For the Kids!
We are so grateful to everyone who attended our ((virtual)) Benefit, For the Kids!, on May 6, 2021. We hope you enjoyed hearing from our inspiring kids and teens about how the Clubs have made an impact on them and their hopes and dreams for the future.
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Thanks to so many generous donors in our community, we are pleased to announce that we raised over $750,000, which is absolutely incredible! And we can't thank Al & Kathy Lenzmeier enough for getting us started with their $75,000 match!
Thank you again for your ongoing support! We cannot wait to see you at next year’s
2022 For The Kids!
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On April 20, we watched a historic moment as Derek Chauvin was convicted on all charges in the murder of George Floyd. We are thankful there is accountability in this instance, but the work must continue to build a system that creates opportunity and justice for all people, and that dismantles the oppressive mechanisms of racial inequity and systemic prejudice. There is a long-overdue reckoning taking place in America as we continue to face ongoing violence against Black lives, the disproportionate impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on our BIPOC communities, and the barriers to opportunity held in place by systemic racism and oppression.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities stands for safety, dignity, and equitable opportunity, and we actively advocate against all forms of racism and discrimination. We will continue our work to bridge the gap of social divide that permeates our nation and support direct action and discourse that demands justice and an equitable society for ALL people.
As always, we remain committed to building Great Futures for kids and teens to create meaningful change for the trajectory of our next generation. Each day we work to strengthen our BGCTC family and develop conversations of inclusion, unity, and healing wherever and however we can.
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Community Healing at Jerry Gamble
On Saturday, April 22, our Jerry Gamble Club hosted a free outdoor BBQ event to offer a space for community togetherness and healing. Our youth, families, and volunteers enjoyed a wonderful afternoon of food, sunshine, and friendly faces!
On Mother's Day weekend, the Jerry Gamble Club also organized a beautiful family event in celebration of the mothers, grandmothers, aunts, and community mothers on the Northside and in our BGCTC family. The event included music and art sessions for youth and families, arts & crafts, free books for kids, and more!
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Celebrating Asian American & Pacific Islander Heritage Month |
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May is Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month! It’s a perfect opportunity to pause and celebrate Asian American and Pacific Islander (AAPI) cultures and all the people who share that heritage. In our Clubs, we celebrate AAPI culture through a variety of program activities, including cooking, story telling, and art, as well as holding conversations surrounding cultural appreciation and inclusion.
Visit the link below for a wonderful list, curated by Boys & Girls Clubs of America, full of ideas on ways you can celebrate AAPI art, music, cuisine, and literature during the month of May and year round!
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Kelsey McNabb
Jerry Gamble Club
Education Specialist
Kelsey McNabb has worked at our Jerry Gamble Club in north Minneapolis for nearly five years as an Education Specialist. Although she has many different roles at the Club - including distance learning support, homework help, and leading the SMART Girls groups and reading groups - she says she loves every single role! Kelsey loves going to the beach, eating donuts, and visiting cool coffee shops with her friends. She also recently started boxing as a new way to work out, and she says it's a ton of fun, even though it's always intense!
Kelsey graduated from the University of Northwestern-St. Paul with a degree in Youth and Family Studies. After a summer spent working with youth at a summer camp in Costa Rica, Kelsey completed an internship in New Orleans that solidified her passion for working with urban youth in an educational setting.
After moving back to Minnesota, Kelsey accepted a position at the Jerry Gamble Club in 2016. As an Education Specialist, Kelsey works closely with youth as part of our Literacy program. She is passionate about our organization's Academic Success programs and our work to close the achievement gap. Kelsey enjoys every new experience that comes with each day in the Club, and she says it's being in the Club with the kids that keeps her going.
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Getting Ready for Summer!
As we prepare for our Summer session, we are so excited to offer more open spots, in accordance with the latest COVID-19 safety recommendations from the Minnesota Department of Health! Following the end of our Winter/Spring session, our Clubs will be closed starting on Memorial Day (May 31) for two weeks as we clean, repair, and make sure each Club is in great shape for our young people all summer long. We will reopen for our Summer session on June 14.
If you are looking to enroll your child in our Clubs for the summer, please contact a Club near you for availability and more information.
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COVID-19: A Year in Summary
As we begin to navigate our new normal and the hope of a post-pandemic world, there is nothing more important than the safety and well-being of our youth and families. Clubs are a safe space, and BGCTC continues to strengthen our commitment to championing inclusivity, equity, and opportunity for our young people.
BGCTC's year-in-summary COVID-19 Impact Report is now available on our website. Visit us to learn more about how BGCTC continues to strengthen supports to our youth and families during these ongoing challenges.
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Anthony Edwards and Killerspin
In April, Minnesota Timberwolves player Anthony Edwards donated a brand new Ping Pong table to our Jerry Gamble Club! The table setup was donated in partnership with Killerspin, a Black-owned luxury table tennis company. Youth and staff at Jerry Gamble are thrilled about this addition to the Club and are using the new table to create fun team-building activities focused on sportsmanship and friendly competition.
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Office Depot
On Saturday, May 8, over 20 Office Depot volunteers and their families spent the day at our East Side Club, cleaning up the landscape and getting the Club looking fresh for the summer. Crews got to work pulling weeds, mulching, and picking up trash around the Club exterior and yard. East Side is looking great for our Summer session!
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Friends of the Club
Join BGCTC's Friends of the Club - our exclusive giving club for donors who give $100 or more per year to our organization! The generosity of our community members plays a significant role in shaping the future of our organization, especially during this challenging time for our Twin Cities community. For a $100 contribution each year - just $8.50 per month! - you can strengthen your commitment to help us enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.
Visit our website to learn more about Friends of the Club and other ways to support our organization!
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Join Our Team!
Are you looking for a career where you can make a big difference in the lives of kids and our communities? Our Clubs are in need of Education Specialists, Teen Specialists, program staff, facility staff, and more! Check out our current job listings to see how YOU can get involved!
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You Can Empower the Next Generation
With your support, we can continue to provide life-changing academic, leadership, and healthy lifestyles programming to youth across the Twin Cities.
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Thank You to our Corporate Partners! |
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