Money Matters at our Mt. Pleasant Club. For five weeks, participants learned:

• How taxes affect your paycheck;
• Writing a check;
• Assessing needs vs. wants when making purchases;
• The importance of having and sticking to a budget;
• Using credit;
• Why saving is important;
• Investing in the stock market;
• Saving for and financing college, including navigating the dreaded financial aid process; and
• Starting your own business- both the advantages and the drawbacks.

I think we could probably all use some more guidance in these areas! Teaching kids how to become successful does not end with just having book-smarts. To be a productive, responsible citizen, they also need to learn how to be a financially sound contributor to their communities!

The kids perhaps most enjoyed managing the class' actual budget of $210. In an attempt to most effectively utilize the funds, the group decided they would forgo purchasing pizza for every meeting, and instead use the money for incentives that would be given to those kids that had attended 4 out of the 5 classes!

The class culminated with an exciting tour of the Federal Reserve. At no cost, the field trip fit into the kids' budget! 

Fun Photo Friday: Cleveland's Youth of the Year

Kinyatta E.

At our Recognition Breakfast this morning, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland named our 2011 Youth of the Year, Kinyatta, an honor roll student in her senior year at John Adams High School and a member of the Mt. Pleasant Club. Kinyatta told the audience the story of her struggles and the tremendous impact the Club has had on her life. Kinyatta has faced many challenges in her short life. At the age of 11, she and her family became homeless. For the two years her family had no place to call home, Kinyatta found a home of sorts in the Club. The building and the people inside of it became her lifeline as she endured with a child's resiliency during that time of uncertainty and fear. At the Club, she would eat what was usually her only meal of the day; she found a refuge from the outside world where she felt safe; she found caring adults and friends who were supportive and helpful; and, with our staff's help, she managed to do her homework every day, even though her mind was often occupied by worry. In the fall, Kinyatta will be heading to college where she plans to study to be a nurse. She is the perfect example that with determination and a guiding hand, dreams can come true!


Listen to Kinyatta's touching speech.

We also heard an inspiring speech from Tom Cook, Honorary BGCC Board Member and head of the Cleveland Association of Taco Bell Restaurants. He accepted the Corporate Citizen of the Year Award on behalf of his team, and shared with the crowd why he believes the work of Boys & Girls Clubs is so important and why he has been a long time investor in our youth. You can listen to his full speech here.


Listen to Tom Cook's moving speech. 

Dan Salamone, News Director of WOIO-19 Action News, was also on hand to accept the award for Media Partner of the Year. Dan was himself a former Club kid, and understands perhaps better than most, the important role it can play in the lives of Cleveland's youth.

While we know why the work we do is so critical to our communities, we also know that we could not do any of it without support of others. We are grateful to take this opportunity each year to recognize the success stories of our youth and at the same time, give a little something back to those that have given so much.

New Website Brings a New Look to the Club!

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland has officially launched our new website. Check out www.clevekids.org and take a tour today. Some highlights include:

• Kids Corner-where you can find work produced by Club kids.
• Success Stories-read about our kids that are making a mark on their Clubs and in their communities!
• Learn more about who we are and what we do.
• Find links to all of our social media sites.
• Invest in the future of Cleveland's youth with a tax-deductible gift.
• Find out how you can get involved as a volunteer.
• Check the Calendar to see what exciting events are coming up.
• Sign up for an ENewsletter......and much more!

A special thanks to the Saint Luke's Foundation who made the new website possible with a Make It Stick! grant award.

Reflections on my Internship at the Boys & Girls Club

Guest Post By: Samantha Martin

I am so fortunate to have gained an internship with the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland. I'm learning so much about event planning, area partners, fundraising, and all of the important programs that the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland offer. I’m getting great experience through hands-on work, and the internship is reassuring my future goal of working in nonprofits.

However, hearing about gang feuds and shootings within blocks of the building where I'm inside working, is frightening. I'm from a rural area, and the thought of gang violence is almost surreal to me; it’s only seen on TV. I began to worry about my safety while I walked out to my car after I was finished for the day.

Then I realized… I have the luxury to leave. Most people don't. This is an issue area residents have to deal with on a daily basis. Families worry about the dangers of going to school or work, and young men try to ignore the pressures of joining a gang.

The President of the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland, Ron Soeder, sat down with me and explained some reasons why youth may become affiliated with a gang. One example, he stated, is a breakdown or separation in the family; the gang gives a sense of belonging that replaces a cohesive family unit. Another reason may be poverty—children may have no monetary support in their home, or they may not be able to find an “honest job,” so joining a gang is just a simple way to make money.

He also clarified that Cleveland is not the only city dealing with street gangs; it is a problem nationwide. The Office of Juvenile Justice & Delinquency Prevention is a federal department that specializes in anti-gang strategies. The OJJDP works to control gang activity through enforcement and intervention and by utilizing local resources such as the Greater Cleveland Peacemakers Alliance. The Peacemakers are made up several organizations, including the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland.

The Peacemakers assist the police with their efforts by providing an outreach team to work one-on-one with at-risk youth. The outreach workers utilize the Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland to develop relationships with these young adults by helping them stay in school, acting as mentors, and working to improve their job skills. They do whatever they can to keep them from participating in gang activities.

