As the U.S. Latino youth population grows, Clubs work to ensure their membership encompasses the Latino community bringing teen latino culture to Clubs.

Latinos are the fastest growing ethnic group in America today. Latino youth also have among the country’s highest school dropout rates:

• The U.S. Census Bureau projects that the Latino population will nearly triple by 2050, from 46.7 million in 2008 to 132.8 million — about one in three of every U.S. residents.
• Today more than 14 million Latino people under age 18 live in America. But only about 7 million are registered for school.

It’s numbers like these that led to the 2004 founding of BGCA’s Latino Outreach Initiative.

Diversifying programming

Activities have been added to Clubs to make them more interesting and attractive to this growing demographic:

• Soccer and Latin dance have been introduced in many Clubs.
• For parents who can’t speak English, English as a Second Language is offered.

So far, so bueno

Thus far, the Initiative appears to be successful. Consider the Boys & Girls Clubs of West Georgia.

• While the community had a large Latino population, before beginning the initiative, the Club had no Latino members, staff or board members.
• By hiring a local Latino pastor who was an established community leader, 30 percent of the Club’s membership is now Latino as well as two staff members and two board members.

To bring a Latino Outreach Initiative to your Club, email [email protected].