(A News and Sentinel Op-Ed – Photo Illustration – MetroCreativeConnection)

Each afternoon during the school year, students walked into Club Vandy at Van Devender Middle School in Parkersburg — not just for supervision, but for support, enrichment, and connection. Through the 21st Century Community Learning Centers (21st CCLC) program, we were able to turn that space into something powerful: a hub where young people felt safe, supported, and inspired to grow.

This federal funding helped us provide after-school and summer programming that closed learning gaps, supported working parents, and kept kids off the streets during critical hours for five years. It gave us the resources to offer free tutoring, nutritious meals, STEM activities, and consistent mentoring from trusted adults. In the last year alone, Club Vandy served over 100 students through this program — and we saw real results. Attendance improved. Grades went up. Confidence grew.

Those outcomes mattered — not just to the kids, but to their families, their schools, and our whole community.

Unfortunately, this funding is now at risk. And with it, so are the opportunities that places like Club Vandy have provided.

We understand that the federal budget process is difficult and complex. But programs like 21st CCLC have historically enjoyed strong bipartisan support — and for good reason. Investing in our youth is something we should all agree on, regardless of politics.

We urge our senators and representatives to maintain strong funding for 21st CCLC in this year’s federal budget. The needs of Parkersburg’s families haven’t gone away — and these programs remain essential.

We also invite our community to take action. Reach out to your elected officials. Let them know that 21st Century programs like Club Vandy make a difference. Our kids may not always have a voice at the table — but we do.

To learn more or get involved, visit www.bgcparkersburg.org or the national advocacy page at bgca.org/get-involved/advocacy.