CHICAGO – Leaders of Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC) and Salem Baptist Church of Chicago celebrated today the opening of the Roseland/Pullman Club at 10909 S. Cottage Grove Ave., Chicago. The Roseland/Pullman Club, which opened to members on June 15, serves about 200 members and plans to recruit more than 400 members within three years. The Club is the first new Club to open in 13 years and will be housed on the campus of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and the House of Hope community and worship center.

The ribbon was cut by BGCC and Salem Baptist Church of Chicago officials, along with Ron Gidwitz, member of the board of governors for Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA), and John Miller, regional vice president for the Midwest for BGCA.

The Rev. James T. Meeks, senior pastor of Salem Baptist Church of Chicago, shared with attendees that, “Bringing a Club for youth to the Roseland/Pullman communities is a bright light in an area dominated by crime and violence. Our kids are in dire need of programs that excite and challenge them productively, which the Club brings with their presence in the community. I look forward to watching this Club grow and flourish as it welcomes new youth through its doors.”

James Keane, president and CEO of BGCC said, “During these challenging economic times and when violence is escalating, kids need a positive, safe place to call their own. We are grateful to the Rev. Meeks and the Salem Baptist Church of Chicago community, as well as Ron Gidwitz of BGCA, for making it possible to open a Club to serve the Roseland/Pullman community.”

The Club will offer members of the Roseland/Pullman Club:

• Access to education and career development programs that will begin in the fall such as College Bound, which introduces high school age Club members to the advantages of a post-secondary education and prepares them for the college entrance process, and the Power Hour, which is for members ages 6 to 14 and includes homework help and tutoring;

• The SMART Girls program, which stands for Skills Mastery and Resistance Training. The program creates an open forum for young women to discuss issues important to them such as health, violence, etiquette and body image;

• Additional health and life skills programs in the fall such as Passport to Manhood, which is designed to teach and promote taking responsibility for your actions through discussions and highly interactive activities, and Triple Play, a wellness program that demonstrates that eating right, keeping fit and forming positive relationships contributes to a healthy lifestyle;

• Salem Baptist Church’s multi-purpose building where members can play basketball, do morning calisthenics and other coordinated group games;

• The Chicago Bulls Summer Camp for Kids – hosted by the House of Hope;

• A place for Cadets, members ages 6 through 7, to call their own; and

• An arts and crafts room and computer lab.

“I am proud that the Roseland/Pullman Club is here to give my kids a safe environment to make new friends and learn new skills,” said John Turner, Sr., parent of two Club members. “This Club is something that has been needed in our community and I am so happy it’s finally here.”

Paul Luu, Roseland/Pullman Club director said, “This Club is opening at that best possible time – when summer is in full swing and kids are looking for activities and a place to go. We’re giving kids a place to be themselves and we couldn’t have done it without the support of BGCC, BGCA, Salem Baptist Church of Chicago and all our donors and volunteers.

Luu is reaching out beyond the Roseland/Pullman community. He has established a partnership with Christian Student Mission (CSM) to bring 30 to 40 volunteers to the Club this summer. CSM volunteers arrive from all parts of the country and each gives about 30 hours of their time to the Club per week.

All young people between the ages of 6 and 18 are welcome to join the Club. They can go online to www.bgcc.org/get_involved/sign_up_a_youth.asp to download a membership form or stop by the Club to pick up the form. Then they can bring their completed application and $20 for annual dues to the Club to get a membership card and the opportunity to make friends, have fun and learn new skills.

About Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago

Boys & Girls Clubs of Chicago (BGCC), a charter member of Boys & Girls Clubs of America strives to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. Today, BGCC provides services through 15 locations. Clubs are filled every day with an average daily attendance of 2,300 children at any given time. For more information, please visit www.bgcc.org or call 312-235-8000.

In the media

ABC News

http://abclocal.go.com/wls/video?id=6905464

Chicago Tribune

http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/local/chi-boys-and-girls_sw_zone_10jul10,0,1246684.story