A BUILDING BLOCK
Boys and Girls Club volunteer creates program, helps community
TROY, N.Y. >> What is a hero? According to MerriamWebster, a hero is a person “admired for his achievements.”
Troy Boys and Girls Club volunteer Jerry Ford would argue that true heroism is “Helping Everyone Recognize Opportunity.”
Either way, Ford fits the bill, not only raising more than $50,000 for the center, but helping an underserved population of the community with a non-profit he calls “Team Hero,” which created the Boys and Girls Club program known as The Block Center.
“Jerry came to me asking how he could start his own non-profit to serve teenagers and I suggested that we create a new (Boys and Girls Club) program,” said Troy Boys and Girls Club Chief Executive Officer Patrick Doyle. “Jerry symbolizes the power of our volunteers. He expanded our mentorship and came up with a curriculum and as they say, the rest is history.”
The Block Center, offers youth development for individuals between the ages of 11 and 17.
The name, Ford explained, is a play on words. The “block,” once a street corner hang out, is now an actual destination that cultivates success.
“Both of my sons attended the Boys and Girls Club after school program and my wife, Elvira, became coordinator of Family Night,” Ford said. “It was in helping her that I saw a need to get teenagers active. At the time, most of the Boys and Girls Club programs focused on younger children. In 2015 there was a spike in the violent crime rate.”
Ford recognized the problem. Then he acted, investing in the community that gave him a second chance.
“I came from a pretty rough childhood,” he said.
Like many in his South Florida neighborhood, Ford’s parents were drug addicts who died when he was very young.
“My parents passed away from HIV caused by intravenous drug use. This happened to a lot of kids in my neighborhood. Our parents were friends, used drugs together and shared needles. A lot of them died of AIDS. I got pretty wacked out, got in trouble as a youth, ended up in prison a few times,” Ford said.
His life needed to change. Ford moved to Troy and joined the United Ordained Church, attended Hudson Valley Community College and worked for various community organizations before his present job with the Department of Health.
“Everything points back to the youth,” Ford said. “I know at 14-years-old, these kids are making choices that can change their entire life. It’s like the Whitney Houston song,” Ford said. “I believe that children are our future because without the children, what hope do we have.”
The Block Center provides teenagers a foundation through intentional programming. “Our block is designed to build good character,” he explained. “Our programs focus on respect, accountability, commitment, honor, action, credibility, trust, ethics and resilience.”
Today more than 100 teenagers learn skills like effective communication, the importance of civic involvement, mentoring and good citizenship, spending time learning how to build a resume, mentoring and taking college tours.
The Block Center achieved monumental success in a short period of time. Less than a year into its infancy, Maytag Corporation named Ford a “Maytag Man of the Year.” He was one of 12 individuals selected out of 100 nationwide and received $20,000 to support the program.
According to Doyle, the program’s success is easily marked by the number of teenagers who visit the newly-established teen lounge.
“They can join for free as long as they are doing a program of carrying a ‘B’ average, which all are because they want to be here and many are actively involved in mentoring younger children.”
In the near future, teens from The Block Center hope to visit Washington, D.C. with the goal of fostering their civic involvement.
“We want them to become citizens who vote,” Ford said. “This is the country our children will inherit.”
Donations to a “Go Fund Me” campaign — https://www.gofundme. com/help-our-kids-go-todc — have raised $635 toward the $9,000 goal. Carwash fundraisers will be held in the spring.
While Ford talks with great passion about Team Hero and the Block Center, he seldom mentions his personal contributions, Doyle said.
“Jerry is modest and won’t tell you that he was inducted into our hall of fame.”
Nor does he reveal that the fund development’s highest tier of giving is named in his honor.
“Volunteers like Jerry are the heart of this program,” Doyle said.
Ford’s commitment to the young people of Troy goes beyond the Boys and Girls Club. Whether he is speaking at a City Council meeting or building on his existing program, he is a passionate advocate for teenagers throughout the community.
“It’s not about me, it’s about our youth,” said Ford. “I’m just happy I can be a voice.”