ATLANTA – August 2, 2012 – Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), the nation’s top youth service organization, has created an online database of dedicated in-house youth experts -- designed to assist journalists searching for experts and sources on a range of youth-related topics.  The BGCA Expert Database includes sources on academics, high school graduation, bullying and youth violence, good character and citizenship, fitness and healthy lifestyles, online safety, and more.   

Click and Bookmark this Link: http://bgca.org/whoweare/Pages/MeetOurExperts.aspx 

These experts are responsible for the design of some 30 proven youth development programs and resources for about 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs across the country and on military installations worldwide.  This footprint of some 4 million young people served, represents the largest network of community-based facilities with a focus of helping youth create a great future.

“America’s youth face a daunting array of problems and they need our help,” says Jim Clark, BGCA president and CEO. “Not only are we facing a high school graduation crisis, but our kids are struggling with health and obesity issues, gang violence and drug abuse.  There is a lack of effective programs that teach youth about good character and citizenship, and bullying and technology issues are creating problems that kids 20 years ago never imagined.”

Clark adds: “Boys & Girls Clubs of America has a proven track record of providing young people with generation-changing programs during the critical out-of-school time.  Some 57 percent of Club alumni say ‘the Club saved my life.’”  

Experts and Areas of Expertise

• General Youth Issues, Nonprofit Management:  Jim Clark, President & CEO
• Academic Success/Middle School Transition/High School Graduation/Literacy
• Kimberly Boyd, Vice President, Education & the Arts
• Dr. Erica Stevens, Senior Director, Education & the Arts
• Life Skills Development, Gender Inclusion and Rite of Passage: Judith J. Pickens, M. Ed, SVP, Program Youth & Development Services
• Good Character & Citizenship, Teen Issues:  Romero Brown, VP, Program & Youth Development Services 
• Gangs, Youth Violence:  Joe Mollner, Senior Director, Delinquency/Gang Initiatives
• Healthy Lifestyles,  Sports as a Leadership Tool, Childhood Obesity:  Wayne Moss, Senior Director, Sports, Fitness & Recreation
• Child Safety:  Les Nichols, Vice President, Child & Club Safety 
• Online Safety, Bullying/Cyberbullying, Tech-ready Workforce: Dan Rauzi, Senior Director, Technology Programs

Expert entries include:

• A synopsis of experts’ work and findings on key issues.
• Links to blog postings from experts.
• Downloadable photos for websites and print publications.

Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Senior Director of Public Relations, Jan Still-Lindeman, is the first point of contact to arrange interviews with any of BGCA experts. She can be reached via phone at (404) 487-5739 or email at jslindeman@bgca.org. Mitch Leff with Leff & Associates is a second point of contact.  He can be reached at (404) 861-4769 or via email at mitch@leffassociates.com. 

About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For more than 100 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (GreatFutures.org) has enabled young people most in need to achieve great futures as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, some 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs serve nearly 4 million children and teens through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are located in cities, towns, public housing and on Native American lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. Clubs provide a safe place, caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs on a daily basis during critical non-school hours. Priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and citizenship, and healthy lifestyles. In a Harris Survey of alumni, 57 percent said the Club saved their lives. National headquarters are located in Atlanta. Learn more at bgca.org/facebook and bgca.org/twitter.