Hempstead Boys & Girls Club: Empowering Young People to Dream

Credit: HBGC | Tu Holloway made a surprise visit to Hempstead Boys & Girls Club in March.

By Sheryl Nance-Nash

     It takes a Village to raise a child, and in Hempstead, for the past 15 years, the Boys& Girls Club has worked quietly to save one child at a time.

     "We're the best kept secret," says Wayne Redman, executive director. But the 250 members know what a treasure they've found - safe place to play and to prosper.
The not-for-profit agency addresses the desperate need for after-school and summer recreational and educational opportunities for young people. "The Boys& Girls Club provides an organized environment, and is an outlet to keep youth out of trouble," says Claude Gooding, Commissioner of the Hempstead Community Development Agency.

     The Children of Hempstead face tough challenges: crime and poverty, 35% of residents 25 and older have less than a high school education; nearly 24% have completed 9th grade or less; and, 24% of families with a single head of household live below the federal poverty level.
"Hempstead is the largest incorporated village in New York, but therr aren't enough jobs and activities to keep our youth off the streets and out of trouble between the hours of 3-7p.m., that's why we're here," says Mr. Redman.

     "We have to do our part to maximize success, in an environment where youth are under-performing in schools and have to combat the strong influence of gangs, drugs, and alcohol. Fifty-sixty percent of all juvenile crime in Nassau County comes from Hempstead," says Mr. Redman. "We want all our kids to have a plan to get through high school. everyone may not go to college, but everyone can think about an action plan and developing a skill. We want to broaden their horizon. They need to know that there are a lot of ways to contribute, to be somebody. It really takes a village to mentor our boys and girls," says Mr. Redman.