Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana is excited to open a club for Natchitoches youth in March 2022 in the Ben D. Johnson Auditorium. With the closure of the Boys & Girls Club of El Camino Real in 2018, there has been an absence of youth development programs in Natchitoches. The re-establishment of a Boys & Girls Clubs will fill that void with robust after-school and summer activities for Natchitoches’ youth.
The club will open in The Ben D. Johnson Auditorium, which has served as a space for the community to come together for many years and will ensure that youth recreational sports remain available at the MLK Center. The club will continue Ben D. Johnson’s mission, uplifting the communities’ youth by providing a safe, positive place for kids ages 6-18 to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens.
Boys & Girls Clubs worked with Claire Prymus, owner of the Ben D. Johnson Auditorium and niece of Ben Johnson. She is excited to bring the vision to life saying, “Thank you Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana! I am so excited about the Boys and Girls Club coming back to West Natchitoches to groom and develop our children. This partnership will help The Ben Johnson Educational Center fulfill its mission to build community in Natchitoches and give access to social and economic success to all its residents. If my Uncle Ben was alive today he would say, ‘This is helping society helping itself.’”
A Community Breakfast will be held at the Center on Friday, Feb. 25 at 9:30 am to provide community members an opportunity to learn more about the Club and hear from Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Chief Operations Officer, Lorraine Orr. Sponsorships and tickets for the event are now available by calling 337-268-9555.
“BGCA is committed to providing a safe space, quality programming, and positive mentors to the youth in Natchitoches. Our goal is to give all youth who need us, opportunities for a bright future,” said Rhyan Wheeler, Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana President and CEO.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana
This year marks the 51st anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana operates under a mission to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Serving 1,0006 children in six different locations, Boys & Girls Clubs provide opportunities through school programs and summer camps with activities focusing on Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles & Habits, and Good Character & Leadership. A seventh location in Natchitoches, Louisiana will open in February 2022.
