BOYS & GIRLS CLUB HONORED BY THE INDIAN GAMING ASSOCIATION AT TRADESHOW
Boys & Girls Club recognized by the Indian Gaming Association for their thirty years of service. In the photo Carla Knapp, National Vice President of Natives Services at the BGC speaks after accepting the award at the Chairman’s Leadership Luncheon.
San Diego, California — April 28, 2023 – The Indian Gaming Association (IGA) hosted their annual leadership luncheon at the Indian Gaming Tradeshow and Convention, where they honored the Boys and Girls Clubs of America for their 30 years of service with the Chairman’s Leadership Award in San Diego Convention Center in San Diego, California. Each year the award is presented to those who have shown exceptional representation in Indian country. IGA Chairman Ernie Stevens, Jr. said: “Today we celebrate the tremendous work and dedication of the Boys & Girls Clubs – Native American programs who have continued to support Native youth throughout Indian Country with their clubs. They are truly committed to providing top-quality support to Native Clubs, so today we are celebrating these Native Clubs, which work to instill valuable lessons and skills in our Native Youth.” Chairman Stevens, who was inducted into the BGCA hall of fame in 2012, shared that the clubs have a special place in his heart. He said, “While I was raised by my Mother, grandmother, and aunties who set the table for me, my club in Oneida gave me the much- needed male role models. They also allowed him to compete in sports,
helped him develop self-discipline – and convinced him to return to school. The clubs played a major role in my life and prepared for leadership today.” Carla Knapp, National VP of Native Services, and Kelly Concho- Hayes, Lead Director of Organizational Development for Native Services, accepted the honor on behalf of the Boys & Girls Club. Carla is a tribal citizen of the Penobscot Indian Nation. She is a proven visionary and strategic leader with 20 years of executive-level, non-profit experience. She began her work in BGCA by chartering the first Native BGC in the Northeast as the Chief Professional Officer. Carla grew the service area for youth and partnered with five federally recognized tribes to expand programming for Native youth. The Boys & Girls Club - Native Clubs continue to play a critical role in the care, safety, and support of Native youth. As the preeminent Native youth-serving organization, Boys & Girls Clubs on Native Lands has risen to meet the rapidly changing needs of our communities. The Boys & Girls Club is the nation’s largest youth service provider for Native youth, with over 200 Native clubs, nearly 150 tribal communities represented, and over 120,000 Native Youth Served. For 30 years, Boys & Girls Clubs have proudly served American Indian, Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian, and American Samoan youth. The first Boys & Girls Clubs in Indian Country were established by Boys & Girls Clubs (BGC).
8 | INDIAN GAMING UPDATE - 2023 FIRST HALF EDITION
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