The Boys and Girls Club of Northwest Gainesville just entered the 21st century with a podcasting studio, music booth, robotics table, gaming laptops and more.
The new tech is part of the club’s Innovation Lab, launched through a $25,000 grant from the James M. Cox Foundation. On Tuesday, officials cut the ribbon on the lab and toured the facility as children spoke into microphones, edited videos and animated graphics on iPads.
Deonte Lee, director of the Gainesville club, said they used nearly every penny to stock the Innovation Lab. The club had a previous lab in a smaller room, but Lee said it needed an upgrade.
Lee said the new technology is more than just after-school fun. The skills children learn could open career paths, and the after-school engagement exponentially increases a student’s chance of positive outcomes.
For careers, Lee said a child’s animating or podcasting skills could expand to a YouTube show. Or a kid could learn about music from the recording booth and decide on sound engineering as a future career path.
Because of the new space, the former lab was turned into an esports room with an Xbox and PlayStation. The national Boys and Girls Club, Lee said, recently started an esports league, and last year, six club students received full-ride college scholarships because of their esports.
Colleges continue to expand their esports teams, providing another pathway for students.
Lee added that participating in any after-school activity increases a student’s odds of success. He said the statistics and outcomes of students who don’t attend these activities are scary.
Gabriel Wolfestry, S.T.E.M. lead at the club, said he focused on high-quality additions to the lab, not just quantity.
“We really want the opportunity to have a good base so that in the future, hopefully in 2028 maybe, we might have not just a room, we’ll have an entire building that is specifically for S.T.E.M.,” Wolfestry said.
A set of 3D printers buzzed away, and Lee pointed out that students are designing and printing custom club bucks, given to students as rewards.
The James M. Cox Foundation has been a nationwide partner with the Boys and Girls Club of America for over 20 years, and the company said it has given more than $70 million to the organization in that time.
Aimee Pfannenstiel, Cox Central Florida market vice president, said the Gainesville club really investigated how to use the money well.
“It’s just been a pleasure to work with the clubs,” Pfannenstiel said. “They’re always engaged. They’re always doing the right thing, and the biggest part of our innovation labs is connecting kids to technology and helping them get a step ahead.”
Last week, Cox Communications announced $35,000 in other grants given to North Central Florida nonprofits.
