COMMUNIQUÉ
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A Message from Marc
Welcome to the Fall edition of the Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina Communiqué . This special behind the scenes issue “opens up the curtains” to show you the day-to-day life at BGHNC: daycare runs with teen moms and their babies, creative dinners prepared by dedicated staff served family-style at each cottage dining table, children choosing activities and meals at weekly Family Meetings, and young adults visualizing a better future for themselves because of the close sense of family built at BGHNC. Behind all of this, please feel proud that your support for BGHNC enables staff to challenge the stereotype that congregate residential care should be impersonal or institutional. Here we treat each child as an individual and ensure that each of our “cottages” are beautiful homes with unique families in each one. You see, children at BGHNC are not numbers. We know their names, their stories, and their interests. We love them, and we work hard to create an environment that changes lives and provides fond memories for these
children to cherish for the rest of their lives. Thank you for supporting the mission of Boys & Girls Homes of NC. Each gift you give has a tremendous impact on the children of North Carolina.
Marc A. Murphy, LCSW President & Chief Executive Officer Boys & Girls Homes of North Carolina
DEONTE’S STORY Teaching Parent Janae Matthews was working in Solomon Emergency Youth Shelter when Deonte Noiles, 17, first arrived at Boys & Girls Homes a year ago. “He would not interact with any other kids. He would go on activities with us to the beach, and I remember he stood by himself the whole time,” she said. “He’s totally transformed. It’s beautiful to watch how much he has changed.” A slow smile spread across Deonte’s face as he recalled the difference in himself he’s seen in the past year
at BGHNC.
someday, but he’s still exploring careers in welding. “He’s a good worker,” said Residential Director Jonathan Crawley. Deonte has time. He hopes to stay at BGHNC until he finishes his education, gets his license and first job. “As you stay here longer, you build friendships and with that comes communication, and you can be more comfortable around everyone,” he said. “A job, a car, a home. That’s what stability looks like to me now.”
“Meeting more people and getting greeting skills, it just teaches you how to step outside of yourself,” he said. “I just kind of woke up one day and realized there’s no reason to be shy. Everyone here is just as nervous as me.” Now, Deonte loves playing basketball, soccer and video games with the other boys in his cottage and working on campus with the Maintenance team patching cottage walls or doors or fixing clogged toilets. He has about a year and a half left in his welding program at Southeastern Community College, and he’s also taking a business class this semester. Deonte hopes to work in pipeline welding
** Deonte’s social worker gave permission for his story to be told. **
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