The Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound are more than after-school clubs. They play a key role in youth support infrastructure in Pierce, Kitsap and Mason Counties. They are one of the main out-of-school-time systems for youth, especially for families needing affordable, safe, structured support. Their programming focuses on after-school hours, summers, and school breaks. Through homework assistance, access to technology, mentoring, sports, art and music projects, countless snacks, and so much more. Club staff strive to instill character and leadership, promote healthy lifestyles, and create pathways to academic success for every young person.
The Al Davies Boys & Girls Club has faithfully served as a youth centered neighborhood cornerstone for Tacoma’s urban core youth for decades. It is a place to play, make friends, learn, belong, and feel seen. For many of these youth, it has been a second home.
Dedicated in 1979, the Al Davies Club is the oldest facility operated by the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound. As a result, the teen center also reflected the building’s age rather than the ages of those using the space.
To remedy this, the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club staff determined it was time to upgrade the teen center. With so many places and other activities competing for a teenager’s time, club staff wanted to do their very best to create a space where teens would want to spend their time.
To provide a sense of ownership, teens were a part of the collaborative design process. They met, diagrammed the space, and talked about how it would be used. This was an opportunity to grow in experience, use their voices, and again, be seen.
Club staff knew that giving teens ownership of this project would foster personal growth through skill development. Recent studies show young people need more than basic support to thrive. In addition to safe spaces and reliable meals, they benefit from mentorship, educational opportunities, after-school programs, and experiences that help them grow, build confidence, and develop as individuals. and imagine brighter futures. The Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA) recently unveiled the “Youth Right Now” survey findings from more than 140,000 young people ages 9-18. Findings show creating a culture that provides opportunities for young people is essential not only for their success, but for the long-term strength of communities.
By the time the upgrade was complete, the teen center had upgraded furniture, decorations, and technology, as well as professionally cleaned floors, and freshly repainted walls. It was transformed into an inviting, fun and safe space developed by young minds who were given the opportunity to practice using their creativity, planning skills, collaboration, and communication. Through this project, they displayed the agency and effort needed to want something better for their lives and make it happen… an incredibly invaluable lesson in life.
The Ben B. Cheney Foundation was proud to provide a grant to help bring this vision to life for the teens of the Al Davies Boys & Girls Club.
About the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Puget Sound:
Boys & Girls Clubs give kids a place to call their own, where they can have fun, get a hot meal, be creative, be part of a team, get help with homework, and hang out with friends. They offer safe, fun, and inspiring places that kids and their families count on every day. They operate nine Club locations in Pierce, Kitsap, and Mason counties with open doors that offer spaces for children and teens to learn, create, and attain their best in academics, athletics, and more. They also operate a variety of licensed childcare and extended learning opportunities at local schools.