DIVERSITY
EQUITY & INCLUSIONAt the Boys & Girls Clubs of Benton and Franklin Counties, we are committed to an increased focus on Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion to ensure meaningful progress and sustained change toward creating a welcoming environment for all youth, staff, and families.
Across our entire organization, we have implemented specific programs, created accessible projects, and set goals to help us move forward thoughtfully and intentionally, ensuring that our DEI work is making a positive impact.
DEI Programs & Focus Areas
Early Learning Programs
Utilizing storytelling, classroom displays, classroom activities and projects, and modeling the behaviors we want youth to emulate, our pre-K programs focus on the following:
- Kindness & Empathy
- Acceptance & Inclusion
- Cultural Celebration
- Diversity
Elementary Programs
Diving deeper into cultural awareness and celebrations as our elementary youth meet new friends at school, these sites run a variety of programs focused on personal well-being, leadership, and unity:
- Youth for Unity
- Torch Club/Leadership Programming
- Wellness Club
- Social & Emotional Learning
- Jr. Staff
- Culture Club
- Poetry Club
- Second Step Curriculum
Teen Programs
Focused on more elements of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion, our high school programs focus on acceptance, communication, leadership, and safe self-expression:
- Keystone Club/Leadership Programming
- Wellness Club
- Culture Club
- Proud Place
- Lyricism 101
- Second Step Curriculum
Monthly Themes
We have identified several DEI-focused themes throughout the year to highlight and plan activities around at our Clubs. *This is not a complete list of themes, and staff at each Club site determine how best to run activities based on the age of youth and other factors.
JAN
Martin Luther King Jr. Day
FEB
Black History Month
MAR
Developmental Disabilities Awareness Month
APR
Celebrate Diversity Month
MAY
National Asian American & South Pacific Islander Heritage Month
JUN
Pride Month
JUL
Boys & Girls Club Month
AUG
National Civility Month
SEP
Hispanic Heritage Month
OCT
Bullying Prevention Month
NOV
National Native American, American Indian & Alaskan Native Heritage Month
DEC
Universal Human Rights Month
DEI Program Taskforce
We are proud to have a DEI Program Taskforce that helps guide decisions to make our organization more inclusive.
Before implementing specific DEI programs across our organization, our Board-led Club Diversity Task Force conducted several listening sessions for all staff. After the listening sessions concluded, it was recommended that a full audit of programs be completed to ensure Club sites are facilitating a diverse set of program offerings including effective programs that affirm and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion. It was also recommended that the task force identify experiences and opportunities that support youth in exercising their voice to create positive social change.
Our Response
Our Path Forward
- Recognizing all youth and staff for who they are and creating a safe space for them to be themselves.
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Creating more opportunities for staff, youth, and the families we serve to share their stories and their voices.
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Ensuring that age-appropriate DEI programs are offered at every Club location.
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Creating more opportunities for innovative programming to help promote the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Encouraging operational and hiring decisions that demonstrate that we support and promote diversity, equity, and inclusion.
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Providing DEI training opportunities for staff not only upon hire but on an annual basis.
Although our work surrounding Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion is ongoing, we remain committed to creating a more welcoming and inclusive environment for all youth, staff, and families. Great Futures Start Here!