AMBER GLENN - April 2007
April 18th, at the Union League of Philadelphia, Boys & Girls Clubs
of Philadelphia announced Amber Glenn as their 2007 Youth of the Year
during a celebratory dinner recognizing the year's Oustanding Young Men and Women of Boys & Girls Clubs.
AMBER GLENN - November 2006
Moving to Philadelphia from Baltimore four years ago, bright
and bubbly Amber describes herself as a shy, insecure 13-year-old. One of five children in a single parent home,
she worried about making friends and finding activities she would enjoy in a
new city. Amber joined Germantown Boys & Girls Club, where she found the friends she was hoping for, and become
involved in a variety of programs.
Since joining, Amber increasingly became active in her Club, her school and her
community. A junior staff member at Germantown Boys & Girls Club, Amber monitors 3rd and 4th
graders during Power Hour, assists during recreation time, and welcomes members
and visitors at the front door of the Club. She is also an active member of the Germantown Keystone Club, and enjoys
singing and dance performance. Recently participating in a church project to collect 1,000 canned goods for the
homeless, Amber hopes to make in impact in her neighborhood. At school, she competes on the Girls High
golf team and hopes to join the swimming team.
Amber recently competed in a beauty and talent contest in Louisville, Kentucky
sponsored by the Benevolent & Protective Order of the Elk. Now a senior at Girls High School, Amber
aspires to continue her education studying Music Composition & Theory. She recently toured Shippensburg University
and Oakwood College, and is excited about making plans for college next year.
Amber continues to enjoy her daily experiences at Germantown
Boys & Girls Club, stressing how staff workers like Michael White and
Shanelle Coleman encourage and support her. Amber now believes that she can do anything with her future. She flashes her well-known smile, and, quoting
Ms. Coleman, exclaims: "I’m not done yet!"
DEON PADGETT-MEBANE - October 2006
Four years ago, Deon Padgett-Mebane had no direction in his life. Then a sophomore at Mastbaum
Vocational Tech, Deon clashed with everyone at school: teachers, students, and administration. Neglecting his
schoolwork and defying school policies, Deon cared little about his future. Eventually, his behavior became
uncontrollable and Deon was asked to leave the school.
Unable to return to Mastbaum, Deon missed five months of school, waiting for approval on
his transfer to Simon Gratz High School. When he finally arrived at Gratz, however, he made
no more effort to succeed than he had at Mastbaum. Enrolled in the evening
"Twilight" classes, Deon skipped school, ignored his schoolwork and soon failed
out of the Gratz evening program.
In 2002, a friend and BGCP Club member told Deon about the Nicetown Boys & Girls Club.
Interested in the sports programs and activities, Deon decided to try it. He admits that he
was surprised at how much he related to the staff at Nicetown BGC; they understood his past
behavior and difficulty without judgment, encouraging him to move forward with
a positive future. Touched by the staff’s acceptance, Deon began to attend the Club regularly.
From that point on, Deon felt he had a support system in Club leaders such as Geraldine
Gaines and Michelle Dawkins. Ms. Gaines worked tirelessly to re-enroll him
back into the Twilight program at Gratz, while Daniel Gordy (now the Program
Director at Germantown) monitored his schoolwork daily. In fact, the staff at Nicetown worked as a
group to ensure that Deon remained vigilant in his studies. While improving his schoolwork, Deon soon
became active with the Keystone Club, emerging as a leader of the teen group. During summer camp 2004, Deon
also began working for the Club as a camp counselor, and this opportunity had
great impact on him. Deon realized that the Nicetown BGC staff truly believed in his abilities;
they trusted him with a counselor position. For the first time,
Deon wanted to succeed and prove his worth.
At the beginning of his junior year, Deon faced a choice as a result of all the classes he
had missed: repeat 10th grade or tackle the challenge of succeeding in 10th
grade requirements while also carrying 11th grade classes. His confidence was strong
because of his Club experiences, and so during the school year, Deon attended weekday, evening and
Saturday classes to complete his sophomore and junior years concurrently. While conquering this
challenge, his dedication to the Nicetown Club never wavered. He stayed active with the Keystone
Club and continued to work after school. What was the most difficult year of his life proved the most inspirational.
By his senior year, Deon accomplished enough to qualify him
for early roster at Gratz, a privilege allowing him to carry a lighter workload
and leave school earlier than the end of the traditional school day to work at
the Nicetown Club. His school year, however, was not without its personal hardships.
Due to a work-related injury, Deon’s mother became unable to work, and their family was
evicted from their home. Relocated to Northeast Philadelphia with relatives, Deon took
the city bus every morning and evening to Nicetown to finish his senior year at Simon Gratz
and continue his Club activities. Unit Director Clarence Miller had one condition for Deon
to continue his employment with the Club: he must finish school. Deon’s accomplishments surpassed that condition.
