Boys and Girls Clubs in Indian Country

The Lehi Branch of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale is located on the border of Mesa, AZ and the Salt River-Pima Maricopa Indian Community. The immersion of cultures is evident at this Club, with many members belonging to the local Salt River-Pima Community and Navajo and Hopi tribes. The Club is fortunate to host a unique program—the first ever KidStar Internet radio program in a Boys & Girls Club. KidStar has traditionally been available in schools, though as this program grows, a stronger presence in Boys & Girls Clubs is forthcoming.

EBGC, the KLUB Radio has provided an opportunity for Club kids of all ages and backgrounds to hone their communication skills, along with producing and broadcasting live segments. The 24-hour radio can be accessed through the KidStar website www.kidstar.org under Listen Live, Mesa KLUB.

Ana Morales, who is in charge of outreach for the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale and provides oversight to the radio program, shared some of the projects that are part of the program:
“Recently we toured the Arizona State University Walter Cronkite School of Journalism and Mass Communication. For the past two weeks KLUB members have worked closely with a respected Phoenix talk radio station, KTAR 92.3 FM Radio. Students wrote and produced an Autism Awareness Public Service Announcement. KidStar radio is an exciting and educational addition to the Lehi Boys & Girls Club that helps kids develop research and public speaking skills. Our hope is to integrate video production and broadcasting in addition to the Radio Broadcast program, providing a platform for Boys & Girls Club members to inquire, communicate and share their stories with the community!"

in December, Club members had an opportunity to interview players at the Pro Players Classic, A Celebrity Golf Tournament. Also, the Lehi Branch will soon provide internships with the Accelerated Learning Academy on the reservation. Academy students will learn broadcasting, interview, and public speaking skills while participating in the Club program. Visit their website for more on this program and others at: http://lehibranch.bgcs.org.