The Pandemic Report by Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

PANDEMIC REPORT

A GLIMPSE OF WHO WE WERE, WHAT WE DID, AND WHAT WE’RE DOING

2019-2022

To inspire and enable

all young people, especially those who need us most to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

963

Board of Directors John Cordeiro, President

Kevin Teague, Vice President Shawna Terry, Secretary Peter Stoppello, Treasurer Todd Walker, Past President Kevin Corley • Shawn Guttersen • Micki Hambro • Jonny Karpuk Hugh Linn • Willa McManmon • Michael Murray • Bernie Narvaez Alfredo Pedroza • Jay Ryder • Lise Tarner

Associate Board Members Carlos Aguilera • Greg Araujo • Ed Berruezo • Susanne Besu Truchard Ryan Brennan • John Coleman • Eduardo Dingler • Tom Feutz • Marcia Hadeler Jason Holly • Mache Indelicato • Tiffany Iverson • Susan Johnson Eric Keffer • Kasama Lee • Bryan Lipa • Sona Luisoni • Brandt Mori Tom Nelson • Beth Painter • Will Phelps • Mary Rezek • Marcela Hernandez Jed Silver • Stacy Soberalski Hersly • Cory Wagner • Rhonda Walker

From the Executive Director, I intended share a summary of the quarter but as I sat down to write I received news of yet another mass school shooting. I put my planned remarks aside to reflect on this critical incident. I spoke with colleagues in the wake of the tragedy in Uvalde, Texas. I spoke with friends last night as we grieved for those families. I spoke with parents this morning as they brought their children to school. These conversations left me reflecting on yesterday morning, and what that experience looked like for the parents of Robb Elementary School. Every one of these parent's began their day by taking their child to a safe space. Every one of them fully expected to hear about a day of art, math, and growing friendships that evening. None of them expected that that morning's goodbye would be the last. The last hug. The last smile. The last "I love you." Grief, fear, and vulnerability permeate this sphere as mass shootings, contention, and hate continue to erode the safety of these spaces during and after school. And while these tragedies are often used to fuel important and ongoing debates about gun violence and systemic racism, these discussions have done little to mitigate the frequency and severity of these events. Salvador Ramos walked into Robb Elementary School and killed 19 children and two teachers. At the center of this event, and those like it, we find monsters; people with, as Governor Abbott said, "evil in their hearts." I think it's important, however, to recognize that these monsters were not created overnight. As guardians of youth, our mission to serve "those who need us most," drives everything we do. That work changes the narrative for kids who continue to be failed by systems that are unequipped to provide a sense of care and belonging. In the wake of Robb and so many others we have learned that madness is the result of growing up in the absence of people who care about us. That’s why the Club is so vital. I've watched staff build inclusivity and care into what they do every-day afterschool. When a kid lashes out in a program, the staff guide them back. When a kid snaps at someone for taking their spot, the staff create safe spaces to reinforce positive conflict strategies. When a kid needs a quiet moment to breathe, we give them that calm. When a kid needs someone to recognize their triumphs, no matter how small, it's the person wearing a staff shirt who say's "great work." You will find staff fighting to create a community of care every-day afterschool. They do this for kids with disabilities; They do this for kids from broken homes; They do this for kids who live in poverty; They do this for kids who feel alone. They create activities that help them develop skills and aide them as they navigate conflict, social dynamics, and relationships. They build these communities through shared experiences, through sports, and through engagement. This is what prevention looks like.

I am struggling, as I always do in the wake of these incidents. As a former staff, it's hard not to feel like my efforts have been ineffective, but when I reflect on the work our Clubs are doing, it gives me hope that through our shared commitment to those who need us most, we will continue to foster and elevate this community of care for Napa Valley. I don't pretend that this is the only solution, but we're fighting to make sure every kid has a safe place where they feel like they are important, cared for, and belong. That's the kind of community all of us should strive to build. Thank you for your support. Thank you for your advocacy. Thank you for your empathy. Thank you for your awareness. Thank you for your generosity. This is why your support matters.

Greg Bouil erce Greg Bouillerce Executive Director

Aside from internal awards like Member of the Month and Youth of the Year, we sponsor and advocate for teens for Heart of Napa Youth Volunteer Awards. More than a dozen Club teens have been considered for this title Since 2017!

Awarded To:

Kyle Hadeler, Club 1515 Teen Center

Awarded on:

Spring 2022

Awarded By:

Center for Non-Profit Leadership

Awarded For: Youth Volunteer Award

Awarded To:

Andre Aikins, Club AC Teen Center

Awarded on:

Spring 2021

Awarded By:

Center for Non-Profit Leadership

Awarded For: Youth Volunteer Award

Awarded To:

Rudolph Barragan, Club 1515 Teen Center

Awarded on:

Spring 2021

Awarded By:

Center for Non-Profit Leadership

Awarded For: Youth Volunteer Award

Awarded To:

Dareydy Rojas, Club 1515 Teen Center

Awarded on:

Spring 2020

Awarded By:

