Voices of the Future: 2020 Annual Meeting & Celebration |
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Thank you to each of our friends, partners, and supporters who joined us on November 16 for Voices of the Future, our first ((virtual)) Annual Meeting & Celebration! Although we weren't able to gather in person this year, this virtual event was a unique opportunity to hear about our impact in 2020, learn what’s in store for our organization in the future, and celebrate the amazing changes our BGCTC family has helped create in our Club communities.
The evening of celebration showcased Club stories and BGCTC's COVID-19 response efforts, a short teen panel discussing topics of social justice and civic engagement, and a State of the Club address from President & CEO Terryl Brumm. Club youth performances were a major highlight of the evening, including vocal performances from West Side teens Ameer Storay, Makenna Bishop, and Rhiana Ciceron; a piano piece by East Side member Landon Vang; and spoken word performances from Southside Village teens Yahanna Mackbee and Nyagoch Kueth.
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2020 has been an energy-filled and transformational journey, and we are truly grateful for the incredible support that has helped us fulfill our mission! We are working to build Great Futures for one child at a time. As the voices of the future, our youth help all of us believe in the impossible.
Through our kids, we can see a future of possibility and opportunity. We continue to make lasting change in our community and positively impact the lives of thousands of young people and their families each year, and we couldn’t do it without you. Thank you for your ongoing dedication and support!
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Ameer Storay
Al Lenzmeier West Side Club
Ameer Storay graduated last year from Washington Technology Magnet School and attended our West Side Club for eight years, starting at age 10. At the Club, Ameer found an outlet for his lifelong creative drive through the Notes for Notes program, where he could create his own songs, raps, and spoken word performances.
Ameer is an inspired artist and has performed at many Club events, including an appearance at our 2019 Benefit For the Kids, our 2020 Spring Thaw Gala, and our recent Voices of the Future Annual Meeting & Celebration. He is currently attending Concordia College and splits his personal time between volunteering at West Saint Paul's El Rio Vista Recreation Center, helping program staff at our Al Lenzmeier West Side Club, and using the West Side Club's recording studio to learn more about music production and performance.
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Are you looking for a way to make a difference this holiday season?
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities invites you to participate in our annual Kids Can Give holiday gift drive!
For over 25 years, the Boys & Girls Clubs and our community partners have collected donated gifts during the holiday season to distribute to the thousands of kids we serve each year. Through Kids Can Give, each Club member has the opportunity to “shop” at the holiday store set up at their local Boys & Girls Club in December, so they can bring their selected gifts home to their families.
Given the challenges our community and nation have faced this year with the impact of COVID-19, BGCTC is especially dedicated to ensuring a joyful holiday experience for each one of our Club kids and families. Please consider donating to Kids Can Give to help a child fulfill their holiday wish!
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BGCTC continues to take all possible safety precautions to keep our families, volunteers, and staff protected from the spread of COVID-19. Please reach out to our designated contacts to make arrangements prior to dropping off any gifts or donations. Volunteer opportunities are limited and must be also be arranged in advance.
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For information on gifts or to arrange a drop-off, please contact:
Amy Kuehn
Director of Special Events
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To learn more about volunteering at the Club holiday stores, please contact:
Molly Hemes
Annual Fund Manager
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Mark Graves: Celebrating 30 Years of Service |
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Southside Village Club Branch Director Mark Graves recently celebrated his 30th anniversary with Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities! Mark has worked with multiple generations of families on the Southside and has built his reputation on respect, stability, and a deep empathy for everyone he meets. He has fully dedicated his career to the young people of south Minneapolis.
Mark's leadership within the Southside community has been especially critical over the last few months given the continued struggles of the pandemic and fallout from the murder of George Floyd. Mark and his team met the extraordinary needs of their community head-on and did not shy away from having and leading the difficult conversations needed to heal our communities.
We are so grateful that Mark is a part of our BGCTC family, and we thank him for his leadership and dedication to the youth and families of south Minneapolis. Congratulations, Mark!
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Success Ahead This School Year! |
We are thrilled to announce that we EXCEEDED the $50,000 match put forth by the Weinert Family Foundation -- raising over $110,000 during our Success Ahead fall campaign!
