Boys & Girls Club leaders advise Congress on local youth needs – The Vacaville Reporter

Through the power of Zoom, leaders of the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club, along with Club members from across the country, recently met with Congress regarding the needs of young people.

President and CEO Anna Eaton and Board of Directors Curtis Hunt represented Vacaville in the Boys & Girls Clubs of America Virtual National Advocacy Days.

“Clubs like ours play a unique role as community leaders in providing our country’s youth with valuable after-school programs that allow them to have bright futures,” Eaton said in a news release. “We were honored to represent the Vacaville Neighborhood Boys & Girls Club to raise awareness of the needs of the youth in our community, especially those who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials. and our community.

The pandemic, she said, has posed new challenges which clubs have responded to by providing “vital services as well as a calming and stable presence for struggling families and communities.”

Partnerships have helped, with Boys and Girls Clubs linking with government officials to help meet larger needs such as childcare for healthcare professionals and other essential workers, meals and virtual learning to fill education gaps.

This event allows Club attendees to share their stories with Congress leaders, Eaton continued, and discuss the critical issues facing young people today and the inspiring ways Clubs are meeting them.

“Boys and Girls Clubs champion opportunity for all young people, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” Hunt said in the statement. “Our advocacy is not just a one-day event.

“We raise our voices every day, to ensure that the key issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, state and nationally.”