Center for Non-Profit Leadership

Awarded For: Youth Volunteer Award

Awarded To:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Awarded on:

Spring 2021

Awarded By:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Awarded For: Teen Outreach

Awarded To:

Josh Sergeson, Teen Director

Awarded on:

Summer 2021

Awarded By:

Maytag & Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Awarded For: Excellence in Leadership

Awarded To:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Awarded on:

Spring 2022

Awarded By:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America

Awarded For: Youth Advocacy

Awarded To:

Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Awarded on:

Spring 2021 & Spring 2022

Awarded By:

Charity Navigator

Awarded For: Exceptionalism in Fiscal Management and Transparency

9 Elementary School

1403

1743

1,269

Middle School

104

156

104

High School

Other Youth Served*

555

103

1726

8,530 Total Youth Served

9 American Indian

Asian

130

African American

104

119

Latinx

774

987

1307

50%

Caucasian

378

426

553

22%

Multiracial

203

255

542

16%

9 Male

813

965

1374

50%

Female

725

950

1310

49%

Non-Binary

Transgender

–

9 Low Income Households

1077

1732

1637

73%

Moderate Income Households

431

192

939

25%

High Income Households

107

9 9 Dual Parent Household

954

1135

1691

61%

Single Parent Household

554

770

939

37%

Foster/Homeless Youth

9 9 Wine Industry/Agriculture

1121

1805

1837

48%

Hospitality

847

581

1531

30%

Retail

349

367

656

14%

Civic/Government

125

245

219

Other

131

With 8 location serving multiple school campuses throughout Napa and American Canyon, school release varies between 1:00PM and 2:50PM. Generally speaking, when school is out Clubs are in. After eight hours of school, kids are hungry and need to RUN, JUMP, and PLAY. We make sure they have a healthy snack and then give them some unstructured time to decompress after school.

Power Hour is a National Boys & Girls Club program that creates structured time for homework assistance and academic enrichment. Homework help is supported by NVUSD teachers and trained staff. When kids are done with or have no homework, they’re still engaged in activities that reinforce school day curriculum like Math-ketbal & Language Relays.

The last portion of the day is completely dedicated to programs that help our kids to step outside of their comfort zone. In addition to nationally developed and recognized programs like Fine Arts, Triple Play Sports, and Healthy Habits Cooking, we challenge our kids and staff to come up with a range of new and engaging programs that inspire kids to do and be more.

POWER HOUR DIPLOMAS2DEGREES (d2D) ULTIMATE JOURNEY DIY STEM LYRICISM 101

HEALTHY HABITS PASSPORT TO MANHOOD SMART GIRLS SMART MOVES MONEY MATTERS

TORCH CLUBS YOUTH FOR UNITY KEYSTONE CAREER LAUNCH YOUTH OF THE YEAR

DANCE TRIPLE PLAY YOGA ZOOMBA ALL STARS

CHORUS DRAMAMATTERS FINE ARTS PROGRAM MUSICMAKERS

NATIONAL PHOTOGRAPHY PROGRAM

Carol Louise Yurek David Whitehouse Kathie Weis Gray Wanless Vollmer Family Foundation Joseph Van Orsdel Trinchero Family Estates The Wonderful Company Foundation The Phelps Foundation The Doering Family Foundation The deLeuze Family Charitable Foundation Claire Stull Alex Soto Mark and Tammy Smith Joshua Slater Charles and Felicia Shinnamon Rebecca Schoen Jay Ryder Ryder Family Foundation Leslie Rota Robert Lee Hudson Foundation Rob and Sarah Pursell Nancy Petrone Tobey Parks David Neighbors Napa Electric Miner Family Winery Mike Thompson for Congress Donna Hall Mertz

ME Creative Erin McCarty Malcolm De Sieyes Thomas Ma Long Electric Company Barton and Kasama Lee Kappmeyer-Isaacs Charitable Fund Justin & Michaela Gomez Sandra Ilsley Deborah Hinds Harris and Eliza Kempner Fund Micki Alise Hambro Marcia Hadeler Shawn and Connie Guttersen Katie Griffin David Gilbreth Linzi Gay Goldman Family Fund Dutch Bros Coffee Domaine Chandon - USA Deutsch Family Wine and Spirits Michael and Holly Depatie Brett and Natalie deLeuze Malcolm de Sieyes Costco Wholesale Corporation Carneros Resort and Spa Susan Burchill Axiom Engineers Veronica Ashworth

When you go to the Boys & Girls Club its easy to see games and light hearted fun, but that’s just where the magic starts. At the Club we meet kids where they are. We embrace them for who they are to build trust and ensure that they feel safe but we also push kids to experiment; to try new things. That’s why we say there’s something for everyone at the Boys & Girls Clubs because everyone has a secret gift just waiting to be played with.

