Adonis and Christian met at the Boys and Girls Club 4 years ago and have been close friends ever since.

When they joined the club, they were in separate schools and did not know each other.  Now they both attend the same High school and although they don’t have classes together they meet after school and walk the 20 minutes to the club together.

Like many of the club members, both boys had family members who wanted them to be off the streets after school and to “stay out of trouble”.  Neither boys liked the idea of having to go somewhere other than home where all they wanted to do was eat and play video games.

Once they started coming to the club, their attitudes changed.  Once they got to know about all the possibilities the club had to offer, they both quickly earned the staff’s respect and we often looked upon as youth that could be trusted to run errands, help the younger kids and be trustworthy.  They participated in Career Launch, Money Matters and Job Ready. They spent as much time as they could in the computer lab and they joined the Keystone Club and began to take more of an interest in their community.  They help plan teen nights and they are often found helping out wherever they are needed.

“If we were not here every day, I don’t know where I would be but it wouldn’t be good. We stay focused when we come here - the staff keep us that way.”