After nearly four years of planning and development, the Board of Directors and leadership team of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan (headquartered in Benton Harbor) have announced ‘Level Up at The Club’, an initiative to bring new life and workforce readiness skills programming to the Joel E. Smilow Teen Center in Benton Harbor.
Level Up at The Club will feature a Best Buy Teen Tech Center® in the Club’s lower level. This is a $1.29 million capital improvement project that will feature new, state-of-the-art technology, as well as refreshed spaces throughout the Club for programs that will help teens get ready for life’s next big steps, including the world of work.
“This evolution of our Club’s Teen Center will allow us to create so many opportunities for the kids of Benton Harbor and the communities we serve across southwest Michigan,” says Alloyd Blackmon, CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan. “Combining the innovation of the Best Buy Teen Tech Center with the proven programming power of Boys & Girls Clubs is a magical formula to provide the support our teens need to create, innovate, and explore.”
Best Buy Teen Tech Centers are a place where teens can develop critical skills through hands-on activities that explore their interests in programming, film-making, music production, and design. Each location works to bridge the digital divide by giving youth access to tech education opportunities, relationships that help to build confidence, and a foundation for school and career success.
The capital improvements for this project are funded by the Best Buy Foundation, the Boys & Girls Clubs State Alliance Aid Fund, and other donors who wish to remain anonymous. Club planning and construction partners are Abonmarche (Benton Harbor) and DJ Construction (Kalamazoo).
The group’s leaders point out, “Young people need Boys & Girls Clubs now more than ever to build the essential skills they will need to succeed in a competitive workforce. With a safe space and positive mentors to guide them, today’s youth will exceed beyond any circumstances that surround them and meet the challenges of employers who are reimagining the future of jobs in America.”
Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan relies on partnerships to identify solutions and strategies to suppor young people as they prepare for a career. Through a network of partners, Clubs will increase access to a variety of career exploration and work experiences for children and teens.
For more information about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Southwest Michigan or to schedule an interview, contact Sherri Ulleg at 269.363.4806 or sulleg@bgcbh.org.
