This week on Spotlight On Maryland, Gina Crash spoke with Y'landa Burch, Chief Strategy Officer at Boys & Girls Clubs of Maryland, (BGCMD), about who they serve, how things are going after Year One of receiving funding from Project Bounce Back, and what's in store for the future as they expand outreach in Maryland to provide a safe environment for youth where they can learn and grow.
Local Boys & Girls Clubs across Maryland play a critical role in meeting the needs of youth and families in their communities at more than 70 locations in 13 counties! Over 70% of youth in BGCMD programs come from families who live at or below poverty level. They have Club houses and community programs and they have also begun using new forms of outreach like "Clubs on the Go" mobile units and "Clubhouse at Your House" virtual programming, allowing access for youth who previously had no access to programs.
In May of 2021, BGCMD received substantial support from Project Bounce Back, a $25 million dollar first-in-the-nation public-private partnership that was developed to support Maryland youth as they recover from the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic over three years. During year two of Project Bounce Back, BGCMD plan to continue opening new Clubs and after school programs, with a focus on expanding programming into Title 1 school districts and rural communities.
To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Maryland and get involved, visit bgcmaryland.org. You can also find BGCMD on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn. Click below to listen to the interview.
