6A | WEDNESDAY, MARCH 10, 2021 | SIUSLAW NEWS
CLUB from page 1A
“That changed every-
thing. We had to literally
pivot overnight because of
all the restrictions, oper-
ating as emergency child-
care and figuring out how
we do this whole distance
learning thing,” he said.
“The point was that we
needed to hold off a little
bit. Whoever we brought
into the situation, we need-
ed to make sure we’ve set
that person up for success.”
The club committed to
adapting to the pandemic,
getting authorization last
summer to offer emergency
childcare.
“We’ve had both the Teen
Center and the Elementary
Program open since June.
We had pivoted from a half-
day operation to a whole
day, 10 hours a day, and
went right into our summer
program,” Trent said.
When the school year be-
gan, BGCWLC opened for
a full day, using a program
called PACE — Prepare
Kids for Academic Success
Through Collaboration and
Enrichment.
“Finally, in September, we
saw some of the business-
es were starting to reopen.
Parents had to go back to
work,” Trent said. “PACE
is an all-day program that
allowed our staff to help
children with their distance
learning activities in the
morning while engaging in
traditional club activities in
the afternoon.”
In the meantime, the club
continued as an emergency
childcare center, prioritiz-
ing first responders and es-
sential workers.
“We’re still operating in
that mode and will contin-
ue to operate in that mode
until the governor’s order is
lifted, which will be at least
May. And it would not be
surprising to see that ex-
tended even further,” Trent
said.
The club is also in the
fourth year working with
Oregon Community Foun-
dation and The Ford Family
Foundation’s K-12 Student
Success:
Out-of-School
Time Initiative.
“We’ve been working cial literacy skills that they the things he needs to learn of hard work and through them the life skills. And the
about the kids, the organi- some challenges, but it’s a next logical step is work-
with internal and external need to have,” Trent said.
BGCWLC’s programs are zation and the board. I’ll be great place to be.”
assessments, looking at our
place readiness,” Trent said.
program quality and mak- creating a framework for there to help him through
Most recently, Pleasant “We’re really impressed
ing sure that all the things young people 6 to 18 “to that.”
has been the executive di- with Josiah’s ability to drive
Pleasant also under- rector of Agathos Inter- what he does in his pro-
that we need to do to im- realize their full potential as
pact youth in our commu- productive, responsible and went an interview of sorts national, based in Everett, fession, and focus on eco-
nity are in place,” Trent said. caring citizens by providing with club members, who Wash., though he has lived nomic development, which
“The journey has really ele- stimulating and challenging swarmed him immediately, and worked across the U.S. dovetails so nicely into
programs through interac- according to Trent.
vated the programs.”
and in over 20 countries. He what we’re trying to do in
“Chuck, the staff and the has worked with youth in a this community and create
One of the things the tion with dedicated, caring
initiative has
number
of jobs for our kiddos.”
focused on
capacities, in-
Pleasant said, “It’s a pas-
“Chuck, the staff and the board have done a fantastic job of creating cluding with sion of mine to really see a
has been ad-
dressing the a family atmosphere. The kids truly function as an extended family an orphanage community transformed by
requirements unit. Actually, during my time there, we had a couple of new members and with fos- positively impacting kids,
for the club’s on-boarded. Watching the kids surround those folks coming in really ter children, providing
opportunities
special needs
as well as that they might not have
spoke of how close they are. When a child joins the BGCWLC in Flor-
kids.
with veterans otherwise, providing both
Trent gave ence, they’re welcomed with open arms, not just by the staff, but by and
other community and family.
some demo- the kids. That was very evident. And they welcomed me.”
underserved That’s a personal passion
graphics for
populations. for me.”
— Josiah A. Pleasant, new CEO of Boys and Girls Clubs of Western
BGCWLC:
Addition-
Pleasant is also bilingual,
Lane County
• 43 per-
ally, he has which will be an asset as the
cent of the
served as a club’s demographics have
club families
l e a d e r s h i p shifted to include more
make less than $30,000 and people,” according to the board have done a fantas- coach, business consultant Spanish-speaking families.
tic job of creating a family and adjunct professor for
50 percent make less than club’s mission.
