'A safe place to go': Poughkeepsie Boys & Girls Clubs offers programs for kids, teens

The Poughkeepsie branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of America will celebrate the opening of its first local clubhouse this fall.

The organization is planning to hold a "big open house" in early October, said Kevin White, executive director of the Poughkeepsie and Newburgh branches.

The City of Poughkeepsie-based clubhouse, located at 221 Smith Street in the Poughkeepsie Housing Authority, is one of thousands of Boys & Girls Clubs locations nationwide. 

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"We moved into the space around July 1, but that was a soft opening," White said. And with students back in the classrooms, the organization "is ready to provide high impact out-of-school time — a critical, yet often overlooked part of their day."

The exact date of Poughkeepsie's open house event is unclear, White added, but the organization already offers a number of programs at the location.

Every day, one in four children nationwide leave school with no place to go — "unsupervised, unguided and unsafe," the organization said. And during the summer, three out of four kids lack access to summer learning programs.

The Boys & Girls Clubs aim to provide children and teens with a safe place to go after school and during the summer, where they can take advantage of free or low-cost art, athletic and academic programs.

In Newburgh, the organization has seen a positive impact on young people who have access to a "safe place with caring adult mentors and enriching programs," White said. "We are excited to replicate these programs in Poughkeepsie."

Among other things, the Poughkeepsie location offers basketball and karate, along with the STAR Project, an evening- and weekend-program featuring "open gym, technology, (a) game room, and much more."

"The  Afterschool Project," which provides students with free homework help and tutoring, kicks off on Oct. 12. Other future plans include art instruction in areas like dance and theater.

To join the club or for more information, contact Program Director Felicita Colon-Cordero at 845-452-9264. 

Nina Schutzman: nschutzman@poughkeepsiejournal.com, 845-451-4518 Twitter: @pojonschutzman