As part of a nationwide effort to promote the importance of positive adult mentors the Olivet Boys & Girls Club of Reading and Berks County (olivetbgc.org) has been selected to receive a grant from the Office of Justice Programs (OJP) totaling $31,800.
The OJP grant for mentoring comes at a time when research confirms the importance of positive adult role models for young people facing escalating levels of negative peer pressure, coupled with the steady uptick in the number of single-parent households.
“We are extremely grateful for the $31,800 grant from the Office of Justice Programs that will assist us in creating a great future for every young person who walks through our doors,” said Pablo Tejada, president and Chief Professional Officer of the Olivet Boys & Girls Club. “This grant will enable us to provide even more positive opportunities and role models for our Club members, specifically at our Mulberry and Clinton Street locations. Our kids need a safe and nurturing environment in which to feel safe and cared for; they need to know that after school, they can come to the Club and get the support that they need to reach their full potential.”
The grant will allow the Olivet to offer incentives for club members to participate in activities such as mentoring, SMART Girls, SMART Leaders, Passport to Manhood, Power Hour, volunteerism, college readiness activities and a wide array of fun and engaging activities.
The Olivet’s College Access Program provides teen members with the opportunity to participate in educational workshops in interest and skill inventory, application assistance, financial aid assistance and SAT preparation, and provides several opportunities to visit college and universities.
In addition, the OJP grant funding will allow the Olivet to continue partnering with local colleges and business leaders to create a “Pathway for a Great Future” initiative for Club members. These partnerships provide an excellent complement to the overall goal of empowering inner-city teens to take charge of their own futures and to end this vicious cycle of poverty.
Among the full range of youth development programs available at every Clubhouse is Project Learn, which emphasizes the importance of high-yield learning activities during the critical out-of-school hours. Research has shown that journal writing, cooking classes and assisting young students with homework help young people understand the importance and relevance of an education, resulting in a lifelong love of learning.
Each of the eight club locations in Reading and Pottstown also has a tech center with age-appropriate programs that teach members how to embrace technology, while staying safe online.
The Olivet Boys & Girls Club has adopted the Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s (BGCA) Formula for Impact, a researched-based theory of offering the most powerful experience during the out-of-school hours by providing programs geared to ensure academic success, good character and citizenship and healthy lifestyles among the young people who need the most, but have the least.
Funding for the OJP grant received by the Olivet Boys & Girls Club comes from a recent grant of $25 million from the U.S. Department of Justice to Boys & Girls Clubs of America. These funds which are being passed through to Clubs across the country will strengthen, expand and enhance mentoring programs and experiences for youth nationwide with an emphasis on five demographic areas – kids living in underserved communities, public housing, Native American Lands, single-parent minority households and high-risk youth. The grant will be administered by the U.S. Department of Justice.
The $31,800 OJP grant will enable the Olivet Boys & Girls Club to mentor approximately 40 young people ages 10 to 18. In addition to general mentoring, some of the funds will be specifically directed to young minority males and children of military families. Research has shown that these two demographic groups are especially vulnerable to negative peer pressure, including dropping out of high school.