Deon graduated from Simon Gratz High School in June 2006 with a solid "B" average,
accomplishing higher grades than he believed possible four years ago. Initially, Deon had decided
to forego attending his graduation ceremony, since his original class had graduated the
year before. Faculty and administration at Gratz, however, believed he should be there. His
guidance counselor ensured his graduation dues were satisfied and encouraged Deon to attend.
During the ceremony, faculty surprised Deon with the "Against All Odds" Award, an honor
recognizing his perseverance and personal triumph.
Now, Deon reaches for success in all aspects of his life and intends to make a positive impact
with his life for both himself and his family. Since becoming an active member, BGCP has named him
2005 and 2006 Nicetown’s Young Man of the Year. He enrolled in the Computer Technology
Institute and begins classes to study computer hardware in January 2007. His long-term goals include
establishing his independence through buying his own house. Meanwhile, Deon continues to work at
Nicetown Boys & Girls Club and inspire other youth to set and attain goals.
Many youth in the Nicetown Club admire and respect Deon because he overcame hardship and became
a success story. He uses his experiences to contribute to the growth of his community by sharing
with other youth his obstacles and accomplishments. Through his story, Deon hopes to inspire and
enable his peers to make better life choices and to pursue dreams. Through his involvement with
Boys & Girls Clubs of Philadelphia, Deon has new direction and goals in life…to believe and succeed.
COREY STEWART - March 2006
Corey, a senior at Girls’ High,
has been a Club member since the fifth grade. She began to emerge as a leader
within the Nicetown Club during her freshman year, when she made a conscious choice to participate
after noticing increased activity around the Club. While she had excelled academically, Corey
says that the Club’s technology center and library strengthened her study
skills and taught her to use the Internet efficiently. Because she wants to let other youth know
that the Club will be there to support them, Corey shared that she and her
family had a difficult year, and Club staff, especially Unit Director Clarence
Miller, provided a positive atmosphere and an outlet for expression without
judgment.
Winning the Youth of the Year competition in 2005, Corey
attributes substantial personal growth to opportunities the program opened to
her. Although she admits there are too
many to count, Corey enthusiastically recalls one of her most memorable moments
– speaking at the 2005 "Touching a Life" Gala.
Graduating this June, Corey will attend historic Fisk
University in Tennessee with a dual major in Sociology and Political
Science. Through a BGCP Board member’s
anonymous contribution, Corey and her parents attended a special “scholars’
weekend” at Fisk. Corey’s face lights up
as she recounts the exciting experience of the trip and her dreams for success
in the future. Corey’s involvement in
Keystone Club, with its teen leadership focus, has exposed her to other youth
leaders from around the country and opened her eyes to varying cultures,
backgrounds, and socioeconomic circumstances. Corey smiles as she talks about her various public speaking
opportunities as well as the interesting and influential people she has met
through her involvement with the Club. She attributes this exposure to her evolving desire to affect social
service policy in this country.
Corey knows she will be back to visit, and plans to
contribute to strengthening her Nicetown community. She admits that she will miss the Club and
all the support and enjoyment it brought her. She says she will help spread the word about Boys & Girls Clubs –
she wants to tell young people her age, “The Boys & Girls Clubs of
Philadelphia is a place where they can get help and support, and also where
they can make a difference for others.” Among her photos from the Fisk trip is
one of her at the front door of the Nashville Boys & Girls Club – she made
time to connect with her counterparts already!
COURTNEY MORAGNE - April 2006
Courtney Moragne, a senior at Central High School, shares an
equally bright future. Courtney and Corey forged a close relationship this year due to their mutual interests in
the Nicetown Keystone Club and their college pursuits. She began her membership with the Club at a
young age as a cheerleader for the Nicetown Steelers, but became more involved
when she reached her high school years. As the only girl in a family of six, Courtney found that the Club
provided her with her own space to grow and to discover herself.
Once she began visiting the Club regularly and growing close with staff and members, Courtney says that not
only could she make friends and receive guidance, she could turn to the staff
for practical, academic needs. Courtney recalls during her tenth grade year she struggled with low math scores; with
tutoring form Club staff, Courtney raised her grades that year and continues to
excel in all areas of study.
Courtney expresses gratitude for the open and nurturing disposition of the Club staff. While grades and friends are every young
girl’s concern, Courtney has kept smiling through familial difficulties. Last summer, Courtney shares, her family life
seemed almost too much to bear, but she recalls the ease with which she confided
in Club staff like Shatara Fitzgerald, a teen coordinator at the Club who
serves as the Keystone Club advisor. Keystone limits the member-staff ratio to 15:1 to facilitate close
attention.
At April’s Youth of the Year award dinner at The Union League, Courtney accepted her trophy and scholarship
with surprise and delight. Sharing the moment with her parents in attendance remains one of her fondest memories with
the Boys & Girls Clubs. She plans to visit the Club when home from college and mentions her desire to someday serve
as a volunteer leader on the Board of Directors at BGCP. When asked what she might tell other teens
about the Club, she replied, "I’ll tell them it’s a place where they can chill,
as well as grow!"
