Teen Voice: "My Fight"

As my brothers and I walk down Pueblo Avenue in Napa, the street we grew up on, I see a beautiful community full of culture, loyalty, hardworking people, and family. At the same time, my community is surrounded by gangs, violence, and a lot of opportunity to make bad decisions. That’s why I found myself at the Club, the place that gives kids like me a safe space to exist, a place for friendship, a place that became my second home. My name is Jazmin Valdovinos, and I’m a teen member at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Napa Valley’s Club 1515.

I have been attending The Boys and Girls Clubs for 10 years and to this day I still make that walk down Pueblo every day to the Club. On my best days, my worst days, in the rain and through everything, I always find myself back here. I can remember that first walk and seeing the Club from a distance. It’s the biggest building in my on the block and you can't help but notice those blue hands peeking over everything. My mother sent us that day because she needed a place for us to go while she worked to provide for our family. It was a hard decision for her but she trusted the Club. They’d take care of us, we’d get to eat, and we would be safe.

My first two weeks at The Club was a challenging time. It was hard to open up and make friends. That was until I met Jimena. She helped get me out of my comfort zone and showed me so many activities that I would go on to love; games like “Ship's Captain” in the gym, or the “Smart Girls” program with Crystal where I learned about self-esteem and healthy relationships, and “Power Hour” where I got the help I needed to complete my homework every day. Those days went by so fast and everyday was something new to look forward to. In these walls it was all about just being a kid and I thank but the Club also shielded me from everything that was going on around me outside.

My father passed away and his passing hit me hard, and everything just stopped. I stopped going to the Club. I stopped working at school. I stopped everything. It felt like those years just being a kid were over. I lost myself, I put myself in harmful situations and chose to make bad decisions. I surrounded myself with people who were active in the local gangs and was constantly in fights at school because of it. I was angry and if there was a fight, I was in it.

That realization that I wasn't alone was a spark and before I knew it, I was telling josh every thing. I told him about my history. I told him the things that were going on. I expressed how I was feeling and instead of talking back at me he listened and gave me great motivation. This is why I

knew the Club was a safe space. I knew that I would find people who had my best interest at heart and staff who I could trust. In that trust, I found safety. And through that safety I was able to work through my feelings and build new relationships. I found myself here and keep coming back because of the people and the joy they bring. I lost myself, but my heart was always here. After all those years of pain and bad decisions I was so close to giving up, but this place made a difference for me. They were always by my side.

At the Club I got back to doing the things I love. I started exercising daily, I took up boxing as a way to express myself, I started communicating with my family better and started taking more opportunities to participate at the Club. I was able to be a part of Napa Valley Youth Leadership Academy where over eight weeks I was able to come together with other middle school students to build leadership skills, go on field trips to a variety of local businesses, learn about teamwork on the zipline and ropes course and meet different successful leaders from our community. This experience showed me my unique leadership strength is in using my voice. I always knew I was someone who was outspoken but now I realized the impact my voice has if I use it wisely.

You’ll always find me at Family night Fridays at the Club. Everything from movie nights, game nights, challenge relays in the gym, to teen night outs where we go on field trips. These nights might seem all fun and games but the impact they have had on me is so meaningful. Friday nights at The Club gave me a chance to be off the streets and choose to do something positive, allowed me and my friends to put our problems aside and let us just be big kids for the night.

The opportunities and the impact The Club has had on my life continue as the teen center has become my second home and the people inside have become my family. This is where I have been able to find my why in life, where I continue to stand up and fight for something bigger than myself. Starting high school during a pandemic was an experience that shook not only myself but our entire community. Again though, The Club was there by my side. While schools were shut down, The Club was open, and it allowed me a safe place to do virtual learning. Having the Club during that time also provided me structure with a schedule I could follow every day and gave me the sense of familiarity I needed. I saw my grades improve and I was able to get the academic and personal help I needed. It was a tough time, but we got through it together and I like to think we are coming out of it stronger than before.

This year with the encouragement of our Keystone President, Dareydy, I joined Keystone for the first time and have started to serve and make an impact on my community. As a leader in Keystone over the next few years I plan to use everything the Club has shown me and find ways to use my voice to bring more cultural and ethnic specific programs to our Club and to advocate for more empowering spaces and programs to be funded in schools.

The Boys and Girls Club of Napa Valley through everything has found a way to stand by, stand with, and stand up for my family, my community and me. They have shown me how to open, shown me the power of my voice and how to fight for something way bigger than myself. The Club let me be a kid again and not only provided me a space to safely exist but a space where my future is now empowered. I’m still here and I know that no matter what comes and no matter how many times I get knocked down I'll continue to get back up because at The Club I found my fight.