Relocating and reprogramming: Boys and Girls Club changing in East Austin
AUSTIN — After being located at 901 Thompson St. for almost 20 years, the Boys and Girls Club of East Austin had to relocate their facility in less than three months before their summer program began.
The Boys and Girls Club of East Austin is currently undergoing its summer program, which is being held from June to Aug.
“This summer is different,” said Jadelynn, a 13-year-old Boys and Girls Club of East Austin member.
At the end of March, club director Arthur Castillo was notified that the East Club had two months remaining in the building it was located in.
“We were in a school. We renovated a school called ALC and we’ve been located there for about 20 years. They gave us the gym, an educational room, arts and crafts room, a game room, and a classroom,” Castillo said.
Castillo said the club was being notified for about five years that it may be their last year located in the renovated school.
Before Castillo found out about the relocation notice, he was preparing the club’s summer program while thinking they’ll be in the renovated school with four programming rooms. Castillo was preparing for about 120 to 150 children for the summer program.
“We had to find a place to rent out for the summer for about two to three months,” Castillo said. “We needed to move in somewhere to serve the community and the kids.”
After contacting the Housing Authority City of Austin (HACA), the East Club was able to relocate their program to the Rosewood Salina Apartments’ community center.
“It’s smaller,” said Alexis, 9, a Boys and Girls Club of East Austin member. “We only have one room.”
The East Club were accustomed to having four programming rooms and a gym to use, but having to relocate to one room caused major adjustments for the members and staff.
“It’s [summer program] kind of short because they open at 10 in the morning and it’s just weird,” said Omar, 9, a Boys and Girls Club of East Austin member.
Regular programming hours for the East club was from 8:30 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.
“We also have limits to what we can and cannot do in the new location,” said Tunisia Smith, East Club staff member.
At the Rosewood Salina Apartments, the East club is allowed to start their program from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.
The hour change has affected the membership at the East Club. The majority of the parents go to work at 9 a.m. Some parents had to find alternative locations to bring their children since they could not drop them off at the relocated East club.
The hour change also affected the staff members. Castillo said the majority of the staff who worked during the school year had conflicted scheduling during the summer hours. While some staff members had second jobs, internships, or even summer school, changes had to be made to accommodate the children.
The staff for the school year would work the afternoon shifts to accommodate their scheduling and the morning staff would consist of Castillo and two staff members who came from a different Boys and Girls Club.
After the hours’ conflict was solved, Castillo and staff were left to figure out how to trim the list of 120 children to only 50 children for the new location. One of the additional rules HACA instructed to Castillo was to make sure the children who attended the summer program at the new location were HACA residents.
Castillo made a list of children who were HACA residents and who were not. He contacted the parents who were not HACA residents and told them the situation and where they could bring their children.
“[East club] was a traditional site, meaning it’s open to the public and all ages,” Castillo said.
The Boys and Girls Club organization created more summer programs in the East Austin area because of the changes the East Club were enduring. Those additional programs made it more convenient for parents to bring their children if they were not HACA residents.
Although the East club’s summer program downsized, they were still able to conduct their daily activities and programs.
“We have one room, we put it in half,” said Aidilene, 8, an East Club member.
This is the rack at the new location that splits the room in half. Photo by Taylor M. Smith.
They split the community center room in half with the classroom on one side and the game room on the other. The room is split in half by a rack with school supplies and board games on it.
“We have a game room but its smaller than the one we had,” said Jalisa, 9, an East Club member.
This is the game room at the new location. Photo by Taylor M. Smith.
Castillo’s end goal for the summer program is to have all 50 members attend the club at one time. One of the issues with that goal is the noise levels. Castillo said the split room with the educational activities, healthy living classes, and game room all occurring at the same time can really exceed noise levels.
Castillo is hoping HACA enjoys the outcome of the program so East Club could someday be granted the space to serve the children like they were able to in the renovated school.