We need volunteers who are interested in changing the life of a child. That sounds HUGE but it’s a simple as helping kids with homework and supporting staff in activities. Are you ready to get involved at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley?! Sign up as a volunteer by following the QR Code to the right or just click:

Teens are a challenging group to provide service to because they need space to explore and be themselves but they also need to be confronted with new opportunities and concepts. It’s a delicate balance and that’s why we were so thrilled when one of our teens mentioned they wanted to start a Tee-Shirt business. The result of that conversation was a full blow screen printing course with over 20 Club 1515 members making their own designs and applying them to shirts, bags, and other mediums! Watch Kyle, Club 1515 Member, walk us through the program and how screen printing works at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley!

We need local industry professionals to share their experience as mentors, panelists for teen Q&A discussions, and to help us set up local internships for our youth. Are you ready, as a professional, to get involved at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley?! Sign up as a volunteer by following the QR Code to the right or just click:

just needed that right place, the right opportunity and the right people to see it. That’s where the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley came in. It was the first place I really felt comfortable. They not only saw the real me but gave me opportunities to be my own person and surround myself with people who saw the “more” in me that I knew I always had. This didn't happen overnight. My journey with the Club is measured in years. I remember my very first day; stepping off the Bel Aire bus and standing in front of those big front steps. I remember feeling excited but also nervous. I had no idea that what was beyond those big cement steps and doors would lead me here today, but I was just excited to finally be able to start attending the place I used to have to just watch all the other kids go to after school. My brothers and I had lost our father early on and all we had was my mom and each other; but in walking through the doors of the Club I found an extended family. When I look back on my early days at the Club, I think of bingo and slamwich in the library with Nancy, bumper pool in the game room with Crystal and my first passion, soccer in the gym with my favorite staff, Federico. Those were great times for me, but I think they were even more important for my mom who always knew we were in a safe place while she worked to make sure we stayed happy, healthy and cared for. Over time those games became opportunities that helped me grow into the passionate and driven person I am today. Playing at The Club granted me the ability to learn, to practice and showed me how much hard work and effort pays off. At The Club was always fun, but we always grew through play. The lessons I learned at the Club gave me a foundation for my story. Middle school brought on some big changes in my life. They didn’t have a Club at my new school and there wasn’t a way for me to attend The Club because of transportation but I always made sure to go there over school breaks. I started to see changes in personalities, interests, friends and where we would all put effort and spend our time. Over time my friends started to look different to me. They were the “cool kids” and because I didn’t match that description, I felt disconnected. That’s when I started to find my love for video games, content creation and a variety of new things beyond sports. I loved diving into these things but exploring them isolated me and separated me from the pack which was hard. At home I started to feel like I wasn't living up to the standard or expectations others were meeting, and I felt as if those closest to me couldn’t see the value in what I was doing. I was different and I resented that. I wrestled with myself over who I was, and I lost that fight many times and acted out. I was getting in trouble, referrals, detentions, all while being compared to others and their success. While I had secretly found my passion for gaming and game design and was dreaming of becoming a future content creator,

I was also jeopardizing by rebelling against doubts like “that's not a real profession,” “that’s crazy, be realistic!” “That won't get you anywhere!” “can’t you be more like so and so…” and my favorite “they are just games, bro.” In the Summer of my freshman year, I returned to the Club and found my home in the teen center. I had no idea what to expect but choosing to come back that summer was one of the most important decisions for me and my future. I met and reconnected with some of my favorite people and made friends who I now consider family. The Club also took me places. I saw my first waterfall on a trip with the Club, they took me paintballing, and I always loved the annual lock-in. But they also gave me opportunities. I visited San Francisco with them and toured it with a Club alumni who immediately connected with. I was invited to Pandora studios where I was able to meet leaders who I share similar passions with and expand my vision for the future. I’ll never forget walking through those offices because the behind each of those success stories was a kid who looked just like me and once had dreams like me. These experiences helped me leave the voices of doubt behind as they allowed me to realize my dreams weren't so crazy. Like so many that year, my freshman year was cut short and many things in my life were shut down because of COVID-19. The one thing that remained constant that year was The Club, who continued to show up for me. The Club and its staff found ways to stay open and be there for me and my friends. Virtual scavenger hunts, Zoom Game nights, Mental health services and help with distance learning. There were days that I wanted to shut down, but my Club family wouldn’t let me get away with that. Staff like Julie, Eric and Josh continued to fight for me and so I kept fighting for them too. They continued to push me by asking important questions, “what is your dream?” “What do you want to do?” “Who do you want to be?” When I worked up the courage to voice my dreams, I wasn't met with discouraging questions but with opportunity. The Club heard me and connected me with digital certification programs in graphic design and video editing. I had regular access to a computer for the first time and professional software for design. Just like those days as a kid in the gym, The Club, was giving me a platform to learn, practice and get better. The Club, during a pandemic, helped me with school, develop lifelong relationships with mentors, and helped give me a head start on my career. More than this, though I was able to also build the confidence I needed to do more. Life is more than just where you're going, what you have or what you can get. It’s also about bringing people together and connecting. I am passionate about video games, but now I understand that this is because they tell a story, build communities, bring people together and give us all a level playing field. So let me re-introduce myself. My name is Miguel Rivera Medina. I'm a leader in and outside of the Club. I'm a creator and future game designer who uses this art to bring people together. I'm a volunteer in my community through Keystone. I’m a Mentor who uses his voice to help future generations realize their dreams. I am a member of the Club and I’m here today because there’s a lot more than soccer going on beyond those big cement steps and doors. There’s magic there, and we need more magic in the world.

