Network & Mentoring Member Bio

As Director of Operations for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest Indiana, Bertha Payne not only manages six of the organization’s traditional club facilities, but she is directly responsible for insuring that her staff provides top quality and positive programming for the youth they serve. She is personally committed to preparing those youth for the pursuit of higher education, socialization and career opportunities because she recognizes that they are a precious commodity and essential to the success and vitality of the community. As a part of that commitment, Bertha has made the “hard to reach” teen population a personal challenge, encouraging the scheduling of special hours just for teens and the institution of various group clubs that are teen driven, for the sole purpose of undertaking community service projects.

During the time she served as Club Director for the East Chicago Katherine House Unit, Bertha was instrumental in developing and implementing a very successful literacy program, Reasons to Read, which earned national honors from Boys & Girls Clubs of America and was replicated by other Clubs across the United States.

During her almost thirty years in the Movement, Bertha has been the recipient of various awards, including the Tom Burt Pacesetter Award, Professional of the Year/ Midwest Region and is the 2006 Judith J. Pickens Award Recipient. She is also a member of the Midwest Region Diversity Committee.