Articles

Dear Chief Professional Officer:

Boys & Girls Clubs of America's (B&GCA) strategic plan calls for increased Club capacity that will allow the Boys & Girls Club Movement to outreach to more youth, while achieving high levels of operational quality. In doing so, the Report of the National Planning Commission recommended that the Movement "continue to value diversity at all board and staff levels and should pay particular attention to, and improve, the recruitment, development, advancement and retention of women and people of color."

I'm pleased to say that the Society of African-American Professionals (SOAAP) has been formed to help in this process. SOAAP, designed to help nurture African-American professionals working in the Boys & Girls Clubs Movement, will actively promote the development and advancement of qualified African-Americans into senior and executive level positions within the Movement.

Each person brings a unique perspective, various talents and experience to what we do - inspire and enable young people to realize their full potential. In order for the Movement to progress, all Club professionals must have the same opportunities and information needed to navigate from entry and mid-level positions to chief professional officer and beyond. In doing so, the entire Boys & Girls Club Movement benefits, as do the 3 million youth that we serve.

Outlined below are SOAAP's areas of emphasis, all of which we believe will have a positive and long-term impact on Boys & Girls Clubs nationwide:

1. Mentoring and networking opportunities for African-Americans currently working at Boys & Girls Clubs

2. Creating a Web site featuring career tips, job listings, networking opportunities and career-related information

3. Establishing strategy for recruiting and retaining African-Americans, including development of a recruitment tool kit and targeting Historically Black Colleges and Universities

We hope that you will share information about the organization with your staff and use SOAAP as a resource in your future recruiting efforts. Should you have any questions or need additional information, please contact (name) at (number).

By: *Mr. Lou Dantzler - Founder & Former President/CEO
Challengers Boys & Girls Clubs