By: Erin Porteous
Each new school year presents an opportunity to transform lives, ignite passions, and nurture dreams. As the 2023 – 2024 school year commences, I am filled with boundless excitement and profound gratitude for the profound journey we embark upon together each fall.
For 62 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver has opened doors to new experiences and inspired the pursuit of great futures for thousands of kids and teens. The young people who walk through our doors come to find hope, inspiration, and a place to call their own. Along with providing the same steadfast place to feel safe, have fun, and just be a kid, we are focused on a few specific priorities for the school year:
- Expansion: Serving more kids across Metro Denver through the opening of seven new Clubs for a total of 25 Boys & Girls Clubs.
- Mental Health: A continued investment in our evidence-based mental health model for all kids and teens who attend the Club each day.
- Academic Support: Providing thoughtful and supportive academic programming that supports our Club members in strengthening their literacy and STEM skills and discovering new worlds through learning.
Expanding Opportunity: Seven New Clubs, One Unyielding Promise
One of our proudest accomplishments this fall is the opening of seven new Boys & Girls Clubs, bringing our total count to 25 Clubs across six school districts in Metro Denver. This moment is historic: this expansion represents the largest community footprint in our organization’s 62-year history. Reaching this significant milestone means we have the opportunity to provide holistic support, resources, and opportunities to even more kids and teens, equipping them with the tools they need to thrive and turn their big dreams into real possibilities.
These new Clubs are a result of new and expanding partnerships with KIPP Colorado Public Schools, Westminster Public Schools, DSST Public Schools, and University Prep. All four of these partnerships allow us to integrate our collective resources and grow dynamic alliances that will undeniably better the lives of kids and teens, leaving a lasting positive impact.
Within these new Clubs we will prioritize creating an inclusive and diverse environment where members can find a sense of belonging, validation, and community. Our collaboration with multiple school districts also opens doors for cross-learning and the sharing of best practices, ensuring our Clubs remain at the forefront of educational excellence. Learn more about our new Clubs here.>>
Cultivating Resilience: Mental Health Programming for All
The mental health and emotional safety of our Club members are central to our work as leaders in youth development. We believe mental health support is foundational to the holistic well-being of all kids. We have established a strong infrastructure to support our members and families, ensuring our families don’t have to navigate mental health challenges alone, and we aren’t stopping there.
Building on the success of our mental health program model and evidence-based curricula, we are committed to continuing our investment in this crucial area. The challenges our members face are unique and, like all kids, emotional well-being, mental health, and resilience are crucial to helping them navigate whatever life brings in pursuit of realizing their greatest potential.
Our Clubs are safe spaces that promote mental health awareness and resilience. Our Mental Health Team is working to expand programming that incorporates evidence-based, developmentally-appropriate curricula. These programs help our Club members build habits and skills that will support their long-term mental health. We are also building upon our partnership with the Crown Institute through the University of Colorado Boulder on InsideU, an interactive, digital tool that helps kids identify their emotions and explore ways to respond to those emotions.
Empowering Academic Excellence: Literacy Programs that Meet Clubs Kids at their Level
Research has shown that students who are not reading at a proficient level by the end of third grade are more than four times less likely to graduate high school on time as compared to those who are reading at a proficient level (Hernandez, 2012).
Our Clubs employ strong literacy programs that build on the skills learned during the school day. Using MyOn, a digital library, and Accelerated Reader, an interactive, digital tool used for comprehension quizzes, Clubs create reading goals with members and track their progress throughout the school year. To equip our Club members with critical academic skills and a love of learning, we will continue to invest in and expand programming that provides holistic academic support to our members.
This fall, we are excited to broadly implement Lalilo, an innovative web-based application designed specifically for children in grades K – 2 who are learning to read. Lalilo supports literacy skills building through engaging, interactive activities geared toward the youngest students. As kids work through the program, they are presented with activities that focus on foundational literacy skills including phonics, comprehension, sight words, word families, grammar and conventions, and vocabulary.
For our middle-grade members (3-8), we are utilizing findings from our pilots with Hopkins Educational Services to provide graphic novel and creative writing clubs. These energetic and engaging clubs will spark creativity, encourage self-expression, and cultivate a love for storytelling. Our third through eighth graders will gain vital communication skills, a deeper appreciation for literature and visual arts, and the opportunity to express themselves artistically - while having fun. Through our graphic novel and creative writing clubs, we aim to foster a love for learning, instill a sense of curiosity, and support academic success.
Lighting the Way to a Better Tomorrow
As we look forward to all the successes, stories, and memories that the 2023 – 2024 school year will bring, our vision for Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver is resolute: we believe all kids will have the opportunity to achieve their greatest potential.
None of these milestones would be possible without the unwavering support of our donors, volunteers, partners, and dedicated staff. Your partnerships make a lasting impact in the lives of countless kids and teens and we are incredibly grateful for your commitment to our mission. Thank you.
Together, we will create a brighter future for our children and for our community.
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