Fun Photo Friday: The Upside of LeBron's "Decision"

Center-Court with BGCC Logo

Advertising during LeBron James' "Decision" last summer raised millions of dollars. LeBron decided to give some of that back to youth and made a donation to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Two of our local Clubs benefited and received $130,000 for gym renovations. The last improvements to the gym floor at our Broadway Club were officially unveiled on Monday afternoon. The kids broke in the new floor with a game of basketball immediately after a letter written by LeBron to BGCC members was read, the ribbon was cut, and the gym re-opened! The following are some picture from the event:

Tip-off

Let the Games Begin

To the Free-Throw Line

 

 

Spectators Enjoying the Game

Do The Right Thing

Josh Cribbs Photo credit: Tracy Boulian / The Plain Dealer

Guest post by Traci Christler, Annual Fund Coordinator, 

Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland 

I don't think it is a secret that Clevelanders love their sports teams. Good or bad, adults and kids alike look to sports figures as role models. Some athletes put themselves before the team. Some get involved with drugs and alcohol and breaking the law. Just the sort of person you don't want your children to end up like.

But, then there are other athletes. Many athletes get involved in the community and give back to the city (Indians designated hitter Travis Hafner is a great example). Some of these men and women work hard and strive to do their very best. These folks conduct themselves as professionals both on and off the field. 

This past week, members of the Cleveland Browns showed up to the practice facility for the start of Training Camp. Because of the uncertainty of the recent NFL lockout, the players were turned away and were not allowed to work out. The players had two choices, they could turn around and go home or they could work on another solution.  Josh Cribbs and several other players left the facility and went to the Cleveland Metroparks and created their own work out. As a fan, it was exciting to read news about our team working together to be the best that they can be.

Every day in our clubs, there are dedicated Boys & Girls Club staff members trying to guide our kids into making good decisions.  Our kids need great role models in their lives to help them to BE GREAT!

If you are interested in taking a tour of one of our Clubs or volunteering to be a role model, please contact Christopher West at cwest@clevekids.org.

Reflections on Childhood Obesity Conference

Guest Post By:
Ron Soeder, President-Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland

On Thursday I attended the obesity conference held by a partnership with Slate and the Cleveland Clinic.  I was very impressed by the quality of the panels and their perspective on the significant increase in childhood obesity and the health impacts on young people.  To hear about children that are facing heart problems and the effects of Diabetes at age 10 bring to light the significance of the issue.

As a service provider of high quality after-school program we have a unique perspective on some of the solutions being considered.  Urban school districts, and particularly Cleveland, provide little or no physical education, recess or after-school sports for K to 8 students.  I applaud the effort to improve the quality of food provided for breakfast and lunch.  As we look to provide green space, bike paths and other play areas it is imperative that we consider the impact of youth violence in our urban neighborhoods.  I am often asked if you would like to have bike donations.  I have unfortunately been declining them.  It is mainly due to youth becoming targets for the bikes to be stolen and kids being beaten up in the process.  Safe neighborhoods will need to be provided if we expect youth to get out and get active.

We are a part of the solution by providing quality after-school programs in urban neighborhoods.  We actively provide nutrition information and provide recreational opportunities that keep kids active.  Through the Cleveland Foodbank and our Kids Café program, we are making sure youth get a balanced meal daily.  We also have gardens at three of our clubs.  It is an uphill battle, but the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland want to be a part of the solution.

Fun Photo Friday: Shenga

Shenga, One of Cleveland Metropark Zoo's Newest Elephants

What does Shenga and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland have in common?

We will both have a debut at the Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! On May 5, Cleveland Zoo will officially open the Elephant Crossing Exhibit! A project years in the making, the new exhibit will give the resident elephants a beautiful and expansive new home!

And on June 25th, Boys & Girls Clubs of Cleveland will host our Race for Kids & Wellness Festival for the first time at Cleveland Metroparks Zoo! We will have fun activities for the whole family including a scavenger hunt for the kids, health-related vendors for the adults, delicious food, fun music, arts & crafts, a balloon clown and MUCH, MUCH MORE! After completing the 5k or 1 mile course, you can head over to Elephant Crossing and meet Shenga and the other elephants that call Cleveland home.

A discounted zoo admission is included in the registration fee! Family registration rates are available for the 1 mile course, so everyone can get out and enjoy a Saturday at the Zoo.

