At Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica, our goal is to ensure every young person feels safe, welcomed, and supported when they walk through our doors. We take pride in creating environments where youth can thrive, build connections, and grow. As societal issues, life challenges, and conversations in the world around us become more complex, our Clubs remain committed to being positive spaces for kids.
To help guide behavior and create a positive environment, we ground all of our work in three core expectations:
- Be Safe: We expect all youth to help create a physically and emotionally safe space.
- Be Respectful: We expect youth to treat themselves, other youth, and staff with kindness and respect. This includes:
- Avoiding hurtful or offensive language, including racial slurs or slang that is discriminatory
- Not bullying, name-calling, or making comments about a person’s identity or appearance
- Be Responsible: We expect youth to take responsibility for their actions, make thoughtful choices, and speak up or seek help from a trusted adult if they see or experience something that does not feel right.
As part of these expectations, our Clubs are committed to being inclusive spaces for all youth. We do not tolerate bullying, harassment, or discrimination of any kind, including behavior or language related to race, ethnicity, gender identity, sexual orientation, disability, religion, or any other aspect of a young person’s identity.
Our staff participate in ongoing training in cultural responsiveness, de-escalation, and supporting all youth identities, so that they are prepared to:
- Address harmful language and behavior in the moment.
- Support youth who may be impacted by bias, bullying, or conflict.
- Model inclusive, respectful communication for all youth.
We also know that families are our partners in this work. We invite you to join us in reinforcing these values at home by:
- Talking with your child about what it means to Be Safe, Be Respectful, and Be Responsible at the Club and in your community.
- Discussing the impact of words, including harmful language or jokes about someone’s identity, race, or gender, even if they are said “just playing.”
- Encouraging your child to speak with a trusted adult at the Club if they experience or witness bullying, hurtful language, or exclusion.
If you have questions, concerns, or would like support in talking with your child about these topics, our team is here to help. Please contact:
- Patrice Hawkins, Chief of Staff at phawkins@smbgc.org
- Social Worker, Christopher Musser-Kirby, at cmusserkirby@smbgc.org.
We are here to partner with you in helping youth build empathy, respect, and a strong sense of belonging.
Thank you for your continued support in making SMBGC a safe, respectful, and inclusive place for all kids and teens. We are honored to have the opportunity to serve your children and partner with you!
