At Lincoln South Rotary Club on April 22, we heard about the Boys and Girls Club from Kimberly Goins.
Kim shared the story of how they ended up in Lincoln. They were living in Texas. Her husband was contacted by a head hunter. He went to the airport insisting that it was a courtesy interview - that he had no intention of moving to Nebraska. After a couple of days he asked Kim to come to Lincoln to see the wonderful things that were happening. The two of them saw a strong community - a community that took care of each other - and they thanked us for inviting them to live and work with us.
From the Boys and Girls Club Website (https://www.lincolnbgc.org/), the mission of the Boys & Girls Club of Lincoln/Lancaster County is to empower all youth to reach their full potential.
She pointed out that there is often a misconception of the families served by the Boys & Girls Club. As Kim stated the kids are not necessarily poor or bad kids. Any kid can use the help to see their full potential. Throughout the program she encouraged us to mentor our youth - help them transition into adulthood.
She mentioned a story in the Lincoln Journal Star about a week ago on the LPS Foundation Annual Report. She said it was "like a gut punch" when she read that nearly 50% of our youth in Lincoln are living in poverty. We need to do everything that we can to develop a stronger workforce. We need to give them life skills as well as education.
As she mentioned early, they are not just serving poor or bad kids, many that they serve experience "opportunity gaps," meaning they don’t receive the same opportunities as others. Those gaps can be filled by programs at the Boys and Girls Club.
They have a year-round curriculum that focuses on programs like STEM and Workforce Development Initiative. They help kids in middle and high school discover new interests, explore career options and harness their power to create Great Futures.
She shared stories about a couple kids that are in their programs. She said there are many of those stories. And, she challenges all of us to find ways to help our youth get into a positive environment such as the Boys & Girls Club. The kids share their stories because they are in a safe place. One child talked said she did not feel safe at home - that her mom's new dad was sexually abusing her. She is 11 years old.
Another young lady was crying asking for help because she was going to her 9th foster family in a year. This one was far away from her school and her work. She was already unstable and facing aging-out of the foster care system because she would soon be 18. She did not have the tools or guidance to succeed once she graduated from high school.
Kim shared that this story was difficult to understand because she does not know what it is like to be without a family. She said that her immediate family, parents, grandparents and great grand parents - including all aunts and uncles - there 119 of them. And she knows them all. This girl in the story does not know she belongs.
Kim believes that we need to make sure kids are thriving. And, she believes that the Boys & Girls Club is building our future leaders. They provide internet access, the have programs on entrepreneurship and many job skill.s. The staff, students and parents all take the Gallup Strength Finders assessment. She said one thing they understand is that you have to use a different language with kids. She said there is a focus on healthy living and prioritizing their economic future.
Lincoln is in crisis. We need to focus on workforce development. The Boys & Girls Club is one vehicle to help our youth transition into successful youth.
They are celebrating their 15 year anniversary this year. What started with about 10 community members in a church basement with 3 kids the first few meetings, has grown to them serving 600 per day in the various centers.
BIO
Kimberly has over two decades of comprehensive experience working with national nonprofits, Inc. 500 and early-stage companies in operations, marketing, fundraising and community engagement. While living in Dallas, she was awarded Who’s Who in Black Dallas “Rising Star” award and African American Chamber of Commerce “Young Professional of the Year” award. She was a finalist for “Marketer of the Year” from the American Marketing Association and is a graduate of Leadership Tyler Class 20. Kimberly is a Board Member for Nebraska Children’s & Family Foundation, Nebraska Civic Engagement Table, Certified Community Behavioral Health Clinic (CCBHC) Advisory Council and serves on several committees including the Racial & Ethnic Diversity (RED) Committee for Lancaster County.
Kimberly is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and attended LeTourneau University in Texas. She is married to Anthony Goins; they are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren.
A resident of Lincoln, Kimberly joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lincoln/Lancaster County in October 2019.
Kimberly is a Gallup Certified Strengths Coach and attended LeTourneau University in Texas. She is married to Anthony Goins; they are the proud parents of four children and five grandchildren.
A resident of Lincoln, Kimberly joined the Boys and Girls Clubs of Lincoln/Lancaster County in October 2019.