Trent also thinks Pleasant
“That’s why when we atmosphere,” Pleasant said. multiple universities. He will be a good role model
$40,000
• 50 percent of families looked at finding the next “The kids truly function has bachelor and master for the kids, especially with
CEO, we wanted to make as an extended family unit. degrees of business admin- his dedication to education.
are single parents
• 8 percent are grandpar- sure that we had somebody Actually, during my time istration in international
“That helps our kids pre-
who had those skills and there, we had a couple of business, as well as a mas- pare for a college or voca-
ents raising grandkids
• 8 percent are single par- had a commitment to im- new members on-boarded. ter’s degree in ministry. tional training,” Trent said.
ents, living with grandpar- proving constantly,” Trent Watching the kids surround His education has focused “We have a built-in mentor
said.
ents
those folks coming in really on organizational develop- that is unique and has lived
He and Pleasant first con- spoke of how close they are. ment and economic devel- the university experience
• 10 percent of the fami-
nected eight months ago When a child joins the BG- opment.
lies are foster families
for the last 16 years. You
• 20 percent of the kids through the hiring process, CWLC in Florence, they’re
“So much of your com- couldn’t get a better advan-
and they have been in con- welcomed with open arms, munity development, if tage for our kids than that
have special needs
“This is in Florence, this sistent contact ever since. not just by the staff, but by you’re doing it right, starts one.”
The new CEO will continue the kids. That was very ev- with kids,” Pleasant said.
is our kids,” he said.
For Pleasant, “I think
BGCWLC has worked to to undergo training for the ident. And they welcomed
This was essential to BG- education done well is
improve transitions for the next 18 months, which will me.”
CWLC’s decision in select- a personal experience.
kids and making sure cur- culminate in an advanced
He said the kids were ing him, Trent said, espe- It’s sharing your life and
riculum meets the needs of leadership program.
sweet and funny as they cially Pleasant’s past work it’s bringing what you’ve
“You don’t just throw a asked him questions.
every club member.
in creating a program to learned to the table in a real
“The other big thing was CEO in an organization
“It was a warm welcome build tiny homes and in- and understandable way for
how to make sure that our that’s dealing with the kids to a tight-knit group that crease vocational opportu- the kids that you’re working
teens that come to the BGC that we have in our com- was very family oriented,” nities for youth aging out of with. … Really, a teacher is
have a voice in what we’re munity — and then expect Pleasant said. “That’s really foster care.
a mentor and an opportu-
doing,” Trent said. “Making that they’re just going to the goal, from an organi-
“If you’re going to break nity for me to serve and to
sure that they have the right figure it out,” Trent said. “I’ll zational standpoint — to that cycle of poverty, and give.”
kind of skills, the coping go back on the board and be create a safe, uplifting en- right now we have gener-
For more information
skills and life skills, so that his coach and his mentor, couraging
atmosphere. ational poverty around us, about the club and its ser-
they have a voice as they go helping him through the That is the result that has then you’ve got to start with vices, visit www.bgcwlc.org.
into the community. Be- onboarding process and all been created through a lot the kids. You’ve got to give
cause these are our future
teachers, doctors, bankers
Prepare you own
and newspaper editors. We
“Grab & Go”
want to set them up for suc-
cess.”
bag for use in the
Each teen has a job they
event of an emergency
do, where they get paid with
Club Bucks for BGCWLC’s
Club Store.
This is a small bag that contains a three
“We’re teaching them the
day supply of food, water, medications,
Prepare-Survive-Recover
value of earning and we’re
A
WLEOG Public Outreach Program
and change of clothing along with
also giving them the finan-
Living on Shaky Ground:
personal hygiene items.
Sponsored by West Lane Emergency Operations Group
Web address: www.wleog.org
One critical item is a battery
powered FM Radio to tune
into 106.9 FM KCST the local
emergency broadcast station for our area.
