On kids, community, and becoming

In November, I’ll have the honor of being this year’s honoree at the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown’s Great Futures Celebration. It’s a deeply humbling moment, but one that is much bigger than me. It’s a celebration, yes! But, not of any one person, rather we celebrate the work, the mission, and, most of all, the kids 

For more than 85 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Allentown has opened its doors to children and teens who need a safe space to learn, grow, and belong. The Club’s mission is clear: to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

When young people walk through the blue doors of a Club, they find not just after school programs, but possibility; Not just homework help, but hope; Not just safety, but a sense of belonging. And, they find a community that says, unequivocally: We see you. You matter. We’ve got you. That kind of care is radical, transformative, and in too many places, both locally and around the world, it’s anything but guaranteed.

So, when we talk about great futures, we’re starting now by showing up for young people in ways that affirm their value, center their voices, and make room for who they are becoming. We’re making sure every child, regardless of zip code, income, or family circumstance, has a chance at discovery, dignity, and joy.

That’s why the Boys & Girls Club matters so much. Not because it fills a gap, but because it builds a foundation during a time when many systems are stretched or broken. Places like BGCA remind us what is still possible when we choose intention over indifference and community over complacency.

To the team at BGCA: thank you. For the recognition, yes, but more importantly, for the decades of love, labor, and vision. You’ve created a space where kids are not just supported but seen; Where they are not just helped but held; And, where they are not just learning but becoming. 

To those reading: I see my own story in some of the young people BGCA serves and I see my personal and professional mission reflected in the Club’s commitment to nurturing whole, brilliant, resilient young people. I hope you will plan to join us November 6 to support this critical work, because great futures are a collective promise. And keeping that promise takes all of us.

If you’re local or if you’d like to support the mission, learn more or contribute here: givebutter.com/greatfuturescelebration