On any given day, you might find Jefferson Guzman 35,000 feet in the air serving passengers, ensuring their journeys are safe and smooth, or standing behind a DJ booth, setting the vibe at a community event. But long before he was a flight attendant and DJ, Jefferson was a kid in Chelsea, Massachusetts, just trying to find his place in the world.
“I could have been in the corner by now, you know. I had friends who were in the streets, of course… and doing drugs or selling drugs, and it is easy to get into that, especially when they’re your friends.” Jefferson says, reflecting on the life he could have led. “But the Club saved me from that.”
Jefferson’s journey with Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston began when he was around ten years old. A group of friends convinced him to join the Gerald and Darlene Jordan Club of Chelsea so he could be part of a talent show. “They said I had to be a member to dance with them,” he laughs. “So I just walked in and signed up.”
His first interaction was with a staff member. “It felt like an interview,” Jefferson remembers. “He was making sure I was there for the right reasons.” What began as a formality turned into a formative moment. It was his first step into a place that would become his second home.
“I was hooked from day one,” Jefferson says. “The Club wasn’t just a place to hang out. It was family.”
For Jefferson, the Club wasn’t about programs or facilities. It was about people. “In those days, the Club was running out of a basement in the projects. It wasn’t about fancy buildings; it was the people inside that made the magic.”
As Jefferson grew, so did his role at the Club. He became a teen staff member, then a junior staff, and later worked across multiple BGCB sites including Camp Harbor View, the Orchard Gardens Club, and Edgerley Family South Boston Club. Wherever he went, his bond with the Club deepened.
Jefferson’s professional path has been as dynamic as his personality. He’s worked as a counselor helping teens get scholarships, taught DJ classes, and now flies across the country and around the world, as a flight attendant. These days, you can follow his DJ work on Instagram at @DJBlackout617. But no matter where he goes, he returns to the Club.
That spirit of giving back extends beyond volunteering. Jefferson is also a participant in We Own the Day, a BGCB alumni initiative established in November 2023 that supports economic mobility through curated marketplaces, networking, and micro-grants. For Jefferson, it’s one more way the Club continues to show up, this time for the entrepreneur he has become. At a recent entrepreneur market, Jefferson reflected on what the experience meant to him.
“The entrepreneur market was great because I got the chance to interact and talk with other entrepreneurs that are going through similar situations, as I am trying to build a successful business and brand,” he said. “It gives me the opportunity to talk and brainstorm with people and also work on collaborating with each other. Apart from talking with like-minded entrepreneurs, it helped me expand and get new bookings from people who were just attending the market. It gives me great exposure and helps me to continue to learn and improve.”
By investing in alumni-owned businesses and creative ventures like Jefferson’s, We Own the Day celebrates entrepreneurship and reinforces the lasting impact of BGCB long after members become alumni.
“I always volunteer. I show up because they showed up for me,” he says. “I want kids today to see what’s possible.”
He uses his story, and his job, to inspire. “I tell them: I’ve been to Paris, London, Puerto Rico. You can do whatever you want. There are options. And we’ll help you find them.”
When asked how he defines success, Jefferson doesn’t hesitate. “It’s about being happy with where you are. If you wake up and feel good about what you’re doing, that’s success. It’s not about money or titles. It’s about peace.”
That outlook shapes how he shows up as a father, too. The values the Club instilled in him, showing up, being present, believing in someone’s potential, are the same ones he’s now passing on at home. “Fatherhood changed everything,” he says. “My daughter’s five. She’s creative, funny, into art and gymnastics. Watching her grow, guiding her, it’s the most important thing I’ll ever do.”
Jefferson’s story is a living testament to the power of mentorship, community, and love. “The Boys & Girls Club gave me more than a place to go after school. They gave me purpose, guidance, and the kind of unconditional support that changed my life.”
He pauses. “That’s why I keep coming back. I want to be that person for someone else, the way they were for me.”
From the streets of Chelsea to the skies above Paris, Jefferson Guzman has never forgotten where he came from, or the people who helped him find his way.