100 Club kids and their families visited Meritage Resort and Spa this Winter. Families were hosted to full evening for absolutely no cost. There’s local perception that Napa Valley is too externally focused. People come here for the wine, experiences, the hospitality. It’s easy to forget that there are kids growing up among the vines as well and that this is first and foremost their home. That’s why events like this are so important and why we work hard with and celebrate companies like Meritage who draw focus back to the communities who make Napa Valley, as a brand, authentic, captivating, and heartfelt. That’s a Napa Valley Holiday we can ALL celebrate! www.begreatnv.org/events/merry-meritage

“It feels like everyone is always asking me, ‘what’s next,’ and it stresses me out because I don’t know the answer to that question but its like I’m supposed to know.” As a teen you’re often told to start thinking about a career and what you want to do with your life, but when you have no tangible experience, it’s easy to focus on the people around you who seem successful. That’s why we partnered with the Napa Valley Vintners to create an opportunity for our teens to visit with and ask questions of winery executives and administrators, because we’re all about exposing our youth to new opportunities. Just check out the video below!

At the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley we are VERY intentional about how we deliver enrichment programs. It shouldn't be any surprise then that EVERY aspect of our program is based on one of our five core areas. Fine Art programs are offered at every Club location, allowing members to experiment with multiple media and styles. This is SO much more than arts and crafts! Check out what the Members had to say in this video!

Are you ready to learn more about the programs offered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley?! Check out a full list of programs we offer by following the QR Code to the right or just click: !

, Last Bottle has donated more

than $50,000 to provide ongoing support to Napa and American Canyon Youth! Join them as a business sponsor today! Click use the QR Code to participate!

it’s easier than ever to join the Business Campaign? With levels starting as low as $100/month your local business can have an immediate impact on the life of a child! Learn More and review a list of our current sponsors or visit us at www.BeGreatNV.org and click “See Our Sponsors!”

ith our return to in person programs this past summer and then school campuses in mid August an important conversation has been brewing among us as a community regarding learning loss. While that conversation is important there’s a separate and equivalent deficit to be addressed with regard to Social and Emotional wellness. Learning is a cornerstone of youth development but it is relationships and our ability to work together that propels society forward. In March of 2020, like all of us, children across the nation severed ties with the outside world. We left schools and clubs and built these insulated pockets of humanity; together but still divided. Unlike adults, however, the loss of contact to friends, extended family members, and mentors meant that skills we develop as children and rely on to be successful as adults were set aside. This included essential skills like emotional intelligence, relationship building, and community engagement which could not be practiced in a vacuum and have atrophied. Suppose for a moment that you are seven years old. You’ve spent the last 18 months largely at home with older siblings. It has been a very different experience from your life as a first grader. You woke up that morning in March and the largest constant in your life, school, had shut down. The friends you had there, the teachers you loved, all of the normalcy and structure that gave you context to understand and interpret the world around you and your role in it vanished overnight. For the next year you were almost entirely reliant on your immediate family members and a school issued Chromebook for meaningful social and academic growth. You don’t do sleepovers anymore. The big family dinner every Sunday was cancelled. You don’t have the option to spend time with friends separately and then one day you are plunged back into the thick of it. You are cast from your very intimate bubble into a sea of children who are all struggling to adapt. The importance of learning loss is a large part of the story but not the whole story. If you have kids, you have probably seen evidence of this behavior at home. How much TV are they watching? How much time are they spending on video games? How long have they been staring at their phone. In short, the hidden cost of the pandemic extends beyond the gradebook and into the fundamental shift in how our children interact with the world in the absence of

social contact, social expression, and most importantly social awareness. As a result, it’s on us as parents, teachers, and mentors to reset their environments by positively deconstructing a false normalcy induced as a result of safety concerns in the wake of the pandemic. That work isn’t easy. School and afterschool relies on reinforced social norms and expectations and the transition back to school has been brutal for our younger kids. Teacher’s commiserated with our staff recently that “They have no idea how to work as a group.” “When they walk into class they drop their things on the floor as they make their way to their desks. It takes us an hour every morning just to make sure that their things are stowed in their cubbies so that we can get to work.” These things seem small but they have a direct and cumulative effect on the student experience and their ability to learn. Despite millions of dollars invested in digital learning and recovery in the county of Napa, we’ve paid little attention to social deficits associated with the pandemic. Those deficits continue to manifest in the form of social anxiety, behavioral outbursts, and continued isolationism. There’s hope though for those who recognize the opportunity. This type of learning isn't work you need a qualified professional to do. We all have the ability to have a lasting impact on the social and emotional health of our children by signing them up for activities and gently pushing them back into the world around us. That’s why agencies like the Boys & Girls Club are so important as they create opportunities for youth to experiment with and master these skills in a safe and engaging environment. Just look at any of the programing available at the Club and you’ll see a variety of activities specifically and intentionally delivered to address these deficits. We do this through our fine arts programs which allow kids to express their emotional state through art. We do this through our sports programs, which keep our kids actively engaged and communicating as a team. We do this through our mental health programs which, with the help of Mentis Counselors, provide teens with a platform to talk about issues and personal struggles in a safe and productive environment. These critical opportunities force youth to breach the artificial and insular pockets we created during the pandemic and return to normalcy. You cannot hit the pause button on youth, but at the Boys & Girls Club, perhaps you can hit the fast forward button on growth.

