UMCOR Sager Brown to Host Boys & Girls Club Unit
By Susan J. Meister
UMCOR Sager Brown returned to its roots in February when the Boys & Girls Club opened the new Baldwin unit on the campus. The agreement between UMCOR Sager Brown, the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, and the City of Baldwin returns several buildings on campus to their long time use as safe and stimulating places for children in the community.
Kathy Kraiza, newly appointed executive director for the facility, operated by the United Methodist Committee on Relief, was instrumental in forging this new relationship.
"Since its beginning in 1867 as home for African American boys orphaned by the Civil War, to the establishment in 1921 as The Sager Brown Home and Godman School operated by the Women's Division, this place has been used to reach out to and educate children," Kraiza said. "The new after-school program will bring children back to the campus and strengthen our ties with the Baldwin community."
The enthusiasm for the new arrangement was echoed by Brandi Hoskins-Vilo, executive director, Boys & Girls Club, Bayou Teche Region. "We look for attendance of about 30 students to begin," she said, "and we hope to grow the program to 50-100 children, both elementary and middle school age." The Boys & Girls Club program will be the only one of its kind in Baldwin, population 2,500.
Memorandum of agreement signed in December
The memorandum of agreement among the three groups was finalized in December 2006 at a Baldwin City Council meeting. Under the agreement, the city will underwrite a portion of the costs. UMCOR Sager Brown will provide classrooms, shared access to the gym, equipment, utilities, arts and crafts supplies and eight new computers. The computers were partially funded through a grant from the Women's Division of the General Board of Global Ministries.
On site will be traditional Boys & Girls Club programs, including homework help, arts and crafts, a computer lab and game room.
Procedures ensure safety of children
UMCOR Sager Brown has a current Safe Sanctuary policy in place, to protect the physical, emotional and spiritual safety of children and youth who come to the campus. "Our staff and long-term volunteers are required to have background checks," Ms. Kraiza said. "Short term volunteers will receive training and orientation when they arrive."
Ms. Kraiza hopes that short-term volunteers will work with the children after work at the depot ends and before dinner is served. "We have a lot of retired school teachers among our volunteers," she laughed.
Kristin Sachen, the agency executive who supervises the UMCOR Sager Brown site, sees this agreement as another natural way for the campus and the staff to respond to the call for ministry both in Baldwin and around the world.
"As you look at the history of this site, it is truly remarkable how it keeps reinventing its ministry to meet the needs of the community," she said. "In 1867, an orphanage; in 1921, a school; in 1992, a place to stage disaster response to Hurricane Andrew; in 2005, a response to Hurricanes Katrina and Rita; and in 2007, the Boys & Girls Club. What a tremendous history!"
Wayne Breaux, mayor of Baldwin, was also enthusiastic. "We are really looking forward to this partnership," he said. "It is an excellent program and will be an asset to our community."
Susan Meister is UMCOR's Gulf Coast communications consultant.
