Covington's Boys & Girls Club is opening a Ripley site – here's why it chose a middle school

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region, which has served young people in Covington, is expanding for the first time, with plans to open a new site at Ripley Middle School in August.

The Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region–Ripley has been in the works for almost two years and is a partnership with Lauderdale County Public Schools, according to a Sept. 28 announcement from the organization.

The club will initially serve about 50 to 75 students in sixth through eighth grades, ages 11 to 14.

“This is a historic moment for the Boys & Girls Club of the Hatchie River Region,” said Ed Doyle, the organization’s CEO. “For the first time, we are taking what God has done for youth in Covington and making the same opportunities available for our new Club Kids in Ripley. To say we are excited is an understatement! We can’t wait to pour into the young people of Ripley!”

Why a school-based site

School-based sites are the main way Boys & Girls Clubs add new locations, according to Doyle, and the Ripley Middle School setup solves several problems at once.

“Partnering with Lauderdale County Schools at the Ripley Middle School location is perfect for our after-school programming,” Doyle said. “It resolves transportation barriers, provides our Club Kids with classrooms and a gym, security cameras and more.”

He credited school leaders for making the expansion possible.

“We wouldn’t be able to do this without the vision of Lauderdale County Superintendent of Schools Selina Sparkman and the support of the Lauderdale County School Board,” Doyle said.

What the club will offer

The Ripley club will bring many of the same programs used in Covington, including four key initiatives:

Reading Success Academy: Extra academic support and targeted reading instruction to strengthen literacy skills.
STEM Discovery Den: Hands-on science, technology, engineering and math experiences, including robotics, drones, 3D printing, problem-solving and critical thinking.
Workforce Warriors: Exposure to careers, employers and job skills, helping students connect what they learn in school to future opportunities.
Healthy Minds = Great Futures: Emotional, social and mental health support, with mental health professionals and other resources available to students.

A local leader at the helm

Linda Taylor, a Ripley High School graduate and an experienced employee of the club’s Covington location, will serve as on-site director.

“Linda knows Ripley, she knows young people, and she knows the Boys & Girls Club,” Doyle said. “That combination makes her the perfect person to help us launch this new club. We are excited about what she will bring to the students and families of Lauderdale County.”

Part of a bigger vision

Doyle said the Ripley site marks the start of a broader plan to reach young people throughout the Hatchie River Region.

“We have seen what can happen when a community comes together and says that its young people matter,” Doyle said. “We believe the same thing can happen in Ripley.”

“A lot of organizations focus on serving youth. We are committed to more than just serving,” he said. “Everything we do is focused on transforming young lives and helping them build a great future. Every kid deserves that.”

Community partners wanted

The organization is looking for businesses, churches, industries, organizations and individuals to support the Ripley location through donations, volunteering, program partnerships or other resources.

“The futures we are building for these kids can’t happen if we’re the only ones building,” Doyle said. “The strongest Boys & Girls Clubs are built and sustained through strong community partnerships.”

Doyle said the effort already has the support of Lauderdale County Executive Ronnie Jackson and Ripley Mayor Craig Fitzhugh.