"At the club I can connect with other members who shared similar problems. Support was everything. In being a member, I’ve gained so much more than I could ever imagine. There were so many new experiences! It is because of the club that I was able to complete my college and financial aid applications. And I was accepted into the EOP Program at Cal State Dominguez Hills. Through the club’s support, I was awarded with $10,000 scholarship through the LA Dodgers Foundation. I am proud to say that I’m the first in my family to attend college. To top it all off, I flew out to Washington DC to visit the White House as a part of the Social Justice Club. I advocated for my community, Watts, to my local congressional and state representatives. This experience was beyond impactful. It’s because of the support that I received from the programs at Boys and Girls clubs that I can share my story. So many have helped me along the way and I am very grateful. "

Arturo Gonzalez