‘Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio has transformed my life’

On Apr 1, 2021

Jac'quese Hargrove, standing, director of teen programs and services for the Boys & Girls Club of Columbus, meets with a group of girls, clockwise from left, Antionette Jones, Asia Anderson, Saurelle Tsala, Alysiah Webster, Rayne Alexander and Alana Green, as part of a mentoring program at Hamilton Township High School on Nov. 28, 2018. The program is coordinated by Communities in Schools of Central Ohio, a nonprofit that helps students overcome obstacles to academic achievement.[Adam Cairns/Dispatch]

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It has been four years since I entered foster care and change became a constant in my life.

Without the Boys and Girls Clubs, I wouldn’t have come this far or gotten the opportunities to inspire others like I have always wanted.

Growing up, I faced a lot of obstacles and uncertainties that have shaped who I am today.

Throughout my life, I have spent a lot of time dealing with all kinds of changes. Moving schools and homes took a big toll on me, and stirred up a lot of anger within me, which is how I started to approach life. In doing this, I got in a lot of fights and in trouble often. I did not feel like I belonged in many places, and I felt that my voice was not heard so I kept to myself.

Joining the Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Ohio has transformed my life and helped me reach my fullest potential.

Brandon Everett is a member of the Boys and Girls Club of Central Ohio.

I felt that I belonged from the moment I stepped foot inside the club. It was a safe space for me to be myself. Having staff encourage me and believe in me is something that I cherish, because it is something I didn’t experience before. It is comforting to have a consistent support system in my life. I have been able to showcase many skills and strengths that were hidden within me before.

Today, I am 16 years old, with plans to pursue a career in artistic therapy. I want to help others find their voices and make a difference in their own way.

After all her Zoom classes were done, first-grader Da'nava Stith Mitchell, 7, plays with multicolored bears at the Boys & Girls Club on Reeb Avenue.

I can surely say the Boys and Girls Clubs helped me navigate toward my goals and through all of life’s challenging moments.

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Support from Ohio’s leaders and local community members is critical. That is why club members like me and state legislators like Rep. Kristin Boggs (D-Columbus) are going to participate in the April 2021 Ohio Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs State Summit. When I asked Boggs about our clubs, she said:

“Boys & Girls Clubs help families, communities and Ohio’s economy by filling the gap between school and home. They provide a positive environment where children and teens participate in life-changing programs that prepare them for college and career success. I am proud to support the Boys and Girls Clubs, because of the beneficial impact these programs have on local communities and working families who rely on these afterschool programs as a source of child care and a means to be employed full-time.”