The Positive Place in Paradise
The serene and beautiful Hawaiian island of Maui seems like the last place in the world where you would find a Boys & Girls Club. After all, Clubs serve disadvantaged kids in challenging environments – and Maui is one of the Pacific's top vacation spots. What challenges could kids possibly face in this tropical paradise?
The answer is that, even here, there are still disadvantaged neighborhoods. The people who live in these areas provide workaday goods and services to the citizens of Maui – a place with needs like any mainland municipality. Their homes and streets are a far cry from the high-end, postcard island that tourists love. And their kids are in need.
That's why Boys & Girls Clubs exist here, serving island kids every day and growing by leaps and bounds. In fact, the Boys & Girls Club of Maui recently began a major remodel
of its central unit, while plans are afoot to prep an existing building to serve another part of the island.
Maui's Clubhouses provide safe havens for the children of this island's very diverse population. Club professionals help young people address major social problems, including bullying,
isolation and the ever-present danger of illegal drugs – problems that plague communities all across America.
In this small island community, Club collaborations with other organizations are critical to providing quality service. Two of Maui's units operate out of community centers and are adjacent to schools, giving Club youth access to basketball courts and playing fields. "We have a great relationship with the county community centers," says Colin Hanlon, chief professional officer for the Boys & Girls Club of Maui. "We've got a lot of people from local government asking us to take over other youth facilities that are faltering – people are starting to recognize that what we're doing works."
As for expanding the Maui Club's services, Hanlon is optimistic. "Once our remodels are complete at the two Clubs, we'll be serving more youth." Adds Andrew Bayron, the Club's new board chair, "Our future never looked brighter." |
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