On May 5th Community YouthMapping, in partnership with 61C Teen Center, co-hosted a youth leadership conference entitled “Youth Leading Youth Into The Future.” The conference was held at Forbes Recreation Center in Pinellas Park.  The conference agenda included workshops, entertainment, and an interactive meeting led by the youth.  
Commissioner Karen Seel was the keynote speaker.  She spoke to the group about her role as a commissioner and commended the youth for their efforts to strengthen their leadership skills.  Workshops were lead by Antoinette Siebens from the Volunteer Action Center, who demonstrated how to promote volunteerism in communities, particularly in youth. Steven Barefield, a trainer from the Juvenile Welfare Board and Michelle McCloud, a student at Lakewood High School lead an outstanding workshop on teambuilding. The band, Middleground, performed while attendees were served lunch from Taco Bell.  All involved had a great time and gained a better understanding of their community.  The entire conference was initiated, planned and carried out by youth. Great job!
 

St. Petersburg, Fla. (January 25, 2005) –

The public is invited to attend a second forum to provide input on the recent incident at BayWalk -- scheduled for Saturday, January 29, from 10 a.m. to noon, in the St. Petersburg High School cafeteria, 2501 Fifth Ave. N.

The community/teen meeting forum, organized by the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership and Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, Inc., is designed to “listen to concerns from our youth and various stakeholders throughout downtown and the community, working toward developing a course of action for the future. We are especially interested in gaining perspectives from teenagers as well as merchants, residents and producers of entertainment events,” said Don Shea, President and CEO of the St. Petersburg Downtown Partnership.

In the next 10 days, the chance to watch some of the women's stars of tomorrow is just a short drive to Clearwater.

The Sheriff Jim Coats Clearwater Women's Open began Wednesday at McMullen Tennis Complex. The event is among six USTA Pro Circuit tournaments scheduled in Florida to kickoff the season, which includes more than 90 events throughout the country.

The Clearwater tourney is the result of the combined efforts of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, City of Clearwater, U.S. Tennis Association, St. Petersburg-Clearwater Area Convention and Visitors Bureau and a mirage of volunteers. Proceeds from the pro event benefit the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast.

"When we had an opportunity to become involved in bringing an event of this nature to Pinellas County, we jumped at it," said Larry Gilhousen, director of resource development for the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. "It's been a while since a professional event has been here, and we're excited to help make it happen.

"It's taken a lot of work these last two months, but everyone's pulled together and we've been able to use a lot of resources to get prepared," he said. "Now it's time to watch these world-class players."

First is a 32-draw pre-qualifier that concludes Friday. The winner secures a wild card into the main draw, and the second- through fourth-place finishers receive wild cards into the Sunday- Monday qualifier. The main draw, with a $10,000 prize money package, is Tuesday-Jan. 30.

Published: July 13, 2004 

He could have done the golf tournament thing, but Shaun King wanted to try something different.

Instead of gathering his celebrity friends on the links, King is taking over former NBA player Matt Geiger's Tarpon Springs estate for a party.

The Lava, Limbo & Leis Luau will be Saturday at 8 p.m. Proceeds from the party will benefit The Angelus, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Suncoast, All Children's Hospital and the Shaun King Foundation.

By MIKE BRASSFIELD

Teens will soon be making and recording their own music at the newly renovated Royal Theater on 22nd Street S, the strip known as the Deuces in its heyday.

The $225,000 recording studio in the historic Midtown theater, 1011 22nd St. S, will be part of a new arts program run in the theater building by the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. It opens Monday.

Several hundred guests packed the Royal for a grand opening gala Friday evening, which featured performances by Boys and Girls Clubs members. A community open house took place Saturday.

Open houses will continue from 2 to 7 p.m. daily through Friday, and a meeting for interested parents is scheduled at 6 p.m. Thursday.

The charges to participate will be "very affordable," said Herbert Murphy, the Royal's director. Fees will be determined on a sliding scale based on parental income.

"We know there are diamonds in the rough," said Tia Murphy, program director of the Royal's Boys and Girls Clubs. "With this studio, these kids will be able to become what they want to be and learn how to run the studio at the same time."

In addition to the recording studio, there are studios for dance, drama and music, an art gallery, a classroom and computer center, a 12-foot movie screen and a stage for live performances.

"Recording studios in Boys and Girls Clubs around the nation are becoming more of a growing trend," said Carl Lavender Jr., executive director of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the Suncoast. "We are overjoyed that we could find a way to include one in the Royal."

Matt Morton works to empower youth for a better future

POSTED: 02-24-2003

On Monday afternoons, you may find Political Science freshman Matt Morton at the park giving piggyback rides, playing ball or pushing the swings for children from the nearby Boys & Girls Club, just outside of DeLand.

Although Matt started visiting the club last fall to talk about his Campaign for Adolescent & University Student Empowerment (CAUSE) in more of an advocacy role, he now finds himself spending time with the children he hopes his campaign will eventually serve. His friends and fraternity brothers go with him to the Spring Hill Boys & Girls Club, hoping they too can make a difference in the lives of the children there.

“When I see these kids at the Boys & Girls Club, I don’t feel like I’m working. I feel like I’m meeting up with some friends,” said Matt, who works in Stetson’s Community Service Office as a community liaison and also serves on the National Council for Youth Policy. “They’re amazing. They greet you with a smile, they tease you, they climb on you, and you know all along that they appreciate you and enjoy your company.”