Boys And Girls Club

On Friday, April 12, 2019, at 7:00 p.m., a community meeting was held at the Lincoln Enrichment Center, to discuss the impact of establishing a Boys and Girls Club in Wagoner. Over 80 individuals attended the meeting including Oklahoma Senator Kim David (Majority Floor Leader), Wagoner Mayor A. J. Jones, Wagoner City Councilman Steve Rhoden and Councilman Philip Sullivan (also Director of Wagoner DHS), City Judge Gary Huggins, Wagoner Fire Chief Kelly Groom, Wagoner Public Schools Superintendent Randy Harris, Wagoner School Board Member Lakisha Blandon, and Johnna Sue Blair, Director of Wagoner Health Department/TSET.

Mr. John W. Jones, President of Brighter Futures Foundation and the Lincoln Enrichment Center provided the welcome and introduction. Dr. Suzanne M. Salichs of the Brighter Futures Foundation and the Lincoln Enrichment Center provided information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of America and the fact-finding work that they have performed by visiting six Boys and Girls Clubs in Oklahoma.

The President and CEO of the Bartlesville Boys and Girls Club, Mr. Jason Bartha, provided information about the Boys and Girls Clubs of America, and more specifically the Bartlesville Club. Other highlights of the evening were remarks by Ms. Kathryn Roberts, a senior at Wagoner High School, who spoke about what a Boys and Girls Club would mean to Wagoner and to her.

A Community Assessment was distributed to all who attended the meeting and Dr. Salichs explained the purpose and importance of the Community Assessment and asked all individuals to complete the assessment. Community Assessments were made available in several locations throughout Wagoner during the months of April, May and June. The results of the surveys are as follows:

A Wagoner BGCA Working Team is now being developed. Stay tuned for updates!