Volume 14 | October 9, 2019
OCTOBER 2019 NEWSLETTER
Introducing: The Agenda for America's Youth
On September 25, in Washington, D.C. and across the country, Boys & Girls Clubs of America  launched the Agenda for America's Youth , an advocacy platform that focuses on the top issues impacting the country's youth including Out of School Time; Safer Childhoods; Health & Wellness; Education; Workforce & Leadership; and Equity & Inclusion. As part of this platform, BGCA also announced the Youth Workforce Readiness Act of 2019, a workforce bill sponsored by  U.S. Senator Tina Smith . The bill aims to increase investments and partnerships with out-of-school organizations in order to foster greater development of essential skills, so that our youth will be better prepared to enter the future workforce.

At the Congressional Event announcing the new initiative and workforce bill, our President and CEO Terryl Brumm was present to speak about youth workforce readiness in action at our Twin Cities Clubs! BGCTC is honored to serve as an example of positive impact on our communities and youth of all ages. We stand with BGCA in championing policies and solutions that will have an impact on all kids!
2019 National Youth of the Year

Our own Midwest Youth of the Year, Anaa Jibicho from our Mt. Airy Club in St. Paul, attended the BGCA National Youth of the Year celebration in Washington, D.C. on September 25! Anaa had the opportunity to meet with Minnesota Senator Tina Smith and Congresswoman Betty McCollum, as well as take a few amazing tours of our nation's capital with his fellow Youth of the Year nominees. Although another youth, Sabrina M. from the Boys & Girls Clubs of San Francisco , was awarded the National Youth of the Year title, we are extremely proud of Anaa's hard work and dedication, and we're very excited to see what the future holds in store for him!
Coach John Bryant: The Hero Our Kids Deserve!
Every community has a superhero! In honor of National Batman Day on September 21, we joined the  Boys & Girls Clubs of America  in recognizing our own Batman, Coach John Bryant.

Coach John has been connected to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities for most of his life. John grew up in North Minneapolis and attended the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club as a youth. At the Club, he found his calling and his first job.

There is never a doubt where John’s heart and passion is. It is with every Club member that he has and continues to work with. John’s leadership and determination can be best witnessed in the warm, inclusive environment he creates in his programs and Club spaces. At the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club, John leads the Torch Club and puts a special emphasis on serving others and the community. He regularly encourages his youth to volunteer in the Club, participate in community clean-ups, and work at the Torch Club store.

John also has the responsibility of organizing and running all of the RBI baseball teams for the Jerry Gamble Club. As John was taking over the program, he noticed a glaring lack of opportunity for female club members to participate in softball. He made it his mission that the girls he served would have the opportunity to join a team if they had the interest. Through his hard work and determination, John now has two softball teams that provide girls in North Minneapolis the opportunity to challenge themselves and succeed as part of a team.

John Bryant is our Batman because of his tireless commitment to the youth of the Twin Cities and the infectious passion for his work that he displays every minute of every day of the week. Thank you, John!
A Visit from the Vikings
Our Southside Village, Little Earth, and Mt. Airy Clubs were happy to host a handful of Vikings players for an exciting afternoon of fun, food, and excitement last week! Ameer Abdullah, Eric Kendricks, Dalvin Cook, and Stephen Weatherly arrived at the Southside Village Club alongside the Vikings Table food truck to provide a taco dinner before spending over an hour playing gym games with the youngest group and helping the Club's older youth create their own comic books. At the Little Earth Extension Club, Khari Blasingame, C.J. Ham, Alexander Mattison, and Bisi Johnson signed autographs, played board games, and shot a game of pool with a group of Club teens. Jalyn Holmes and Armon Watts also joined the Mt. Airy Club during literacy activities and game time. Our kids were very excited to meet some of their sports heroes!

For more details and great photos, check out the full story on the Vikings' website!
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!
UPCOMING EVENTS
For the Kids!

Friday, October 11
US Bank Stadium

LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS AVAILABLE!

Our largest annual fundraiser, For the Kids! , provides an opportunity to celebrate the uniqueness of our youth and our commitment to helping them reach their full potential. It is an enjoyable evening that gives our supporters an opportunity to learn about the amazing young people who attend our Clubs. The event features inspirational Club kid performances and speeches that showcase their many talents and aspirations, sought-after silent and live auction items, and delicious food!

  • Cocktail Reception & Silent Auction
  • Dinner with Reserved Seating
  • Program & Live Auction
  • Performances by Local Club Youth
  • Youth of the Year Anaa Jibicho
  • DJ Mad Mardigan
  • Fun on the Field: Throw a Pass! Kick a Field Goal!

We are also very excited to announce that longtime Club supporters Al & Kathy Lenzmeier have put forth a VERY generous $75,000 matching gift challenge - thank you, Al & Kathy! Contributions received any time through October 11, 2019, will be matched dollar-for-dollar up to the first $75,000 in donations, so your gift will go twice as far For the Kids! of the Twin Cities. Please act now!

SAVE THE DATE
Give to the Max Day

Thursday, November 14

Give to the Max Day was created in 2009, and that initial spark touched off an outpouring of generosity — $14 million in 24 hours. Since then, Give to the Max Day has become an annual tradition. Every year thousands of organizations and individuals generate donations and excitement for Minnesota causes that are working to improve the quality of life for all Minnesotans. On this generous holiday, please consider making a donation to the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities so that we can continue to provide critical support, education, and growth opportunities to our communities' youth!
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.
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities | 651-726-2582 | info@bgc-tc.org | boysandgirls.org