Cloverdale Comments - January 2012
OUR AWESOME BOYS & GIRLS CLUB!
It’s been many decades since I was an unsupervised kid with
long, often lonely, hours to fill after school and during summers. Yet, touring
our welcoming, activity-rich Club, the passage of all those years couldn’t stop
me from feeling a sharp pang of regret that so many of us growing up on tough,
tempting city streets never got to enjoy and benefit from a similarly safe,
uplifting and affordable refuge from the often life-altering troubles streets
can bring to the young.
Thankfully, our small city is very different from my first
hometown. Still, even Cloverdale’s youth can get into everything from simple
mischief to drugs and worse--especially during the “Danger Hours“, from 3p.m.
to 7p.m., before hard-working parents or guardians get home.
Founded in 1860 by three women concerned about the lack of a
haven for what we call “at risk” boys, by 1990 their “Boys Club” was a
nation-wide organization that had grown to include “Girls” so no kid would have
to miss out. Today, approximately 4.1 million youngsters belong to Clubs
available through high school.
No Grim “Stats” Here!
One of 6 “Boys and Girls Clubs of Central Sonoma County”,
Cloverdale has an outstanding team of dedicated professionals, including
on-site at the Jefferson and Washington schools. Cloverdale Clubs Director, Dr.
Bethany Bilyeu, is a Clinical Psychologist whose inspired decision led her to
transition from the treatment of youth to work in prevention.
Bethany and Central Sonoma’s Co-CEO, Jason Weiss, graciously
accepted my short-notice invitation to show me around the facility and give
details of the Club’s 5 core program areas:
Academics/Career (Workforce
development is my profession and, given the dismal high school dropout rate of
25% nationwide, I was thrilled to find practical resources in place, such as
the “Power Hour” homework assistance with computer access and liaison with
parents, some cool lessons in money/financial concepts and opportunities for
career exploration.);
Fine Arts, Visual and Performing (I loved the wall
display of ersatz Warhols and Picassos plus hearing about the theatrical
activities and group projects that build vital teamwork skills.); Sports/
Fitness/Recreation (Activities for all levels of ability including a nice gym
and unique programs, like the Marathon Club in which the runners simulate
making progress to the Golden Gate Bridge!);
Character/Leadership (“Leaders In
Training” and “Youth of the Month/Year”, which identify members who go above
and beyond, are just two examples of the many ways the Club works to achieve a
goal that seems to be fundamental at every Club: developing responsible, active
members of our democracy capable of making good life choices.);
Healthy Life
Styles (The on-site garden, built by our local Kiwanis, helps provide for
classes on nutrition, cooking basics and advanced culinary arts. You can even
try Yoga here!)
So, do it for a young person you care about. Do it for
yourself. Check out the Cloverdale Boys and Girls Club! Contact Club Program
Director Diane Mora: 894-5063; dmora@bgccsc.org.
Location: 686 South Cloverdale Blvd. Or visit www.bgccsc.org
to learn about a Club near you.
TAX TIME MEAN’S “VITA!”
(Free Income Tax Preparation Program For All Who Qualify.)
Last year, our Vice-Mayor Bob Cox (he’s Mayor for 2012!) and
Rich Cowart, of the Cloverdale Alliance for Financial Education (CAFÉ), took
many hours of “taxing” training (I dropped out after one lesson!) to become one
of United Way’s Volunteer Income Tax Assistance (VITA) Program volunteers who
help prepare returns for folks meeting income level qualifications. In their 1st
tax season (though they had to start late) Bob and Rich identified a lot of
refund $$$!
These two wonderful volunteers begin again on Jan. 3rd.
Schedule: Tues.-Thurs., 6pm-8pm; Sat., 10am- 3pm at Cloverdale Chamber of
Commerce. For your appointment (or nearest VITA location) call 211, the free
“Community Resource Directory.”
Here’s wishing you Many Happy Returns!
Labels: COMMUNITIES
