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A PlAce to Belong
and Become
T
he first day Jaylon came to the Boys & girls club at age ten, he never wanted to leave. “As a sports lover, the Boys & girls club was heaven,” he shared. “they had huge gyms, outdoor basketball courts and a big grass field. I spent the whole summer playing basketball, football, any kind of sport I could find.” these summers at the Boys & girls club of truckee Meadows became something Jaylon looked forward to all year. While his summers were spent with his grandparents in Reno, he spent the rest of the year with his mom in oakland, and life there was difficult. His mom worked long hours and was often away from the house, and as a result, Jaylon became the primary caretaker for his younger brother and sister. “Without that consistent adult presence, I stepped up as the man of the house and made sure my siblings were taken care of. I helped them get ready for school, helped them with their homework, and tried to
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move back to Reno for good. “I will never forget the day we moved back. We pulled into my grandpa’s driveway, and I remember feeling like I was finally home.” But his grandparents’ house wasn’t the only place that felt like home in Reno. Jaylon couldn’t wait to get back to his second home at the Boys & girls club. “I was so excited the night before my first day back at the club that I could hardly sleep. I couldn’t wait to see my friends. And now that I was a teenager, I could attend the teen center and get a whole new club experience.” Since returning to Reno full-time two years ago, Jaylon has attended his Boys & girls club nearly every day. In fact, his accomplishments and incredible story of perseverance and resiliency earned him the title of BgctM’s 2019 Male Youth of the Year. He’s now a sophomore at Spanish Springs High School and has found the club to be a great place to work on assignments and keep his grades up. He’s connected
“Without that consistent adult presence, I stepped up as the man of the house ... I didn’t think much of it at the time, I stepped up because that’s what needed to be done.”
make sure we went to bed on time each night. I didn’t think much of it at the time, I stepped up because that’s what needed to be done.” With those responsibilities awaiting him at home, summers with his grandparents and the Boys & girls club became his respite. those few months were his favorite part of the year, not only because school was out, but because they gave Jaylon a glimpse of a different life. A life where he didn’t have to take on adult responsibilities. A life where he could simply enjoy being a kid. A few years later, Jaylon’s mom was arrested and sent to prison for car theft. After a short stay in foster care, Jaylon and his siblings got to
with many different staff mentors who continue to provide guidance and encouragement. He also loves giving back to his Boys & girls club and rarely misses an opportunity to do so, whether it’s preparing food in the club kitchen, refereeing a youth basketball game or donning a bunny costume at the club’s Breakfast with the easter Bunny. “I take pride in contributing to my community in these ways, because it is my hope that I am creating a home for someone else who may have struggles like mine. Maybe I can help someone live in the moment, forget their troubles and feel like a kid for a little while. I think all children deserve that.”
A Place to Belong and Become For the past 43 years, the Boys & girls club of truckee Meadows has provided young people just like Jaylon a place to meet friends and caring mentors, build character and leadership skills, and simply be a kid. In 2019, BgctM will serve more than 14,000 youth at 24 locations spanning four northern nevada counties (Washoe, lyon, Humboldt and White Pine). Across all sites, the mission remains the same: “to inspire and enable youth, especially those who need us most, to become responsible, productive and caring citizens.” BgctM accomplishes this mission
