Empower LGBTQ Youth Through Inclusive Practices Posted 06/17/2019 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America I grew up in a rural town. My parents were super strict and held many traditionally conservative values. From an early age, I remember feeling different from family and friends in a way that I couldn’t quite articulate, but I sensed that it wasn’t safe to explore or examine my identity. In high school, an English teacher introduced me to early feminist texts and other
Carter’s Pride: Trans Youth Finds Support at His Club Posted 06/29/2020 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America Ever since I was a little kid, a little “girl”, I knew something was different about me. Even as a child I knew it was a little abnormal to be upset or sad when someone referred to me as a female or she/her. I wasn’t sure why I was upset to be seen this way, but what I did know was that
Supporting Black LGBTQ+ Youth and Their Mental Health Posted 06/12/2020 by Boys & Girls Clubs of America The below article is revised from a resource on TheTrevorProject.org by Dr. Tia Dole, the organization's Chief Clinical Operations Officer. For 160 years, the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. As we celebrate and honor Pride Month, we recognize one of
When Covid-19 struck the region, life for many slowed almost to a halt. Schools and offices closed. Restaurants were restricted to takeout and delivery orders. Sporting events were canceled. But for many, life kicked into high gear. Essential services became no less essential, and hardworking, dedicated individuals put in extra effort to keep things moving. That is why, this year, the Puget Sound Business Journal is honoring six essential workers as our Front-line Heroes. When businesses were closing, these individuals
As the new school year begins with remote learning, the new normal has left many working parents scrambling to find child care options. This fall, the Boys and Girls Club of King County will open their doors to 800 students per day at all 35 clubs serving students from seven different school districts. "Some families need all day care, some families want care during school time, and then some families are looking for the normal after school care," said Laurie
It’s a rare sight lately to see kids not related to each other in one room playing. For the group at the Boy & Girls Club in Kirkland, it’s out of necessity. They are kids of essential workers who never stopped working amid the pandemic. “I wouldn’t be able to work,” Linda Bunn said. Bunn is a nurse on the front lines, and every morning she drops off her grandson Joe. "Joe has been coming here for 4 years and they have been
When University of Washington graduate Delannah Collins-Wright started her new job as a Microsoft contractor last month, it was the culmination of years of hard work. In fact, when the longtime Rainier Valley resident approached the tech giant last winter, she presented the kind of resume rarely seen by those fresh out of college. It showcased an apprenticeship at Microsoft, an internship at Google, a long-term position at a Microsoft store, where she worked through college, and a contract job
The Future of Policing: As protesters across the country demand sweeping changes to law enforcement, The Seattle Times begins an examination of what that future could look like and the hurdles ahead. Today, Seattle community leaders offer differing views on reimagining public safety. When thousands of people marched through the Seattle’s South End in one of the city’s largest demonstrations over law enforcement brutality and the death of George Floyd, police had remarkably little presence. That doesn’t mean no one was around to
As the end of the school year inches closer, kids and parents in the Seattle area are left planning for a summer that will likely look very different from years' past. The future of many summer camps this year remains up in the air as the state moves forward with its gradual reopening plan during the novel coronavirus pandemic. Some organizations have already canceled their summer camp sessions, while others are moving forward with plans in place to ensure the health and safety of
SEATTLE — With all of Washington’s 1.2 million students now sitting out school for the next six weeks amid the COVID-19 outbreak, many parents are likely racing to figure out what to do when it comes to child care. In King County, Boys and Girls Clubs will be extending hours and programs at 12 of its centers as an option to families looking for a place to turn. “For those families that need us most or for first responder families. we’ll