This month we got to sit down with Michael a sixth grade Boys & Girls Club Member at Napa Valley Language Academy. Michael started coming to the Club in Kindergarten. He loves our sports programs, but he’s also an example of what happens when Club staff care and push kids to step outside of their comfort zone to try something new. Here’s what Michael has to say about his time at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley!

Are you ready to learn more about our success stories and impact? Dive into everything from Impact reports to member testimonials on our website! Just follow the QR Code to the right or click: !

9 Average Club Entry Level Pay $19/hr

$16/hr

$12/hr

Average Hospitality Entry level Pay $21/hr

$19/hr

Sam started with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley as a program staff in 2017. Since that time she’s worked her way through Napa Junction, the Napa Clubhouse, the Franklin temporary site, McPherson, and now American Canyon! She’s a hard worker but more than this, inspired to make lives better for the kids of Napa Valley. Check out her story below!

Want to learn more about the staff and board members who make all this possible? Dive into our “About Us” section and check out the history of our organization on our website! Just follow the QR Code to the right or click: !

Club 1515 spent their spring break on a trip to Southern California where they toured six different Universities and Trade School institutions while having the opportunity to explore the culture of the surrounding areas. Through-out the week they considered a variety of careers, listened to the experiences of our staff and Club Alumni and participated in hands on leadership training from industry professionals! They also had a lot of FUN along the way! We are so excited about their futures and proud of how they continue to come together as a Club FAMILY!

Honorable Mentions: Youth of the Year Junior Every week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley recognizes members who excel in our core program areas (Character and Leadership, Education and Technology, Health and Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation). From these children, a Member of the Month is selected. Of these Members of the Month, a Member of the Year is announced representing each of our Clubhouse and School Site locations. Each of these youth have qualities we look for as a potential Youth of the Year, the Clubs’ highest honor, and we’re eager to see what they accomplish over the next few years. These are definitely kids you should keep your eye on!

Salvador Plancarte

Sophia Alvarado

Carolina Dominguez

Amelia Robley

Napa Clubhouse

McPherson School Site

Pueblo Vista School Site

Willow School Site

Melody Kondor

Stephanie Aguiar

Khalifia Young

Addison Ready

American Canyon Clubhouse

Napa Junction Site

Canyon Oaks Site

Napa Valley Language Academy Site

Napa Clubhouse

McPherson Site

Pueblo Vista Site

Willow Site

Salvador Plancarte

Sophie Alcantar

Arlo Valencia McGuire

Carmen Aguilera Villa

Kailani Medina Poueu

Fabian Lucas Rosas

Liliana Gonzalez Magaña

Raul Medrano

Camila Sanchez

James “JJ” Bush

Miguel Perez

Liliana Bernards

Brendan Fitz Gibbon

Daphnee Salinas

Charlotte Meade

Julia Delgado

Eric Romero

Ivan Sanchez

Noah Ryan

Paul Medrano

Katelyn Lincoln

Saleen Pimentel

Giselle Izarraras

Tristan Aken

Melissa Bermudez Sierra

Landon Munoz

Aramis Fuentes

Irvin Cruz

Emily Sullivan

Alexa Rojas

Carolina Domínguez

Riley White

Marco Rios

Sophia Alvarado

Emiliano Zepeda

Samuel Breedlove

Jazleen Camargo

Brian Mauricio

Isabelle Ayala

Daniel Zamora

Torianna Stevens

Evelyn Toscano

Reyes Diaz

Callan Benton

Max Sanchez

Bruno Reinaldo Ramirez

Alexa Leon

Amelia Robley

American Canyon Clubhouse

Napa Junction Site

Canyon Oaks Site

NVLA Site

Isaiah Guess

Lamont Chandler

Connor Parks

Leonardo Casho

Olivia Robey

Jayden Joseph Uy

Iyana Billings

Talia Cruz

Nayeli Real Salazar

Luna Huerta-Villalobos

Remi Robles

Aizlinn Bella Frayre

Anthony

Avery Hamilton

Dannica Ingram

Jonathan De Haro

Isabella Patio

Stephany Aguiar

Victoria Timpano

Simone Lacau

Adeline “AJ” Fleeger

Avanna Benn

Khalifa Young

Jazlyn Ramirez

Penelope Chavez

Aristides Hernandez-Raygoza

Michael Valdez

Johnny Rodriguez

Odalys De Leon

Victoria Hamilton

Isabella Barragan

Robert Bulman

Tyler Scott

Mazi Jordan Anderson

Forever Mason

Addison Ready

Wendy Fuentes

Harper Hattendorf

Liam Jon Taguiran

Natalia Castillo

Arlo Font

Rey Shaun Raymundo

Ana Paula Garcia

Jax Knecht

Rachel Wu

Alexis Bernabe

Sebastian Acuna

Maylani Edens Mendoz

Program Spotlight At the Boys & Girls Club, we believe in the importance of recognizing youth for their personal achievements as a vehicle for inspiration, encouragement and success. Becoming Youth of the Year is an exciting and inspiring journey. Each of the candidates were identified through years of participation both at Club 1515 and through our elementary school programs. These teens have invested weeks in

