In 2014, Bryant’s summer break was cooking up to be a boring one. Growing up in a poverty-stricken community where parents have to work hard to simply make ends meet, there are few structured outlets for youth to turn to amidst the school-less void. Bryant, who remained largely unguided during the summer days, lacked mental stimulation until his parents finally found the Johnson Boys & Girls Club.
During his first summer at the Club, Bryant emerged from his introverted bubble to find confidence in socializing, playing sports, taking on leadership roles, and much more. What began as a quick fix to cure the summer lull quickly turned into a place of year-round comfort. Now, 15-year-old Bryant has been a Club member for three years and attests much of his personal self-growth to the support and inspiration that he has received from staff members.
“I used to be anti-social and preferred to stay at home alone. It was not until I went to the Johnson Boys & Girls Club that I learned how to interact with my peers and adults,” said Bryant. “The staff served, as a great first connection into the Club. They quickly became a support system that I could joke around with and helped me discover new passions.”
With the help of the staff, Bryant quickly became immersed in an array of programs that helped ignite a sense of self-growth. Most notably, Bryant found a passion for playing sports that summer. He learned to overcome his fears of not being good enough to play, and now uses the world of athletics as a way to relieve stress and stay healthy. This past year, Bryant has also taken steps to be an athletic role model for the younger Club members.
“Being a role model for kids is one of my main priorities,” said Bryant. “Through participating in the Fuel Up to Play 60 initiative (a program to encourage kids to be physically active for at least 60 minutes every day), I can set an example for the younger members teaching them the health benefits from staying active and eating healthy.”
Diving into his fourth summer at the Johnson Boys & Girls Club, Bryant is looking forward to participating continuing to play sports with his friends, mentor younger Club members, and will also be joining a Portfolio Program to start working on his resume in preparation for applying to colleges.
During the summer months youth, namely those growing up in low-income households, are at threat of losing up to three months of reading and math computational skills. Helping to fill the desperate need for affordable, engaging and educational summer programming, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver provides summer programming from 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. where youth can get involved in expansive programming including outdoor education opportunities, reading and science programs, enriching field trips, and much more.