BOYS AND GIRLS CLUB CELEBRATES 20TH YEARS
Perseverance, longevity, and compassion. These are the themes resounding in the hearts of Pat Breen, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of the Missouri River Area, and Jodi Zephier, unit director for the Marty Unit. With these things in mind and always at the heart of those who care about the local Clubs, it’s no wonder the Wagner Boys and Girls Club is celebrating 20 years, and the Club in Marty has been open for nearly 11 years. For Breen and Zephier, their work and visions are to make sure the Clubs continue for many more years to come.
According to the 2017 data from the Boys and Girls Club of the Missouri River Area based on both the Wagner and Marty units, there are a total of more than 1,200 registered members, and close to an average daily attendance of 100 members during the school year. More than 35,000 snacks are served annually at the two units, which combined have 170 youth and adult full-time and part-time staff members, volunteers, and board members.
With funding coming from a variety of grants including 21st CCLC from the South Dakota Department of Education, MSPI, Indian Health Service, several program grants from Boys and Girls Clubs of America, Shakopee Mdewakanton Sioux Community, Yankton Sioux Tribe, business and individual donors, support through SDSU Extension, and the great support from the community, the schools, and the city, the Clubs are able to provide a large variety of programs, each stemming from their three priority outcomes: academic success, healthy lifestyles, and character and citizenship. Homework help, mentoring and tutoring, reading programs, the summer learning program in Marty, and more high yield learning opportunities all help to meet the goal of academic success by gearing toward the overall encompassment of learning and daily academics. The sporting activities such as football, basketball, and other sports programs, as well as the healthy habits program and T.R.A.I.L. program, which both deal with diabetes prevention and healthy choices, meet the needs for healthy lifestyles. Anti-bullying programs, career launch, TORCH club, and money matters programs, as well as many others, fit with the goals outlined for character and citizenship. Overall, there are nearly 40 different program opportunities between the Marty and Wagner Boys and Girls Clubs.
One of the things that has been on the forefront of Zephier’s mind is the issue of meth and its impact on the people in our communities. She cares deeply for the youth and those affected by this powerful force. Zephier works hard to provide and spread awareness about meth and prevention. “The kids are what keep me really inspired to continue fighting for meth prevention,” Zephier stated. “The main goal of the group is to prevent kids from even starting meth. It’s not justonthereservation.It’sallover. I’m trying to work with as many different groups and agencies as I can to set goals and help teens with prevention and education.”
Zephier went on to say that she finds character and leadership building to be highly important in meeting her goals. Through the Marty unit, the Ihanktonwan Youth Council was formed. Formerly named Native American Youth Standing Strong (NAYSS), they are the youth group of the tribe. “Young people didn’t have a voice before,” said Zephier. “Now their beliefs and opinions can be heard. They can have some contribution to our tribe and our community.” In addition to the meth prevention and education, Zephier includes programs about pregnancy prevention, teen dating, substance abuse, suicide prevention, mental health, talking circles, and community service and events. Marty has also created an outdoor classroom, garden, and high tunnel (which resembles a greenhouse), which is used to plant multiple fruits and vegetables. The plants and various areas are labeled with both the Dakota and English word for the item and have been painted by the kids. Next year, she plans to have areas designated for sage, sweet grass, and ceyaka, the traditional native plants from the area. The space is used in conjunction with the Marty Indian School for summer learning opportunities.
Breen has been working at the Wagner Boys and Girls Club for 15 years. In the 20 years the Club has been open, he has seen many of his goals met: an increase in membership, funding sustainability, and an increased capacity to deliver quality programs.
One of the other goals Breen mentioned was having a greater impact on the community by transitioning Club kids into the real world. “We try to teach our kids to be self-sufficient, to prepare the children to have the skills to succeed with no excuses,” he explained. He also mentioned that the Wagner unit has had several members who have been awarded South Dakota Youth of the Year.
