Gary Wendt Teen Center

Grades 7-12

Teen Center Highlights

5th Quarter Program
at the Teen Center

Barry Woods 5th Quarter- Boys & Girls Club of Stamford

The 5th Quarter program works with teens who have been identified by our staff, police, schools, and other community partners as having serious risk factors. The program teaches teamwork, perseverance, and leadership on and off the basketball court. The 5th Quarter program has served over 300 teens and young adults since it began in response to the escalation of violence in Stamford’s West Side.

The program began by offering open gym nights and now provides social and emotional development programming as well. Youth establish a mentor/mentee relationship with trained staff and connect with positive adult professionals from within our community such as police, educators, and other youth advocates. These youth meet each week for a mandatory academic session, a weekly practice, and a weekly game day. Prior to any basketball activities, mandatory discussions and workshops are held to focus on relevant social issues, goal setting, problem-solving, consequences of violent behavior, the benefits of positive leadership, and moving forward as a team. Participants also take part in youth-led discussions between rival neighborhoods in order to fully understand the source of ill-will and discuss possible non-violent solutions.

“5th Quarter helps you with life inside your house, outside and on the basketball court. It helps you all around, not just sports. It helps with school, how to take care of yourself, how to be a man, how to be a woman. My favorite part of the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford is that I know I am safe when I am here.”
Evan, 11th Grade
Evan, 11th Grade9 years at Boys & Girls Club
“I was not doing well at school and my mom put me in the program. Being a leader in the program now makes me feel good. It’s a good program and I feel like people listen to me now. My favorite part of the Boys & Girls Club of Stamford is the people. It’s like another home for me.”
Rodney, 15 years old
Rodney, 15 years old6 years at Boys & Girls Club

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