Gov. Maura Healey speaks to the crowd about the impact made over the last decade by the DCR Summer Nights program.
Reminder Publishing photo by Trent Levakis
HOLYOKE — Governor Maura Healey made a visit to Holyoke on July 17 and stopped at the Boys and Girls Club of Greater Holyoke to help announce another year of the Department of Conservation and Recreation’s Summer Nights program.
Healey, joined by city and state officials joined a packed crowd inside the gymnasium and spoke to children and families about the Summer Nights program.
The program is designed to connect youth in Massachusetts cities with sports, nature, the arts and more while school is out for the summer months. Healey was joined by city officials and state officials for the kickoff in Holyoke that marked 10 years of the program giving teens and young adults activities to do during the summer.
“This is a statewide effort, but we wanted to come to Holyoke because Holyoke’s special and what’s happening at this Boys & Girls Club is very special,” Healey said. “What’s so great about a club like this is that is provides young people with opportunity. It gives them something to do, it gives them a way to engage in activities, it gives them a way to believe in themselves, try out new experiences and to learn new things about themselves.”
Healey said growing up as one of five siblings and raised by a single mother, she and her siblings were thrown into sports which in turn helped her grow as an individual and stay busy with an activity.
“I just want to thank everyone for their commitment, and I know we’re going to continue to invest in this. It’s about keeping kids safe of course, it’s about keeping them engaged in constructive things to do and new ways to learn about themselves and we love it,” Healey added.
Energy and Environmental Affairs Secretary Rebecca Tepper called the Summer Nights program one of her favorites as it gives families options for their children during the summer to stay involved and continuing growing while out of school.
“I’m a mother of twin boys and when summer comes around and school lets out you think ‘what am I doing with these kids this summer,’” she said with a laugh. “You want it to be safe, you want it to be fun and you want it to be a time for them to grow and learn. So, this program in particular really goes to my heart to have this opportunity for young adults to have a place to go with their friends, hangout, have a good time and give their parents a bit of a break.
Following the conference dozens of basketballs were handed out to a gym packed with children where shoot around began featuring Healey and state Sen. John Velis (D-Westfield).
A decade into the program, Summer Nights provides recreational and educational opportunities for young people, ages 13-21 around the state during evening hours throughout July and August. For its 10-year celebration, the DCR Summer Nights program has partnered with 100 organizations to provide recreational programing to urban youth at approximately 125 locations across the state.
“One of our top priorities at DCR is really making sure we are providing inclusive, fun, recreational programming and engaging programming for our families all throughout the commonwealth, and that’s what Summer Nights does,” said DCR Commissioner Brian Arrigo. “It allows us to partner with local organizations in communities all across the commonwealth and offer a free educational and recreational activities for up to 20,000 kids all throughout the commonwealth. And I have to say having seen the programming in person, it is some of the most rewarding work that we can do to see the direct impact that we’re making on young people all throughout the commonwealth.”
For reference, last year’s program had $3 million in funding behind it from the state — including $2.6 million for program partners, according to mass.gov.
The program’s goal is offering a fun and safe space for teens during the summer months. Youth ages 13-21 are encouraged to participate with organizations like the Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke hosting basketball and volleyball, Tuesday and Wednesday evenings. Holyoke Mayor Joshua Garcia, a former attendee and employee of the Greater Holyoke Boys & Girls Club growing up, said places like the club are a big reason he was able to grow in the community.
“I was a 9-year-old youth participant, I was a peer leader when I was 13 years old and I worked here all throughout high school and college, and it was this organization among many other active leaders in this community that kept kids like me focused on what’s important,” Garcia said. “The organizations receiving these grant funds are doing incredible work in our community for kids that are growing up in our neighborhoods.”
Boys & Girls Club of Greater Holyoke Executive Director Eileen Cavanaugh thanked all officials for the visit and their role in securing this program for the community.
“This is about providing support to a community that needs support. This is about investing in our youth and our future,” Cavanaugh said.
The Summer Nights program will run through Aug. 20 and offers activities based on each organization involved such as basketball skills, drills and tournaments; volleyball, yoga, dance, martial arts, flag football, cornhole and much more. Programming also includes sessions on leadership skill building, health and wellness, poetry, academic tutoring, storytelling, animation, music, media production and career and college readiness programs.
For more information on the statewide program, visit mass.gov/info-details/dcr-summer-nights-program.