Kaleb Hartley is one of the members who has been given this prestigious title. Hartley has been a member of the Club since he was seven years old and began volunteering when he was in seventh grade. He graduated from Wagner High School and was named South Dakota Youth of the Year all in 2015. The process to being named the state’s Youth of the Year was rigorous, but Hartley’s personal beliefs about sobriety, cultural awareness, and a healthy lifestyle, as well as his 4.0 grade point average throughout high school, his volunteer work (which included more than 2,000 hours), and being an active Club member all made him qualified for this honor. “The Club has made me the person I am today. They taught me so many life skills and lessons that I will cherish forever,” Hartley said. He also mentioned the many specific adults at the Club who have really impacted him. “I am a Gates Scholar because of Laken Nedved. She is one of the sweetest and most caring people I have ever met in my life. Tara St. Pierre is so loving and she treats me like family. I would like to thank all the Club staff for making the Club a truly special place. That includes Pat Breen, Luke Yanez, and Amy Doom. Everyone at the Club has driven me to be a better person and believe in my dreams. They, along with my family and my Native community have molded me into the person that I am today.” Hartley is currently attending Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska where he is a senior in the Nursing program. He will finish his curriculum this year, but will take a year to do the prerequisite classes for the Pharmacy program and will continue with that at Creighton. Hartley wants to come back to Wagner and work at the HIS where he can serve his Ihanktonwan people. He clearly believes in the Club and what it offers. He even shared a quote from Sitting Bull, which describes well the impact and goals of the Club: “Let us put our minds together and see what kind of life we can make for our children.”
Ittakesalotof workandsupport to run an effective Boys and Girls Club, but the benefits are proven. According to the Boys and Girls Clubs of America website (bgca.org), “research shows that young people who attend a Club regularly tend to do better than their peers nationally.” The site continues with specific statistics about volunteering, drug and alcohol use, and physical activity. None of this is news to Breen, nor is it taken for granted. He knows that the Club provides positive direction, encouragement, less idle time, and better social skills. “It doesn’t take a whole lot of time for a kid to turn more toward the positive if they have good direction,” he said. Breen has seen himself the impact on relationships built through Club attendance. Two of the core beliefs of the Club are to provide diversity and unity through multi-cultural exploration. Breen is proud to see that happening in the Wagner Club. “I see racial lines being diminished as the kids come here, as they start working together as youth,” he said. “Wagner has grown so much. Relationships between Native and non-Native members of the community have improved. I can say that as a fact; I was raised here. There is more cooperation and understanding now than ever before.”
Arthur Standing Cloud has been on the executive board for the Boys and Girls Club since November of 2003 and currently acts as the board president. He mirrored Breen’s thoughts on the improved race relations as a result of the Boys and Girls Clubs. “There’s always been a racial divide here,” he said. “But the kids start playing together at a young age at the Club, and it bridges that gap.” Standing Cloud also indicated that a relationship being built with the Yankton Sioux Tribe is another great thing about the Clubs.
While this relationship building is a beautiful thing, Breen also wants to let the community know that the Boys and Girls Club does even more than that. On an individual level, kids have a safe and friendly place to be. “There are kids who come in here every day who have nowhere else to go,” Breen explained. “They are hungry. They would be at home alone. But they don’t come here because of the Club. They come here because of the relationships with the adults. They have caring people here who surround them with love and the things they need.” Breen mentioned that one of the most impactful parts of relationship building has been seeing several kids he has worked with in the past bringing in their own kids to the Club now.
As mentioned, longevity is a part of the vision for the local Boys and Girls Clubs. Breen made it very clear that he wants to see the Club here long term. “I see long-term sustainability. I want to leave a legacy here with succession. I’m trying to put all of the processes in place that will allow that,” Breen said. He continued by saying that he also wants to build more capacity, gain more input by working with the community more. He feels that continuing to work on board development, transitioning Club kids into the community, maintaining consistency, and continuing professional development will all help him to do this. “We have developed a consistent, stable organization in the last five years. We have created our own success by being stable and have maintained our reputation,” he said.
The Boys and Girls Clubs have a proven impact on individuals, and therefore on communities. If you feel compelled to support the Boys and Girls Clubs in our area, you are strongly encouraged to do so. An endowment was set up about three years ago, and any individual or organization is welcome to donate to that.
Please also make plans to attend the 20th anniversary celebration to be held on Wednesday August 29th at the Boys and Girls Club from 4:30-8:00pm, as well as the Rib Fest at McCormick on Sunday September 2nd of Labor Day weekend, and the Day for Kids on September 15th.