mentoring, volunteering, and crafting their message with staff and advisors. Of our entire membership, only four are offered the opportunity to participate in the Youth of the Year event. These youth are more than they appear; they are the cornerstones of what the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley represents and strives to achieve. Each year, thousands of Club teens participate in local, state, and regional Youth of the Year events until the final six teens, including five regional winners and a national military youth winner, are selected to advance to the National Youth of the Year Celebration.

Honorable Mentions: Youth of the Year Youth of the Year is a year long recognition and service program. Every week, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley identifies teens who excel in our core program areas (Character and Leadership, Education and Technology, Health and Life Skills, the Arts, and Sports, Fitness and Recreation). From these teens, a Member of the Month is selected. Each of these youth have qualities we look for as a potential Youth of the Year, the Clubs’ highest honor, and we’re eager to see what they accomplish. These are definitely teens you should keep your eye on!

Club 1515 Napa Clubhouse

Club AC American Canyon

Jaime Sanchez

Melody Kondor

Aleia Hamilton

William Timpano

Pamela Sanchez

Iyana Billings

Angel Ortiz

Madilynn Davis

Miguel Rivera Medina

Leanna Uy

Edmundo Gonzalez

Jaymond Logan

Dareydy Rojas

Aman Patel

Azhley Gonzalez

Jeremiah Williams

Kyle Hadeler

Destiny Aguiar

Eduardo Coronado

Madison Murphy

Jazmin Valdonivos

Arlo Font

Titus Williamson

Rachel Wu

Are you ready to learn more about the programs offered at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley?! Check out a full list of programs we offer by following the QR Code to the right or just click: !

Joel Navarro was our 2019 Youth of the Year and is a great example of the outcomes driven approach of the Club. Joel joined the Club in 2006 and will graduate from the University of San Francisco this year. He is currently employed full time at Apple Inc.

Dareydy has a transcendent vibrance and energy. It has been a joy to watch her blossom as the 2021 Youth of the Year. As our Youth of the Year she represented the Club in radio interviews and at various speaking events in the Valley. She was also recognized as Volunteer of the Year with a Heart of Napa Valley Award!

Azhley has been a member of The Club since Kindergarten where she first attended the McPherson site. She is currently a senior at Valley Oak High School and upon graduation plans to attend Napa Valley college and transfer to a 4-year university to pursue a degree in Political Science.

The Clubs Youth of the Year program culminates in an annual speech competition in February. We are always in search of judges and volunteers for this program. People who can help with interview skills, public speaking, and writing are highly sought after. Learn more about this program by following the QR Code or just click:

ow do they live like this? I think to myself after seeing the shape of a person in the middle of bags full of bottles and cans. What if I were to tell you there was a pandemic happening well before the outbreak in 2020? You might look past it and not be able to put a name to it. Homelessness. It is the thing that is quiet and loud, insignificant and chronic, invisible but exposed to prying eyes that are upset for the wrong reasons. Last year the pandemic affected all of us in different ways, but we all worried more than normal. All along, there were people in Napa that could not even meet the basic standard of living: the homeless. We, the housed, worried about our jobs, food, gas, family, friends, and our future. The homeless did not get a chance to think about any of that. It is easy to see how beautiful Napa is. What is not easy to see is the poverty in a wealthy place like this one. In my opinion, homelessness is a sign of a failed economy. Whether there are 10 or 10,000 homeless, I think we have failed if anyone looking for a safe place to sleep at night cannot get it. I walk around a lot in Napa, which has made me see a lot of people out and about living their life constantly in motion. Then STOP… I see white and black trash bags haphazardly piled on top of each other, a grotesque pile of junk with a shopping cart holding food, and old shoes with a blanket on top of it. Flies buzz around the mass. I am suddenly out of my element, questioning something like this is here on Lincoln Avenue next to the liquor store. I take a closer look and see a man sitting against the fence, staring at the ground. I ask if he is OK. That’s when he looks up and says his name is Tony.

