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On Oct. 27, the Mildred C. Hailey Teen Center in Jamaica Plain celebrated its grand opening, making it the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston’s ninth club in the city. The new teen center, located in the Mildred C. Hailey Housing Development, is a collaborative partnership between Boston Children’s Hospital, the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston (BGCB), and the Boston Housing Authority (BHA).
Boston Children's is providing a crucial three-year, $480,000 start-up grant for the teen center. The center had been jointly operated by Boston Children’s, the BHA, Tree of Life, residents, and community partners for many years but was not able to fully realize its potential given limited resources and staffing challenges. The addition of BGCB brings an experienced youth serving organization to the table that will provide a high-level of service delivery to Mildred C. Hailey’s youth and families.
The Mildred C. Hailey Teen Center is designed to serve preteens and teens age 10 to 18 and will offer programming focused on youth development and skill-building, workforce readiness programs, academic support, and enrichment activities such as cooking and music lessons. The center will also feature two of BGCB's signature programs: Keystone and Torch Clubs, which help teens develop leadership skills and engage in community service.
“Boston Children’s is proud to be part of a vibrant and committed community — alongside residents, organizations, and city and state leaders — working together to support the growth and success of our young people,” says Dr. Shari Nethersole, Vice President of Community Health and Engagement at Boston Children’s. “This collaboration honors the enduring legacy of those who have long championed this work, recognizing the dedication and efforts that laid the foundation for today’s progress.”
In addition to its support for the Teen Center, Boston Children’s also operates Family Food Connections, a full-choice food pantry for residents in the Mildred C. Hailey Development and nearby neighborhoods. The food pantry is adjacent to the Teen Center.
The grand opening featured remarks from youth from the teen center; Dr. Kevin Churchwell, CEO of Boston Children’s; Kenzie Bok, BHA Administrator; Robert Lewis Jr.; Nicholas President and CEO of BGCB; Josefina Osorio, Mildred C. Hailey Tenant Taskforce; Representative Samantha Montaño; City Councilor Ben Webber; and City Council President Ruthzee Louijeune.
Scroll through to see photos from the grand opening ceremony.
