Columbia (August 21, 2024) – Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore (BGCMB) officially opened the Boys & Girls Club at Howard Community College with a ribbon-cutting ceremony. Programming for youth began on Monday, August 26.
Plans for the Club were first announced in April 2024 with Howard County Executive Calvin Ball making a $220,000 commitment to launch the collaboration.
"As an organization, the Boys & Girls Club has made it their mission to provide mentoring and trauma-informed care for our young people, particularly those with the greatest need and who, but for the organization, might take the wrong path." said Howard County Executive Calvin Ball at the grand opening ceremony.
“This innovative collaboration between county government, Howard Community College and the Boys & Girls Club is the first of its kind in Maryland,” continued County Executive Ball. “We look forward to the impact and positive reverberations that it will bring to our community,"
The Club will provide after-school and summer programming to middle and high school youth. The program is free for participants with a focus on recruiting students from nearby Wilde Lake and surrounding communities. The program currently has space for 50 students with the opportunity to grow in the future. The Club will operate out of a temporary location on campus until construction is completed on its permanent home, the brand-new Kahlert Foundation Complex.
The Club will draw on evidence-informed Boys & Girls Club programing delivered by trained youth-development professionals to drive outcomes for youth in four key areas: health and wellbeing; character and leadership; academic success; and life and work readiness. Additionally, key program partners will provide specialized programs based on the needs and requests of kids and teens.
“Boys & Girls Clubs help teens recognize their potential and develop the skills they need to find and fulfill their unique path to a great future,” said Jeff Breslin, president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore.
“We can't think of a better setting for this journey of growth and self-discovery than on the campus of a higher education institution and we are grateful to County Executive Ball and the team at HCC for being gracious hosts to our Club,” Breslin concluded.
Dr. Daria Willis, President of Howard Community College added: “This historic partnership will better serve the needs of families in Howard County, and perfectly aligns with HCC’s two-generational approach to serving students and meeting them where they dream.”
The Boys & Girls Club at Howard Community College is one of three Boys & Girls Club locations in Howard County. There are also Clubs at Laurel Woods Elementary School and Harper’s Choice Middle School.
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