Tony assured me he was OK. I know he was not fine, but his smile tried to say otherwise. I introduced myself, we talked briefly, and I said goodbye and kept walking. As I walked away, I could not shake the image I saw before I met Tony and the idea that just a brief conversation could change the way I saw a person. When I heard him talk, I did not hear the things that are said about the homeless: I did not hear of drug use. He did not proclaim that he chooses to live outside. He did not have a crazy ramble that made no sense, and he did not ask me for any money. All he did was treat me like a human being. He talked to me about his love for his family, where he grew up, and where he got his education. He also talked about his friends, what he does daily, and he wanted to hear the same from me. From a pile of garbage to a person in the shadows — to now Tony, a man that lost his touch, but one I am not willing to just throw away. Homelessness is a bigger issue than just the mere fact of just not having a place to live but what not having the proper living space can do to your life. Homelessness affects your mental health, your ability to make a living, sociability, the support you receive, and the way society sees you. And the crazy part is, no matter how far you have come, no matter how much wealth you have gained and how well looked at you are today, all of this could be taken away, and you could be the one someone mistakes for garbage. Tony is just one of many that are homeless and seeing his smile made me feel pity and shame that living like this is normal in a place I live, the city of Napa. I see signs, stickers, and hashtags as I walk around all over the city, with the slogan “Napa Strong”. I've also grown-up hearing leaders tell me “we are only as good as our weakest link.” Both are a lot harder to swallow once you think about Tony and the over 464 of his peers who are currently homeless. Would you say that is a sign of a “Strong” community and are they a part of the “Napa Strong” movement? I cannot speak for the homeless population as I have not experienced it firsthand myself, but I can help the uninformed see them and put them in a better light. I am not sure what the solution is, but this must change. We need to do better in acknowledging our communities’ shortcomings. We need to help the most vulnerable people in our communities even if they do not have a platform to ask for help. We need to care about others unconditionally. That shows the true character of our community, and that would truly make us the strong Napa we claim to be. That’s a step in the right direction that would not only greatly benefit the homeless but this city. Would you be OK with the people you care about most being treated as we treat the homeless? Or let me put it simpler: would you want to be treated like Tony? Like the waste of the world?

The availability of access to quality child care is a primary factor with regard to attracting and retaining potential employees. As of 2019, the US Census concluded that access to child care in Napa was critically low with 4 children for every 1 available spot. That’s compounded by the cost which has risen dramatically since the 1990s. “In California, the cost of a typical day-care center is now equal to almost half of the median income of a single mother.” As of 2021, the average cost of childcare in Napa was $12,000 every year.

For me, as a Club member I am a voice for other youth around me. I make changes and advocate for the things that are important to me and others in my generation. As a Club member, I collaborate and help others. The Club has been the place where I can achieve not only the things that are important to me but also the things that are important to others. The Club is also a place where I invest in myself. I’ll be leaving for college to earn a Bachelor of Science in Nursing. Many of the staff have not only offered encouragement in this goal but advice as I weigh opportunities and different ways I could achieve my goals. They help me feel like my goals are not only achievable but that I would be great. That’s a huge confidence booster. The staff that had the most impact on me was a staff named Caleb. Caleb was there during my first year all the way through the middle of seventh grade. He was one of my favorite staff and even went to my baptism. Caleb was one of the most important people in my life, and when he left, you could see all of the students that he had touched at the Clubhouse. He was there if you needed advice about something, and he had awesome activities that we got to do. He also managed a cooking club, which was a lot of fun. I became very close with staff like Jacob, who during my eighth-grade year helped me tackle distance learning. I remember Jacob because he was there every day, and he built good relationships with not only me and my friends but with the whole class. He helped me explore my passion for writing. With him we wrote chapters of a story every week and by the end of the year, we had two stories that we had written and drawn digital art for. These staff are only a couple examples of how important this place has been to me. There was always something to do at the Club. We played gaga every chance we got at the Club. It was just a typical everyday activity that you could choose, but it was always my favorite. I learned to cook at the Club with Caleb. That was a lot of fun and made me discover my love for baking and cooking. During my eighth grade year, I was given the opportunity to participate in the Poetry Slam. This gave me the chance to use my creativity and voice for the first time. The Boys & Girls Club is one of the best places that I have ever been to. It has allowed me to learn and grow as a person along with others my age. I was able to make connections and always had a group of people who were there for me. The Boys and Girls Club really helped me with my self-confidence and how I felt about myself. Today, I feel more confident in myself. If I could choose whether or not I wanted to go to Boys and Girls Club every day, I would choose to go. I not only get social interaction with other peers my age, but I am able to laugh, grow, and make good memories here.

Following the cancellation of its Kentucky Derby Gala in May of 2020, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley embarked on a new high profile gala event call the “UnGala.” Hosted by William Hill, the live 100 person event featured a 15 lot auction and raised $500,000, shattering previous efforts by a factor of three. We are incredibly grateful to have been able to host this outdoor event in July of 2021 and in compliance with all COVID-19 guidelines and procedures. “As a community, we believe that success is a shared venture; that our exceptional leaders, vintners, and partners understand that their success is born of the hard work and effort of our entire Napa Valley community, that the fruits of that labor enrich the lives of our community as a whole. With this spirit in mind, we know every child deserves the chance to realize their own limitless potential; tonight is an expression of your investment in, support of, and love for the Napa Valley and more importantly the generations of youth who continue to grow among the vines.” -Greg Bouillerce, Executive Director, Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley You can learn more about the event at the Club’s website at www.begreatnv.org

