Volunteer Orientation at BGCMD

Yesterday I did my second orientation at the Boys & Girls Club of Metro Denver (BGCMD), the first being a short orientation to the volunteer process. The actual process of volunteering at the club has been quite extensive and began with a general application, the first orientation, another form, and finally the second orientation and a couple more forms for good measure. From there, the organization will conduct a criminal background check and place me at one of the 6 centers in the Metro Denver area based on my interests and the needs of the individual clubs. While I won't begin work at the club until April, I will be able to hit the ground running (pun possibly intended) with my project now that the preliminary work has been done.

When I walked into the club last night, I was struck by the demographics of the volunteers attending the orientation. Like me, the other volunteers were primarily female appeared to be in their early to mid-20s, Caucasian and middle-class. There also seemed to be a prevalence of Sarahs in the group (25% of the group). By contrast, the BGCMD members tend to be an even split between males and females, primarily from low income families and the majority are Latino (63%) or African-American (25%). No data has been given on the percentage of members named Sarah. I'll get back to you on that one! As I spend more time at the club, I'm interested in how these social and racial dynamics will play out. Kristine, the volunteer coordinator, warned us that everyone, no matter how open minded we are, carries stereotypes. Even 6 year old kids may have preconceived notions about us! The easiest and most effective way to battle these stereotypes is through awareness, sensitivity and shared values. By having respect for the kids, we will open ourselves up to deeper and more meaningful relationships with the kids. While I'm sure that there will be challenging times and some obstacles to overcomes, I fully embrace the challenge!