Although this school year looks different than ever before, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities is continuing to support our young people and families with high-quality academic programs, school supplies, technology, and other critical resources. Thank you for your steadfast support of our Clubs and commitment to helping our youth and families thrive through the school year and beyond!
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BGCTC Recognized by Boys & Girls Clubs of America |
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In October, BGCTC took a leadership role in two social justice events, one local and one on the national level. Our One Dream, Many Voices Teen Town Hall, led by BGCTC teens and staff members on October 12, focused on law enforcement and social justice in the legislative arena.
On October 22, BGCTC President & CEO Terryl Brumm and Teen Advocacy Liaison Abiba Lecky represented the Twin Cities during Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (BGCA) After the Vote: Bridging the Divide webinar, which focused on dialogues to support youth and families as well as bridging tension and divides during a tumultuous election year.
In recognition of BGCTC's leadership in these events, BGCTC was recognized in the October edition of the Club Advocate, BGCA's national e-news!
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Minnesota Vikings
The Minnesota Vikings kicked off this year's My Cause My Cleats with a visit to the Mt. Airy Club accompanied by their Vikings Table food truck, as well as remote interactions with Kirk Cousins and Justin Jefferson. The Vikings were also joined by representatives from Xcel Energy, a major sponsor of their food truck efforts through the Vikings Foundation.
The Vikings will also be donating 200 Thanksgiving meals to Club families this year. The Vikings have partnered with UnitedHealth Group to provide families with full turkeys, mashed potatoes, green beans, and pumpkin pies.
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Comcast Twin Cities
We are excited to announce our partnership with Comcast Twin Cities as they launch 20 Lift Zones in metro community centers as the latest initiative in their Internet Essentials program. These WiFi-connected community centers launching in the Twin Cities will provide safe spaces for students to get online, participate in distance learning, and do their schoolwork. As part of the Lift Zones initiative, BGCTC will receive significant funding for our Saint Paul Clubs as well as new Comcast devices for each Club location.
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Operation Warm
BGCTC is thrilled to be the beneficiary of Operation Warm this year! Operation Warm is coordinated by the Minneapolis and Saint Paul Fire Departments to provide winter coats for local youth. Each Club was able to place orders for coats, and over 300 kids will be receiving coats through the Clubs and Operation Warm this holiday season. Former Vikings Coach Mike Tice is a strong proponent of the Clubs and was a financial supporter of Operation Warm this year through the Mike Tice Foundation.
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Caribou Coffee
The Caribou Coffee Bou Truck visited our Mt. Airy Club on November 16 to treat all the kids and staff to hot chocolate! The Bou Truck has made a number of visits to our Clubs and hosted pop-up events over the summer with proceeds benefiting our organization. We are always happy to see the Bou Truck pull up outside the Clubs, and we're happy for the opportunity to grow this partnership!
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Old Navy
Old Navy’s ONward! platform empowers young people with the real-world skills, training, and jobs to make a difference in our communities. Twin Cities Old Navy stores have partnered with our Clubs to provide valuable job skills training and career resources. Earlier this month at our East Side Club, teens had the opportunity to practice job interviews with Old Navy hiring personnel and grow their professional networks.
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While social distancing measures are currently limiting the types of volunteer opportunities available at our Clubs, please consider supporting BGCTC in the following ways:
- Donate non-perishable food items, hygiene and cleaning supplies, school supplies, games, and activities for Club kids and families
- Sew or donate masks for Club staff
- Promote our organization on social media to build awareness
- Share employment resources for families
- Write encouraging notes to our kids or Club staff
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Make a monetary donation online, by mail, or by texting OURKIDS to 243725
To make an in-kind donation of any of the items listed above within the coming weeks and months, please contact Molly Hemes at [email protected] to arrange a drop-off time at one of our Clubs.
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Share Your Club Story
Do you have a story to tell about our Clubs? We'd love to hear about your experiences as a member, alumni, volunteer, or partner. Your story could even be featured in an upcoming newsletter or social media spotlight!
We appreciate opportunities to share the stories of our BGCTC family. Please send your stories to [email protected], and we will reach out to you soon. Thank you!
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You Can Change a Child's Life
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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