At its March 17th school board meeting, the Napa Valley Unified School District approved a landmark agreement with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley which will allow us, in partnership with Napa County Office of Education, and others to provide 2,800 Napa and American Canyon children with six-weeks of full day summer enrichment and to provide access to these programs free of charge. “We are so excited by this opportunity because the impact of this level of service to the children of Napa and American Canyon will be felt in every facet of the Napa Valley community,” says Greg Bouillerce, the Club’s Executive Director. Summer Camps are a core, but largely unknown, aspect of the Napa and American Canyon Club experience. “It’s always surprising to me when people are unaware of what their kids could be accessing if they were enrolled in Summer Camp,” continued Bouillerce. With over 75 years of experience in Napa Valley, the Boys & Girls Clubs have Summer camps down to a science. Routines are critical for kids and so we use a regular structure so that they always know what to expect. That structure also offers a lot of room for flexibility so that kids are eager to see what might be in store. With so many kids fixated on screens and technology, it’s critically important to put kids in situations that challenge them to build relationships through tangible and engaging experience with peers and mentors. With that in mind, when you walk into our programs this summer you’re going to find kids doing art, playing sports, and singing camp songs. “If kids are going home dirty, tired and with a smile, it means we’re doing our job,“ concluded Bouillerce. While most of these programs will take place at NVUSD School locations the Club will also create experiences for kids outside of Napa Valley. Field trips to the Exploratorium, Major League Ball Games, and the redwoods are staples of the Clubs Summer Camp programs. These expanded learning opportunities are transformative and that’s what makes the Clubs work so vital. It’s easy to mistake the Clubs programs as good intentioned fun, but there’s a lot more going on for those who care to look deeper. We use fun as a vehicle for growth and engagement. Yes, we’re doing arts & crafts, but we’re also using this time to talk about emotional health and creating safe spaces for kids to explore difficult subjects and how they feel about them. Yes, we’re doing sports, but we’re also teaching kids

about the importance of teamwork and how to learn through failure. When you walk by our sites, you’re going to hear singing and skits but we’re also teaching kids what it means to be a part of a community of care and joy. That’s the hidden and tangible magic that we get to inject into these summer camps and how fortunate that this expanded partnership comes at a time when these lessons and opportunities are desperately needed. The scale of this effort is herculean by comparison to previous summers and so the Club is actively hiring to fill over 100 summer staff positions. When it comes to the success of our programs there is nothing more important than the person wearing the staff shirt. The Club is upping the ante by increasing its starting wage and offering a very competitive hiring and summer bonus structure to ensure that the summer experience at the Club is an absolute blast! We need artists, athletes, musicians, scientists, DIYers and cheerleaders. This is a great opportunity for people looking to offset hours in the hospitality sector. If you or someone you know is looking for a part time, full time, temp or full blown career opportunities there has never been a better time to get involved with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley!

For the last 12 years the Napa Valley Vintners have been a key partner of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley. With over $3,000,000 invested in our programs since the partnership began they have touched thousands of lives through programs made possible because of their support. Securing consistent and reliable funding is the most difficult obstacle we face as an agency because our youth need to know that we’re going to be present and more than this that we’re going to honor our commitment to them. When we say “we’re going to help you with homework every day at 3:30,” they expect that we’re going to stand by that agreement. Maintaining that level of commitment is difficult when you don’t know what, when, or if a donation is coming to pay for the staff, the supplies, or the electrical bill. That’s why the Vintners commitment to continued annual funding is so incredibly helpful because it means that we can plan for the future and be intentional about how we support and invest in our youth. What makes this regular support so unique is the level of trust they place in us and other recipients. It’s much easier to secure funding for a special interest project. People fall in love with supporting our Fine Arts programs, Workforce Development programs, and our work in mental health. Like any business, though, we have all of these ancillary expenses like facility maintenance, insurance, and all the infrastructure that makes the fun stuff possible. People just don’t get excited about making sure that we can pay someone to clean the toilets and while that’s understandable, we still need to make sure the Club is always clean and ready for kids. That’s what makes the Napa Valley Vintners unique in that they invest in us without any strings attached for how that funding is applied. They trust us to make sound investments in our children regardless of whether that means a new flashy program or paying the Comcast bill to ensure our distance learners always have a strong connection. They trust us as the experts in the room and invest in us because they can see the value of what we do for the community. That gives us so much flexibility with regard to how we shape youth. With so much emphasis placed on the wine and hospitalities industries it’s easy to forget that we are first and foremost a community of people trying to make lives better in this special place we call home. That’s something that the Vintners are incredibly mindful of as they continue to support programs and initiatives that make life better for the residents who make the Napa Valley brand what it is. So, if you rely on, have been impacted by, or support the work of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley please take a moment to thank the Napa Valley Vintners because they quietly make our work easier, deeper, and more importantly better.

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Youth of the Year

Summer for All

The Power of Play

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A Day at the Club