LEGACY
PORTRAITURE
Portraits that will show
your innermost self.
Expect to be in a shelter where people
must provide for themselves for these
items.
RODGER BENNETT
PHOTOGRAPHY
1234 Rhododendron Drive #7 | Florence, Oregon 97439
541-991-0777 | www.photobyrodger.com
This message brought to you by the
West Lane
Emergency Operations Group
www.wleog.org
Sponsored by
THE SPORTS CLUB
JJ NEECE
SENIOR
FO OTBALL
HIGHLIGHT:
The Sports Club, the Siuslaw News and Coast Radio
Sports congratulate Mapleton senior QB/LB JJ Neece
as this week’s Athlete of the Week. In Saturday’s game
against Chiloquin Neece scored a total of 6
touchdowns, 5 on offense with 7 carries for 157 yards
and scored one touchdown on an Interception from the
linebacker position. Neece also had 10 tackles, caused
3 fumbles and had 3 sacks in Mapleton’s rout of the
Panthers.
Honorable Mention:
Chad Hughes - Siuslaw Cross Country
Highlight:
Honorable mention goes to Siuslaw Viking Cross Country runner
Chad Hughes who overcame two falls in last week’s 5000 meter
race to place third overall with a time of 17:09.95. Coach Chris
Johnson says Chad is an incredible athlete and has made many
strides since finishing 8th last year at district.
RIVER HOUSE INN
BLUE HERON GALLERY
SEA LION CAVES
CASCADE TITLE
CENTRAL COAST DISPOSAL
A & W RESTAURANT
WHITE CLOUD ENTERPRISES
DUTCH BROS.
JOE HENRY MORTGAGE LOANS
SHAWN FLEMING CONSTRUCTION
BARBARA'S CUSTOM INTERIORS
TWIN LAKES STORE
SIUSLAW MEDICAL CLINIC
SHERVIN'S TIRE & AUTOMOTIVE
NORTHWEST MEMORY CARE
W.G. PETERSON WOODWORKING
COASTAL HOME SERVICES
LEISURE EXCAVATING
BOBA FLO BUBBLETEA & COFFEE
ROSA'S MEXICAN RESTAURANT
SWANSON PEST MANAGEMENT
LANE COMMUNITY COLLEGE
COAST PAVEMENT MAINTENANCE
FLORENCE ELECTRIC
OLD TOWN INN
NOW YOU CAN LEARN
HOW TO PREPARE FOR
EMERGENCIES AND DISASTERS -
ON YOUR COMPUTER,
PHONE OR TABLET!
Go to WLEOG.ORG and click on
PREPAREDNESS CLASSES for a menu
of disaster prep subjects. Each has short
videos on different topics that you can
watch when it is convenient for you and
your family.
**SAFE WATER, SAFE SANITATION
**EMERGENCY FOOD PLANNING
AND PREPARATION
**PET CARE PLANNING
FOR DISASTERS
**ARE YOU READY?
**SENIOR CITIZEN PREPAREDNESS
**DOCUMENTATION AND
INSURANCE
In addition to the classes, the WLEOG.ORG web-
site has extremely useful information on NATURAL
HAZARDS and EMERGENCY PREPAREDNESS.
Each of these has videos on various topics that
explain the hazards the Pacifi c Northwest faces, and
how to prepare for them.
For more information, visit these websites:
A MERICAN R ED C ROSS — WWW . REDCROSS . ORG
C ITY OF F LORENCE — WWW . CI . FLORENCE . OR . US
FEMA — WWW . READY . GOV
L ANE C OUNTY — WWW . LANECOUNTY . ORG
S IUSLAW V ALLEY F IRE AND R ESCUE — WWW . SVFR . ORG
WLEOG — WWW . WLEOG . ORG
Sponsored by
C ENTRAL
L INCOLN PUD
Florence • 541-997-3414
Mon - Fri 8am to 5pm
S TREETS I NSURANCE
1234 Rhododendron Dr. Florence 541-997-8574