'Truly Blessed'

THREE RIVERS AREA — A back injury forced Glen Lane down a different path that not only changed his career, but led to personal changes, too.

After working part time with the Martin Street Youth Center, the position to lead Our Club of Jacksonville opened up, and Lane thought he would enjoy working with the kids who attend the afterschool program that is a division of the Jacksonville Parks and Recreation Department.

“I found something that I love to do, and I found somebody to pay me for it,” Lane said.

The fruits of the labor of Lane and a number of volunteers were recently rewarded, as Our Club of Jacksonville received the Outstanding Community Organization award from the School of Religious Studies in Little Rock.

But it’s other, more unofficial awards that Lane is most proud of.

The first thing visible when stepping into Lane’s office is a huge bulletin board covered in signs and artwork: watercolor signs that say “Mr. Glen is cool,” “Mr. Glen is funny” and “You Rock!”

“This board reminds me of my relationship with the kids,” Lane said. “You never know if you’re making a difference, and this means more to me thanthat certificate I got from Pulaski County Council for Children and Youth Services. I’m truly blessed; the Jacksonville club is truly blessed.”

Lane’s relationship with the kids of Our Club hasn’t always been smooth sailing. He said it has taken all of the 10 years he’s been with Our Club to get to know the families and to build a trusting relationship with the kids.

Our Club began as an afterschool program geared toward at-risk kids, but Lane said he took the “at-risk” out of the description.

“I believe all kids are at-risk,” Lane said. “We do target a certain group, but we don’t discriminate either. How can I tell them to accept diversity when there is no diversity in the program?”

In order to keep the ability to give one-on-one attention, the maximum number of kids is 25, and they are split up into age groups of 6- to 11-year-olds, and 12- to 18-year-olds. The two groups meet after school on alternate days, Monday through Thursday.

“On field trips, we try to keep them separate, but there are times I take all 25 kids,” Lane said. “I want the kids to take advantage of opportunities that may not have existed when we were kids. They need to get out of their neighborhoods. We take them on field trips to expose them to different things and get them out of their comfort zones.”

Our Club focuses on three areas: academics, social skills and life skills. Lane picks the students up after school, provides them a nutritional snack and unwind time before the activities begin.

“My job is to access the needs of the club and make it happen,” Lane said. “What I wanted to do is become a reliable, trusted source in the kids’ lives. I had a hard time accepting the fact that I am a role model.”

Lane finally accepted the fact that the kids at Our Club look up to him not only as a role model, but as a father figure.

“It’s so easy to love your own kids - now try loving someone else’s,” Lane said. “ When you’re passionate about something, you can’t hide it, and I’m passionate about this program and those kids.”

Many of the children who attend Our Club don’t have active fathers in their lives.

“So many of them miss their dads, and a whole lot of kids in the program are from singleparent households,” Lane said. “I relish the role of being a male in their lives.”

Lane encourages dads to take time to be involved in their kids’ lives. He believes there is no excuse not to be there in some way, whether it is writing, calling or just asking to see a report card, any communication is important.

“I’ve been doing this 11 years all together, and there’s no way I could have done it without a supportive wife and two kids,” Lane said. “My family allowed me to be a part of someone else’s family. My kids allowed me to be a stepdad or an uncle to these kids.”

For more information on Our Club, visit the Web site at www.our-club.org or call Lane at (501) 982-0818.

- jbrosius@ arkansasonline.com

Three Rivers, Pages 123 on 11/15/2009

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