At the Boys & Girls Club of Plymouth, our mission calls
upon us to inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us
most, to achieve great futures as productive, caring, and responsible
citizens. Our priority programs emphasize academic success, good character and
citizenship, and healthy lifestyles.
Accordingly, we have embarked on a new program with an emphasis on
Character Development and Citizenship as our mission statement requires.
We will establish clear expectations, promote open
communication, and foster a sense of belonging.
In our daily interactions with Club members, we instill a sense of
belonging, a sense of usefulness, a sense of competence, and a sense of upward
influence in their Club. Each of these
goals with youngsters supports the essence of Character Development.
We will mentor our young members to apply their learning to
real-life situations, such as volunteering, random acts of kindness, and taking
on responsibility. One of our leadership
techniques is to have "the bigs instruct the littles." This is also a way to help develop character
with our teens and middle-schoolers.
Character building programs foster ethical values, positive
behaviors, and responsible citizenship in individuals, particularly in the Club
setting. Our program will offer positive
reinforcement by recognizing and praising positive character traits and actions
to help reinforce desired behaviors. Our staff will help members build
resilience by focusing on developing the skills needed to overcome challenges
and setbacks, which are essential for character development. Staff will also concentrate
on specific character traits like trustworthiness, respect, responsibility,
fairness, caring, and citizenship. These traits are commonly referred to as the
Six Pillars of Character.
The character development framework includes Self-Awareness:
the ability to recognize emotions, values, strengths, and limitations.
The framework also includes Self-Management: the ability to
manage behaviors to achieve personal goals.
Another element is Responsible Decision Making: the ability
to make constructive choices. Social Awareness is the ability to show
understanding and, perhaps most importantly, empathy. The final element of the
framework focuses on Relationship Skills, which include the ability to form
relationships, work in teams, and deal with conflict constructively.
We intend to rely on narratives of individuals who
demonstrated exceptional courage and character to inspire members. The Club
will provide opportunities for students to practice making ethical decisions in
a safe and controlled environment.
Beyond encouraging members to think critically about
different perspectives and values, we will emphasize one outstanding practice
that fosters members' support and encouragement for one another. This program will engage students in
community service activities that promote empathy and social responsibility.