Even though this may sound like the plot of a television drama, this is real life. Children and young adults in this area, and across the country, are pressured to join gangs everyday. It's scary to think about, but it only shows how important it is to reach out to children and teens. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Cleveland are working hard everyday to help children make positive decisions. Through this internship opportunity, I’m also learning some things I may not be able to put down on my resume, such as the importance of giving a little time to help a child set goals and succeed. Such simple efforts can truly change their life for the better.

How do we get our young men to respect women when their heroes don't?

With the football season culminating yesterday in the most-watched sporting event in America, I started thinking about the Steelers' front-man, Ben Roethlisberger. We have all heard about the incident he was involved in last year. And yet, here stood a man in one of the most coveted positions in all of football who had committed a violent act against a young woman. Does he really deserve to be a hero to our young boys simply because he is a gifted athlete? What can we tell our boys about respecting women when a seemingly endless list of professional athletes and celebrities not only get away with disrespecting others, but are able to retain their fame and fortune in the process?

It was quite apropos then, that the following Huffington Post article showed up in my Facebook newsfeed this morning: "What to Say to Boys and Young Men About Big Ben." I think the article gives some great examples of ways to use this as a "teachable moment" and show our boys that "might does not make right."

In a world where heroes sometimes exhibit behavior that is decidedly unheroic, we need to make sure our young men understand that true strength comes from protecting and caring for those around us. At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland, we have partnered with the Rape Crisis Center to offer the Men of Strength program. Several of our Clubs have participated in this program that aims to teach our young men what it means to be a "strong man." The program is centered on prevention among a population of youth that are at a higher risk of not only experiencing domestic violence, but also going on to become a perpetrator themselves.

Another program aimed at prevention and education is Passport to Manhood. Young men ages 11 to 14 are taken on a personal journey of growth and maturation. Participants engage in service activities, are given leadership training, and have the opportunity to openly discuss any issue with trusted mentors.

I would encourage everyone to use this opportunity to have an open and honest discussion about the consequences Ben Roethlistberger's actions have had, not only on the reputation of his team, but also for the young woman that was his victim. Our sons need to understand that it is those men who respect those around them and use their talents to empower others that are truly deserving of our admiration. They are the real heroes!

Fun Photo Friday: The Lone Smokestack

Worsted Mills, 1951



Fire Burning at Mill



Cleveland Worsted Mill was founded in 1878, and during the height of production, employed many of immigrants that had settled in Slavic Village. In July of 1993 the Mill burned to the ground in one of the worst fires Cleveland had ever seen. After the land was cleared, a barren field languished in the heart of the Slavic Village for nearly a decade. When the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland started looking for land to build a new Club that could replace their aging Broadway facility, the old Mill site provided a perfect location. The City of Cleveland donated the land to the Club, and in 2002 a brand new Broadway Boys & Girls Club opened!

A smokestack, the only thing that survived the Worsted Mill fire, is a constant reminder to the community of the hope that can survive.  

  

It Takes A Village...

We have all heard the saying, "it takes a village to raise a child," but have we ever stopped to think about what we mean by "village." In his book, "Come on People," Bill Cosby asks this exact question. Of course we mean the village is everyone in the community, coming together to take care of not only each other, but also our children. But I started to think about Cleveland as the "village," and wondered how many people actually picture the responsibility they bear in this collective village? How many people stop and ask themselves, "what can I do to make my community a better place?"

So many of our communities are plagued by a chronic case of apathy. It is much easier to assume that someone else will take care of it. I am sure we have all thought at one point..."I would love to help others but I am really busy with my own life. Someone else that has more time and is more committed to the cause will take care of it." Or perhaps, even worse, many people don't think about the problems our communities face at all!

I know it can be overwhelming to focus on the plethora of challenges that exist out there. Just looking at the uphill battle we face in Cleveland alone can discourage even the most committed of hearts. Our infrastructure is aging, our schools are struggling to educate our children, and too many of our youth are fighting and dying on the streets. There is hunger, high unemployment, and the list could go on. But we can't forget that there is also hope and progress in our city. Imagine what would happen if everyone in our collective village came together to realize the dream of a better future and tackle these problems.

Many of our fellow villagers are already out there, banding together to build a brighter future. One such collaboration is making strides in serving all of our youth, from the time they are young until they graduate from high school. MyCom: My Commitment, My Community, is a support system funded by The Cleveland Foundation, Saint Luke's Foundation, the city of Cleveland, Cuyahoga County, and the Sisters of Charity Foundation of Cleveland. It exposes our youth to different arts and recreational opportunities, connects them with mentors and critical support services, and provides them with the tools to take a role in leading change within their own communities. It aims to bring together the various agencies and organizations that serve youth so that gaps can be identified and filled, giving our kids the chance they deserve to have healthy and productive childhoods.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland is a proud partner in MyCom. At several of our Clubs, our teens receive leadership training and learn how to address the problems faced by their neighbors and friends. They are learning that they can't wait for someone else to come along and solve your problems; THEY are the village.

For more information about MyCom: My Commitment, My Community, check out this informative brochure.