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DAVID REID, Director, delinquency prevention, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Atlanta
Job: Director, delinquency prevention, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Atlanta
What I do: David Reid's job is turning potential gang members and juvenile delinquents into good citizens. From the Boys & Girls Clubs of America national headquarters in Atlanta, Reid works with clubs nationwide to reach out to nonmembers who are at risk for gang involvement. He hopes to bring the young people, ages 6 to 18, into clubs, where they find a fun, clean and safe environment and can play sports, experience the arts, use computers and get help with their homework.
"My job is to bring kids to the clubs, so [the clubs] can work their magic," said Reid, 44. At the clubs, the youths' achievements are recognized, and they get a sense of competence, usefulness, belonging and influence, Reid said. That can counteract the power and allure of gangs, "which use positive strategies in the wrong way," he said.
The goal is to redirect young people to positive pursuits. The clubs' leadership groups for older members teach teenagers how to be civic-minded, develop character and leadership, and encourage community involvement.
Reid also assists clubs with child safety and protection programs, and he researches the latest trends in gangs and violence. He helps local clubs work with their communities to raise funds and pool resources to reach out to a diverse group of young people. "Communities struggle welcoming new populations -- immigrants," he said. Boys & Girls Clubs help "service this new population of kids."
To do their work, the clubs "provide young people the tools to make it in the world of work, be successful in their academic endeavors and get along with others in a diverse environment," Reid said.
What got me interested in this: "Throughout middle and high school, I was interested in serving people," Reid said. His parents, both clergy members, instilled a sense of responsibility to help people better their conditions, he said. In college, where he earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice, he realized that he didn't want to be on the suppressing end of law enforcement. "I wanted to stop problems, be on the preventing end," he said.
Best part of my job: "Traveling to various cities, helping agencies collaborate, putting Boys & Girls Clubs in position to be a catalyst for change," he said. He also said he learns about gangs during drive-alongs with law enforcement officers.
Most challenging part: "Assisting clubs that are committed to prevention initiatives to find sustainable dollars to keep the initiatives going," Reid said. "Enabling communities to understand that Boys & Girls Clubs are supported by people who live in that community."
What people don't know about my job: "It's not often glamorous working in communities with embedded inequality," Reid said. He also has to work with groups that have their own agendas, which can undermine services to high-risk youths.
What keeps me going: "Knowing I'm saving the lives of young people, giving hope, opportunity and recognition. . . . We're a light to them in a very dark world."
Preparation needed for this job: You need to work in youth development, including volunteering. A formal education in human services is necessary, as well as research and training related to young people and trends in youth development. In addition to his undergraduate degree, Reid has a master's degree in public administration. His first job out of college was working with the Boys & Girls Clubs in New York City.
- By Karl Ritzler, for ajcjobs. Got an interesting job that you love? E-mail your story to jobseditor@ajc.com.
