"I feel like I have grown a lot as a person because of the Club. I’ve learned that you shouldn’t hold grudges; that people have faults and you shouldn’t judge them. I’ve learned to forgive, and to value what makes each of us special. Friendship is so important, and we have to accept our differences and get along."
— Kayla, age 9
"I’ve been a member of the Charlestown Boys & Girls Club since I was six years old. Being a member of the Club gives me a quiet place to do my homework after school. I learned most of what I know about computers at the Club. I’ve produced music and digital films, and I’ve won Digital Arts Festival awards for both. It feels good to find something I like to do and to have people tell me I’m good at it. I’m glad I can have a safe place to go after school. Being at the Club means I don’t have to be out there, where people start trouble for no reason. I don’t want to have anything to do with gangs…I want to go to college."
— Hector, age 14
“The Blue Hill Boys & Girls Club is between two housing developments – it was one place where you could have kids from both of those housing developments come, hang out, have a good time together. Outside the Club, you’d have a problem. But the Club was the one neutral site where everyone could go and stay safe.”
— Keishan, alumnus
"All of the Charlestown Club activities challenged me in one way or another. They helped build my confidence, forced me to understand the importance of teamwork, and at the very least, kept me busy and off the streets. Today, I still go “up the Club.” Whether it’s to see my nephews play floor hockey, speak at a career night, or participate in an alumni fundraiser. Each time I walk through those doors, I pass over my name, which is engraved on two separate bricks that commemorate my donation to the campaign to rebuild my club several years ago. I have long felt that the Club is in my DNA, but looking down at those bricks, I realize that I am part of the Club’s DNA as well."
— Corey, alumna
"The Jordan Club is a place where I feel completely at home. It has provided me with many opportunities that I feel have changed my life and will continue to do so. There have been many times that I’ve been told that I make a difference at the Club but, in fact, the Club has made a big difference in my life, and for that I am thankful."
— Claudia, age 18
"The Club is a great place for me; it helped me change my ways and perception. The Club has helped me boost my self esteem. I volunteer countless hours in the kitchen, cooking, washing dishes, and keeping our Club members in line for snacks and dinner. I wasn’t looking for a junior staff job but I saw they needed help and took the initiative. The Club is a place where you can learn, grow, change and take risks. The Club’s theme, 'Invest in a child, Inspire a future': that’s me."
– Jakila, age 13
"I have a new sense of value, better judgment, and a clearer idea of what I want out of life. The Club did this for me. It was a place to do my homework, become involved in activities, make new friends, and socialize. I was introduced to exciting opportunities that were not offered in school or anywhere else in the community. It was, and still is, a place where I feel completely comfortable, where I was given the tools to create many wonderful experiences. It has truly shaped who I am today. I have learned how to work well with others and also how to act as a leader. I have never felt as supported by non-related individuals as I have at the Club."
– Emily, age 17