Knowles Meets Governor Baker

On December 11^th Governor Charlie Baker met with finalists of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Club’s Youth of the Year, including Calvin Knowles of the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn, and recognized them for their accomplishments in their clubs and communities. Massachusetts 2015 Youth of the Year winner Victoria Fils-Aime, of the Waltham Boys & Girls Club, and finalist Tiana Felix, of the Boys & Girls Club of Worcester, met with Baker as part of a visit to the Massachusetts State House.

Knowles is currently a freshman at the University of Connecticut studying engineering. He was a member of the James L. McKeown Boys & Girls Club of Woburn for 11 years. In his time at the Club he served as a junior staff member and was an officer of the Keystone Club which he represented at National Conferences. He started the Club’s Gemstone Group, a service club for elementary school children. “The Boys & Girls Club has played a major role in my life. I learned to be a leader at the Boys & Girls Club and learned to improve myself at the Club each day. The Club has allowed me to experience fun and unique opportunities, develop my skill, and exercise my leadership” says Knowles.

“It was a privilege to meet with these outstanding young men and women, each of whom has served his or her community with distinction and together represent the spirit of service of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. I look forward to seeing their future success,” said Governor Baker.

The finalists also toured the historic State House building and met with their hometown legislators.

For 67 years, the Boys & Girls Club Youth of the Year competition has served as the premier recognition program for Club members. It honors teen Club members who demonstrate exemplary moral character, responsibility to home and family, community and club service, scholastic achievement and diversity of school activities, ability to set goals, and poise and public speaking. In addition the judges consider any significant obstacles the youth has to overcome. The selection process includes essay writing, an oral presentation, and an interview.

In Massachusetts, each local Club winner goes to the statewide competition. This year’s intensive, two day long event was held in June, with 38 youth from across Massachusetts competing. A panel of judges made up of leaders in business, the non-profit world, and government evaluated the contests, and the event culminated in the selection of four finalists and the naming of the Youth of the Year.

“We want to thank Governor Baker for taking the time to meet with these extraordinary young people and for his support of the Boys & Girls Club movement in Massachusetts” commented Ruth Provost, President of the Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs. “The finalists embody what the Boys & Girls Clubs are all about, and we could not be more proud of them.”

The Massachusetts Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs is a consortium of 42 Boys & Girls Club corporations that operate in 97 communities throughout the Commonwealth of Massachusetts. The Alliance provides a mechanism for joint decisions and cooperative actions among Clubs in Massachusetts, promotes and strengthens the relationships of Clubs with public and private agencies throughout the state, and raises funds from the state agencies and political subdivisions. More than 170,000 youth in Massachusetts utilize Club services each year. The Alliance is committed to the Boys and Girls Clubs mission to enable all young people, especially who need us most, to reach their full potential.