How innovation, access help Arizona's Club kids build great futures
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Ivan Gilreath
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In a world that often underestimates young people, we’re lucky to witness what happens when we choose to believe in them — and when they begin to believe in themselves.”
By Ivan Gilreath | Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale
From academic pressures and social challenges to navigating a future shaped by artificial intelligence, automation and innovation, kids today are growing up in a time of rapid change and complexity.
And I am watching them rise to the occasion.
That’s why Arizona needs Club kids.
At Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, kids aren’t just coming for a safe place after school — we see future leaders, innovators and changemakers. With the right support systems and opportunities in place, Club youth are achieving remarkable things.
Some are using cutting-edge technology to help others — like the group of teens who 3D-printed a prosthetic hand for a nurse they’d never even met. Others are organizing service projects, volunteering in the community and mentoring younger youth. And across every Club space, kids are gaining real-world experience through hands-on programs in science, art, leadership and entrepreneurship.
Recently, a group of teens created a homemade hoverboard using a battery-powered leaf blower — proving that when curiosity meets opportunity, innovation thrives. These young people are tackling challenges I could have never imagined when I was a kid, and they’re doing things I could have never dreamed of.
This is workforce development in action. Whether it’s building tech skills in our Makerspaces, exploring careers in emerging fields or learning how to effectively communicate their ideas, our Club members are preparing not just to enter the workforce — but to lead it.
These are not isolated success stories. Every day, youth are showing what’s possible when they’re given the tools, time and trust to grow — not limited by their circumstances. At the Clubs, it doesn’t matter where a child starts — what matters is where they’re empowered to go. With access to caring mentors, enriching programs and a supportive environment, our youth are proving that potential lives everywhere.
Research shows that after-school and summer programming makes a measurable difference — improving academic performance, building healthy habits and decreasing risky behaviors. But more than that, these programs give kids a sense of belonging and belief in themselves — especially when life feels uncertain or overwhelming.
Club kids aren’t just preparing for the future. They’re shaping it.
In a world that often underestimates young people, we’re lucky to witness what happens when we choose to believe in them — and when they begin to believe in themselves.
Because at the end of the day, it’s not just that Arizona needs Club kids — it’s that our future already depends on them.
Editor’s note: Ivan Gilreath is president and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Scottsdale, which serves youth at nine locations in Scottsdale, north Phoenix, Fountain Hills, the Salt River Pima-Maricopa Indian Community and the Hualapai Nation. Please send your comments to AzOpinions@iniusa.org. We are committed to publishing a wide variety of reader opinions, as long as they meet our Civility Guidelines.