Don't wait! Register for the race today at https://bgccleveland.myetap.org/raceforkids/!

What is a Challenge Day?

Since 2007, Cleveland Metropolitan School District has hosted Challenge Days at area high schools. Defined as a powerful, high-energy program, it is an opportunity for youth and caring adults to participate in a series of activities designed to build cohesion, draw awareness to violence and bullying, and empower each individual.

The morning will begin with an ice-breaker session where the adults and youth can get to know one another. This will be followed by a segment called "If You Knew Me." During these emotional, and sometimes painful discussions, youth will open up to each other and the adult leading their group. In the process, they learn that everyone is struggling with something. This is such a unique opportunity to teach our young people the power of compassion and empathy.

Following lunch, the popular "Step to the Line" activity shows all of the participants that we probably have more in common than we think. After coming to that realization, the final activity of the day gives the youth an opportunity to say whatever is on their mind to the entire group.

Challenge Days provide a safe environment where young people can learn to come to terms with the painful things that are going on in their lives and grow closer to their peers. It is the goal of the program to build a culture of understanding and cooperation in schools, and aims to end the violence between teens that all to often leaves another desk empty in the classroom.

Want to get involved? We need more adults to volunteer to spend the day participating in this unique and powerful event. Why not spend a day helping to influence the lives of our inner-city youth. I promise you, it will be a day well spent!

To sign up for one of the following dates, email Kasey Morgan at kasey.t.morgan@cmsdnet.net 
John F. Kennedy High School: April 26th, 27th, and 28th, and May 2nd
Martin Luther King Jr. Career Campus: May 3rd, 4th, and 5th
East Technical High School: May 10th, 11th, and 12th

How One Painful Experience Brought Inspiration

Guest Post By: Dajah Spence
2010 Youth of the Year, BGCC Alumna

October 23, 2006 was a rainy, windy, and cold day. Normally around the time of Halloween, the weather is warm, people are buying candy and kids are choosing costumes to wear to go trick-or-treating. On that day, I stayed in the house watching television as opposed to going outside. There was a knock on the door and I jumped up to answer it, tripping over the shoes my family often placed at the front door because we didn’t want to carry them upstairs. 

I opened the door and there stood a familiar face. He was tall and dark with a black jacket and tissue in his left hand; I figured it was because his nose was running from the weather. He looked about the age of 16 and he had a short hair cut.  His facial expression looked as if he had had a long day and was exhausted. He asked to come in and speak with my mom. I led him in the house and nodded towards to couch for him to sit and wait. I yelled upstairs and told my mom she had a visitor. My mom got out of bed, put on her house shoes, and carefully walked down the steep steps that I frequently hurt myself on. As my mom went downstairs I passed her on the steps to give them some privacy. I went to my room, flopped on the bed and played music on my phone.   

Suddenly, a few minutes later I heard my mom come back upstairs and go into her room. She started shouting out profanity and hit the wall a couple of times. I turned off my music and put my ear to the wall. She called my name and I jumped. A million thoughts were going through my head as I walked down the hallway towards her room. I didn’t know what was going on and I started to think back to decide if I had done something wrong recently. I pushed opened her door and walked in, sitting on the end of her bed. She looked me in the eyes and told me a girl died from cancer today. That girl was my best friend.   

From that day on, my best friend inspired me to go above and beyond. She is the reason that I want to go into healthcare and make a difference in people’s lives. I want to contribute to helping to save lives. I began looking at all the different career opportunities in healthcare and the healthcare administrator position caught my eye. I took the initiative and conducted a phone interview with a healthcare administrator at Manor Care located in Akron. I learned about the responsibilities, the commitment, and hours an administrator put towards that position. Speaking with the administrator, I realized that this was a career I could see myself being passionate about and I will strive for excellence to accomplish my goal. 

My best friend was optimistic and made a difference in the community. I honestly feel that I am able to live the life she would have wanted and her legacy can carry on through me.

-Dajah is currently a freshman at Bowling Green State University studying Healthcare Administration. The friend referred to in the above story was also a Boys & Girls Club member prior to her death. 

Fun Photo Friday: Global Youth Service Day!

Today thousands of youth across Cleveland celebrated Global Youth Service Day by giving back to their community. The kids at the Broadway Boys & Girls Clubs helped to clean up their neighborhood and collect recyclables. Here are some shots of the kids in action, along with their helpers, staff from ArcelorMittal!