Niagara Falls City Council members have unanimously approved a $67,000 grant for the Falls Boys & Girls Club to help fund a 40-week program designed to provide “a safe, structured evening engagement (program)” for teens between the ages of 16 and 18.
The grant follows a March announcement that the city and the not-for-profit would partner to launch a pilot program, similar to a Night Gym proposal being championed by Council Member Bridgette Myles. Myles had announced, shortly after joining the council in January, that she would seek to restart the popular but discontinued Night Gyms previously hosted by Falls schools.
The council member’s efforts and the joint city-Boys & Girls Club program are not linked.
In recommending the grant, which is funded through the Department of Public Works/Parks budget, Mayor Robert Restaino said the Boys & Girls Club had planned an “ambitious project” that would require support from the city.
In a five-page program summary and budget, the club said the name of the program will be determined by the teens participating in it. Suggested names include 17th at Night, Afterhours on 17th, Overtime and Teen Lounge.
The program summary lists its objectives as providing “safe, structured evening engagement for teens 16 to 18”, a means to “amplify youth voices in program design and community initiatives,” the development of “career-ready skills in media, technology and leadership,” “increase teen participation in positive, supervised environments”, and “strengthen connections between youth and workforce opportunities.”
It proposes a kick-off community block party, where teens can be surveyed on programming ideas and social events. The programming would take advantage of Boys & Girls Club facilities, including an open gym, a music studio for recording and songwriting, a photography and media production lab and meal preparation and cooking opportunities.
The club says its efforts would address “a critical gap in evening programming for older teens.”
With the approval of the grant funding, the program is expected to begin in the next few weeks.
While voting to support the city grant, Myles expressed disappointment with what she saw as limits on the program.
“I’m disappointed we don’t have this in other parts of the city,” she said.
In February, city lawmakers unanimously adopted a resolution that called for “a joint planning meeting with the (Falls Schools) superintendent, appropriate school district leadership and the Board of Education to discuss reopening Nights Gyms through a pilot program.” The resolution asked city administrators and the city corporation counsel to “convene a stakeholder planning meeting with school district leadership and key partners, including the Niagara Falls Police Department, to explore operational needs and potential funding/support mechanisms, including the potential use of NFPD Gun Involved Violence Elimination (GIVE) grant resources.”
It also asked for city administrators and the corporation counsel to report back to the council on the planning within 60 days. Myles says she never received a report back.
Myles said that in discussions on Night Gyms with the mayor, Restaino had told her the city “could not help.” The council member said the city’s GIVE Coordinator, John Faso, told her that the initial goals of the council resolution were more than GIVE funding and the Falls police could handle.
“This program is intentionally designed for teens at a critical stage of independence and decision-making,” Boys & Girls Club Executive Rebecca Vincheski said in announcing her organization’s plans. “By creating a safe, engaging space during evening hours, we’re giving 16 to 18-year-olds positive options for how they spend their time, while also helping them build confidence, stay active, and remain connected to supportive mentors and peers.”