Celebrating Black History Month
Inspiring Youth Through Stories of Resilience & Triumph
February marks Black History Month, a time to honor the incredible contributions, resilience, and achievements of Black Americans throughout history. At Boys & Girls Clubs of Sonoma-Marin, we believe in empowering young people of all backgrounds to reach their full potential. This month, we celebrate the countless Black role models who have paved the way for future generations, inspiring our Club Members to dream big and achieve their goals.
From Boys & Girls Club Members to Changemakers:
Denzel Washington: Before Denzel Washington became a movie star, he was a member of the Boys & Girls Club of Mount Vernon. At the Club, Denzel was mentored by Billy Thomas and learned several valuable life lessons. Denzel went on to have a highly successful acting career and has received many accolades for his work, including becoming the first African American to win two academy awards. “Everything you’ve seen or heard about me began with lesson I learned to live by at the Club.”
Michael P. Bell: A former mayor of the town of Toledo, Ohio, Michael devoted his entire 30-year career in public service to his hometown. In 1990, he was named chief of the Toledo Fire Department at 35, making him the youngest chief in the country and the first African American to lead an Ohio city fire department. The mayor’s office isn’t far from the Boys & Girls Clubs of Toledo, where he says his success began. “The Club made you feel you could do anything if you put your mind to it,” recalls Mayor Bell. “It helped make me who I am today.”
Mona Dixon: Mona and her family lived on the streets and moved from one homeless shelter to another until she turned 13 years old. Mona found stability for the first time after she joined Boys & Girls Clubs of the East Valley in Tempe, Arizona. With this newfound support, she became a scholar student and a teen empowerment leader, earning the title of Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year in 2010. She was eventually named on Essence’s “Most Influential Black Women” power list. Now, Dr. Dixon serves as an author, success coach, and keynote speaker.
Perry Ludy: The National Youth of the Year program is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s most prestigious leadership program that recognizes the nation’s most inspiring teens and their incredible journey. These amazing young people represent the voice and spirit of hope for America. In 1969, Perry became the first African American Youth of the Year. He was selected from over 1,000 finalists to represent thousands of youth served by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America at that time. Today, Perry is the author of several business books including, Profit Building: Cutting Costs without Cutting People. He is the former CEO and co-owner of Cutting Edge Pizza LLC, a franchise operator for Little Caesars Pizza. He also served as president of US Auto Glass, Chief Operating Officer for Environmental Systems Products and Divisional Vice President for PepsiCo Inc.
Bill Russell: NBA legend Bill Russell was cut from his high school basketball team before he became a professional basketball player. However, his coach saw something in him and sent him to the Oakland Boys & Girls Club to hone his basketball skills. In 13 seasons, he led the Boston Celtics to 11 championships, including two as player-coach, the first African American coach in NBA History. In 1975, Bill Russell was inducted into the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame. In 2010, Bill Russell received the Presidential Medal of Freedom for his Civil Rights work.
Together, let's celebrate Black History Month by honoring the past, inspiring the present, and empowering the future. By providing opportunities for young people to learn, grow, and lead, we can build a more just and equitable world for all.
Story adapted from BGCA.