What began as a planned 40-week program, designed to provide “a safe, structured evening engagement” opportunity for teens in the Falls, may become much more.
Just four weeks into its operation, the program currently dubbed “The Club” at the Niagara Falls Boys & Girls Club has seen growing acceptance and involvement from teens in the city.
“We began looking at something like this at the beginning of the year. It was going to be for the school year only,” said Rebecca Vincheski, the Boys & Girls Club executive director. “Two weeks ago, it seemed to take off. We’ve had much higher attendance after the 4th of July holiday.”
Shootings at two large gatherings of young people that left two people dead in the early morning hours of July 5 fueled the calls for more supervised activities for teens and those in their early 20s. Vincheski said those calls are not new.
“There was already talk about a need for a program like this,” she said, “A safe place to have fun, to be with adults, to build skills while socializing, which teens like to do.”
Seeded with a $67,000 grant from the city, funded through the Department of Public Works/Parks budget, the Boys & Girls Club put together what some described as “an ambitious project” that would operate out of the organization’s 17th Street clubhouse. A program summary indicated it would look to “amplify youth voices in program design and community initiatives,” aid the development of “career-ready skills in media, technology and leadership,” as well as “strengthen connections between youth and workforce opportunities.”
Vincheski said young people participating in the program are helping with hands-on direction to shape what’s being offered at The Club. A music teacher has been brought in to guide the use of a recording studio that allows teens to learn instruments and record the music they create.
Carpentry and art projects can be learned and undertaken in the club’s wood shop, while some participants are engaged in designing for Buffalo’s New Era Cap company. The Club is also creating a teen advocacy group to advance the interests of young people in the city.
Vincheski also said the Boys & Girls Club gym remains its most popular gathering place, in a partnership with the 716 United sports program.
“I’m too old to know what teens want to do,” she says, “so we want them to design what’s best for them.”
And while the evening program is in its infancy, Vincheski said she sees it growing and continuing even after the city grant money runs out.
“That is my mission,” she said. “Our board of directors believes that when we start a program, we are in it as long as the community wants it. We’re here for the long run.”
The club executive says efforts are already underway to find funding to keep the program open past its city grant. She said the board is seeking grants from private charitable foundations and other sources.
Vincheski said her organization is also looking at ways to find “additional spaces” for its summer camp program to allow teens to take over the 17th Street clubhouse “all day, year round.”
“There’s a huge need, and we’re committed to keep growing in response to this need,” Vincheski said.