Boys & Girls Club celebrates 20 years in Star City
PRESQUE ISLE, Maine — The Boys & Girls Club of Presque Isle, housed at the Aroostook Band of Micmacs, opened its doors 20 years ago when the club had only two staff persons, 20 members registered, and a small space to provide tutoring, mentoring and youth enrichment activities. Today, the club has 107 registered members from throughout Aroostook County and a full team of volunteers, workers and mentors who are dedicated to bringing the best programs to The County’s youth.
“For 20 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Presque Isle at the Aroostook Band of Micmacs has been in the forefront of upholding Micmac cultural traditions and educating youth on the language and history of Micmac people including youth development and working with young people from disadvantaged economic, social and family circumstances,” said Fenton Jones, program coordinator. “The Boys & Girls Club has actively sought to enrich the lives of boys and girls whom other youth agencies have had difficulty reaching.
“We are dedicated to ensuring that all of our community’s children and teens — especially those who need us most — have access to our club’s quality programs and services to enhance their lives and positively shape their futures,” he said, noting that the group also includes children from Caribou, Easton, and other Aroostook County communities.
The Boys & Girls Club is also part of a nationwide movement of community-based, autonomous club organizations and Boys & Girls Clubs of America working to help youth of all backgrounds develop the qualities needed to become responsible citizens and leaders.
“We offer daily access to a broad range of programs in five core program areas: character and leadership development; education and career development; health and life skills; the arts; and sports, fitness and recreation, and several specialized initiatives,” explained Jones. “All programs are designed to drive positive outcomes for youth and reinforce necessary life skills.”
With the Boys & Girls Club’s new partnership with the new Micmac Youth Program and Maine Families, staff are better equipped with the tools and resources needed to give every child the opportunity to succeed in the future.
“The Boys & Girls Club of Presque Isle would like to thank the community of Presque Isle for helping them reach their first big milestone!” said Jones.
For more information, log onto www.pi-bgc.org.
