The BGC Sarnia-Lambton (formerly known as the Boys and Girls Club) has many programs that parents and children can take advantage of. One particular program was created when leaders realized there was one that was missing.
That is how the Empowering Black Youth (EBY) program was created.
“We had a lot of Black youth that were struggling. So, it's just kind of a safe space for them to come and be around people that look like them,” explains Sarah Kiernan, the program director of the BGC Sarnia-Lambton.
EBY is described on their website as being “dedicated to empowering Black youth by fostering personal growth, cultivating resilience, and nurturing their unique talents and abilities. Through mentorship, guidance, and a supportive community, we aim to equip them with the necessary tools, skills, and knowledge to overcome challenges and pursue their dreams.”
The program has been running since October 2023, and meets every Wednesday at 180 College Avenue North from 6:30 p.m. to 8:30 p.m. Kids from three to 18 are welcome to come and participate.
For the high school-aged kids, helping out while attending the program can be used towards their volunteer hours they have to earn before graduation. This provides even more role models for the younger kids to look up to.
“When you go around Sarnia, you don't see a lot of Black people working at stores, and at businesses, so kids don't get to see people that look like them very often. When they get to come to a space where they see such an array of different people that look like them, or are similar to them, helping them out, that's such a fantastic thing for our community,” says BGC youth worker Taylor Boomsma.
Boomsma, an educational assistant at Alexander Mackenzie Secondary School, didn’t have a program like this when he was growing up, so he found it hard trying to navigate in a predominantly white city.
“When I was young I felt that because I was Black I had to portray a certain type of blackness,” explains Boomsma.
“Outside or inside of this room they don't have to, they can just be kids. They come and tell me all this stuff they deal with. We problem-solve. We try to add self-care to their routines, it's awesome…I love coming to this program. I really love it.”
Kiernan says the response from the community has been great, and that numbers have been growing since starting last year. A good night for the program sees around 15 to 20 kids.
Kaleigha Libby, 8, has been attending the program for the last year and is one of the many who sing Boomsma’s praises.
“Taylor makes everyone laugh, he always says really funny things,” says Libby.
“The amount of parents and kids that are talking about how fantastic this is, it is such, like, a healing thing for me,” says Boomsma.
“It's almost sometimes a little overwhelming to have all these people that are, like, older than me, and younger than me…being like, what you're doing is amazing. And I'm like, thanks.”
The drop-in program is free, thanks to grants and the United Way, and parents are encouraged to sign up their kids using Amilia, their online portal.
In addition to activities, the program also invites guests to come in to speak with the kids.
“We bring different people in from the community to kind of give them those positive role models that they don't usually see in the media,” says Kiernan.
Like Libby, Shreya Scott, 12, has also been coming to the program since the beginning and loves how everyone can be themselves without being judged. She offers up this advice to anyone thinking of coming out.
“You should totally come,” says Scott.
“It is so much fun for everyone who is there. You can play video games, you can have fun, be yourself or whoever you want to be.”
While it’s only currently one night a week, the hope in the future is to expand the program. But for now, Boomsma remains passionate about running a well thought out program for Black youth.
“I want it to have that homey feel where they could come in and they know what to do when they come in. It's their space. Like, I'm there, we're doing it, but this is their space. I'm there for what they need.”