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by Keith Burbank Treasure Coast Newspapers STUART — A sleek new building opened last month in East Stuart because of the need to help children there and in the surrounding area. The Boys & Girls Club of Martin County officially opened the greater Stuart club on Sept. 3, at 551 Southeast Martin Luther King Jr. Blvd., after a look at the area's demographic data. "We look at the data, and our mission statement compels us to move in a direction of serving the kids who need us the most," said Keith "Fletch" Fletcher, president and CEO of the Boys & Girls Club of Martin County. Some details The 39,000-square-foot club features a 15,000-square-foot gym, performing arts studio, commercial kitchen and classrooms. Including furniture, equipment and other items, the building cost about $18.5 million and was paid for by donors. "I like that we have more space to do stuff," said 10-year-old Katelynn Landsman, a student at J.D. Parker Elementary School in Stuart. Shiny and cute is what 10-year-old Maria Leal, also a J.D. Parker Elementary School student, said about the new space. She also likes that she has more space to do things. Traditional plus a gym "It's built like sort of an ecosystem of inspiration," Fletcher said. The Stuart club is traditional in that it offers academic support, promotes good character and citizenship, healthy lifestyles and offers music, art, dance and sports, he said. And a gym with 270 bleacher seats. "I haven't been in Martin County as long as some, but I do know that the residents of East Stuart have long been promised an air-conditioned indoor gymnasium," Fletcher said. The gym is available for community use, he said. Programs for learning The club also features a registered apprenticeship program in home building and home building skills. Students can follow up and get certifications in carpentry; plumbing; electrical; welding; and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning. "The idea is that you're going to complete those certifications for free, and you're 22 years old, you have no debt, and you have a journeyman's license," Fletcher said. Also, "we have an entire lab dedicated to advanced manufacturing" that can train kids for jobs that pay $40 per hour, he added. "We've been smart about this," Fletcher said. The club also offers drone certifications, sewing and digital music production, but, he said, the core premise of the building is viewing high school graduation as a launchpad, rather than a destination. How it's helping youth "It's where we're going to help you take off and change the circumstances for your family's lineage, generationally," he said. "That's what we're aspiring to do." Children pay nothing year-round to be a part of it, he said. The Boys & Girls Club of Martin County is unable to do that in a shared space, Fletcher said, which has been the case in the past. How many are served "It is the largest club that we have to date," said Meghan Shirey, director of marketing and external affairs for the Boys & Girls Club of Martin County. "It has the capacity to serve on a daily basis up to 600 students. We typically serve around 300 at one time." Who it's serving "We're targeting two schools in the community, said Devonte Lawson, the director of the greater Stuart club. Those are J.D. Parker Elementary School, where about 200-plus kindergarten through fifth graders receive services, Lawson said. "And Stuart Middle School, which is directly behind us, adjacent to our building, and we serve about 50-60" students, he said. To read the whole article, please click here.

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