WESTFIELD-For Trent Oliver, 18, being an integral part of the junior counselor summer jobs program at the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is “awesome.”
During an interview on Wednesday afternoon, Oliver and several of his peers shared their enthusiasm for having the chance to work with kids during Kidscape Summer Camp as well as the Summer Food Service Program and learn valuable skills in the process.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey dropped in on the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield on Wednesday afternoon to tour the facilities. The club was among 90 organizations receiving grant funding from Healey’s Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program. Healey is seen with Oliver Haley and Leshayla Jones.
“The best part of being a junior counselor is providing nutrition and physical education to the kids,” said Oliver, adding “It’s an awesome experience.”
The Boys & Girls Club of Greater Westfield is among 90 organizations across the state this summer receiving funds from the state Office of the Attorney General for jobs that focus on health and wellness. On Wednesday, Attorney General Maura Healey dropped in to visit the site and chat with counselors and kids enrolled in summer camp.
“This program is focused not only on keeping young people safe and active during the summer, but on offering them a chance to challenge themselves and make a difference in their communities,” said Healey. “By directing the funding toward jobs that promote healthy living, we are aiming to tackle obesity and disease prevention in at-risk communities across the state – a win-win for all.”
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey visited the Teen Center at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield as part of a tour on Wednesday. She spoke with teens Vlad Kabysh, Ryan Adje and Bryan Seymour about their experiences at the club.
This year’s Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program is funded with $326,827 in settlement money from the AG’s office. Beyond increasing employment for young people, the grant funding allows teens to hold jobs this summer that will impact public health including working at a community health center, leading cooking classes and teaching nutrition or fitness at a summer camp. The Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield received a grant of $3,388.
“We are using the funding to pay the wages of nine of our youth employees,” said Karissa St. Pierre, marketing and development director.
In the four years that the AG’s Office has run this grant program, it has funded more than 750 jobs for youth across the state through settlement money, according to Healey’s office.
During the tour, William Parks, chief executive officer, and Kellie Brown, director of operations, showcased the many facets of the summer camp, including its Teen Center, STEM Lab, Technology and Education rooms, and art and dance studios. More than 300 children participate in Kidscape and an average of 600 children per day visit one of the club’s 10 free summer lunch sites located throughout the city for the Summer Food Service Program.
Brown noted during the tour that counselors are responsible for implementing a “robust curriculum of activities” with groups of approximately 12 to 16 campers each. Youth employees also hand out meals and interact with participants at the lunch sites.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey shares a laugh with the campers at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield on Wednesday afternoon. Healey toured the facilities since the club was among 90 organizations participating in Healey’s Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program.
Parks stressed that the main goal of Kidscape is to prevent summer learning loss as well as summer weight gain among low-income children. Camper groups rotate through a schedule of 45-minute activities each day with a focus on fitness and academic enrichment. Additionally, all groups attend a field trip once each week.
For the young people employed during the summer, they also serve as role models and teachers by participating in all of the health, fitness, and nutrition activities alongside the campers.
For Damar Jones, 18, the summer job has innumerable benefits.
“I like to engage kids in conversation,” said Jones, adding, “We all can have an impact on them by just talking.”
John Slattery, 15, said he is also thankful for the summer job.
“I like working in the computer lab and teaching kids how to use technology,” said Slattery, adding, “Our job also allows us to meet new people and interact with others we might not otherwise meet.”
Chris Renaudette, 16, shared a similar sentiment.
“Being a junior counselor allows us not only to serve kids through the food service program but also to engage them in conversation and they look up to us as role models.”
Jenalyse Ayala, 16, concurred.
Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, center, received a plaque during her visit to the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Westfield on Wednesday afternoon. On left is Helen Wang, director of grants management in Healey’s office, who made the recommendation that the club receive funds for the Healthy Summer Youth Jobs Grant Program.
“I like to go to work every day,” said Ayala. “Every day is new and it is always a good day here with the kids.”
For junior counselor Adriana Seymour, 17, her desire to interact with campers is at the forefront of everything she does at the club.
“As a junior counselor we get to meet new kids during the summer who weren’t there during the school year,” said Seymour, adding that by getting to know the campers during the summer, when they see them in the fall the connection is already made. “It’s pretty cool to already have made a connection with a camper.”
Jordan Otero, 16, echoed those sentiments.
“Being a junior counselor allows us to meet and make new friends as well as meet new kids at camp,” said Otero, who also enjoys engaging kids in a variety of sports including basketball and soccer.
As the tour wrapped up, a group of boys and girls were eager to showcase their tap dancing skills for Healey as they performed a tune from the Broadway show Newsies. What made the performance particularly special was the campers had less than two days to learn the routine – and nailed it.
“I am so impressed by all of you,” said Healey to the group, taking time to ask each one of the participants their name and what they liked best about the Boys and Girls Club.
While responses ranged from “making new friends” and “learning new things,” the overall consensus from the campers was their love of the staff.
As the hour-long whirlwind tour came to a close, Healey asked the campers to study hard in school and they all agreed they would.
“We chose this place for a grant because we believe in the mission, the staff and all of you,” said Healey to the campers. “You can be anything you want to be and we know you have a great foundation here.”
For Jenalyse Ayala, the words that Healey spoke were spot on.
“Our bosses are always there for us and we know we have trusted adults who we can talk to any time,” she said. “The Boys and Girls Club is a second home for me.”
