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The Story of Three Generations
 "A safe, clean, entertaining place" is what Clarence "Mwei" Banks would
like Santa Barbarans to know about the youth services club that is part
of United Way of Santa Barbara County's Power of Partnership™. It's a place
that his family has frequented for many years.
Mwei lights up when telling the story of how his grandfather, Walter
Williams Jr. and Walter's brothers, Eddie and Herman, attended the Boy's
Club in the late 1940s. Once Walter' s son was old enough, he too joined
the club where he played basketball and football as the second
generation. As the third generation, Mwei came to the club in the third
grade, where his dad coached him in basketball. Following in his
father's foot steps, he stayed a member of the club to referee the
basketball teams throughout high school and during his college breaks at
San Diego State.
Mwei explained that community, volunteerism and consistency are what the
club strives to provide to its young people. Although the goals of the
club are the same as when Mwei's grandfather attended, many of the
concerns have changed over the years - problems such as drugs, gangs and
teenage pregnancy. The club staff and volunteers try to help the kids
avoid these problems, and for the most part they are successful. But
when members do have problems, and the club is not able to handle them,
they refer the club member to another United Way program that can help.
The art of patience, responsibility and dedication is what Mwei has
learned while on staff the last three years at the club - as the
Learning Resource Director. His goal is to be a teacher where "all of
these things are necessary". Mwei is grateful for having the Boys and
Girls Club around while he was growing up and he's glad it's still
around for other young people. He just wants them to have the same
chances and support that he did. United Way's Power of Partnership™ was
there for these three generations as it is for our local young people,
today. |
