More than 20 years ago, when the Boys & Girls Club moved from its aging site at 21st and Grove to the modern facility at 2400 N. Opportunity Drive, it was more than a relocation.
It was a statement.
The new building — with its full gym, mirrored dance studio, open commons area and dedicated classrooms — represented investment in northeast Wichita’s youth. After years in a cramped, worn space where children were quite literally bouncing off the walls, the Opportunity Drive facility offered room to grow.
For the community, it was a point of pride.
Today, the infrastructure remains intact. The gym still hosts organized sports and instruction. The commons area still provides space for mentoring conversations and supervised recreation. The dance studio still reflects possibility.
What has changed over the past two decades is the relationship between the Club and the community it was built to serve.
When Visibility Faded
There was a time when Club directors were known by name throughout the community. They were visible, present and connected beyond the building’s walls. Club activities were shared, milestones were celebrated and the Club felt woven into the fabric of northeast Wichita.
Over time, that connection thinned.
The community’s attention shifted. Fewer events were held there. Fewer families enrolled their children, and the building became less central to neighborhood life.
No headlines suggested a crisis. The building remained open, but participation declined.
With a capacity of 80 to 100 students, today regular attendance at the Opportunity Drive unit is between 30 to 40 students per day.
The building did not shrink.
The connection did.
A Leadership Team Focused On Reconnection
Today, a new leadership team is focused on restoring visibility and rebuilding engagement.
Unit Director Aaron Roberts, Area Director Bobby Bell and Chief Operations Officer Kyle Ellison describe this moment as one of renewed presence — ensuring families understand not only that the building exists, but what it offers inside.
“There was a period where we weren’t as visible,” Roberts said. “We’re being intentional about changing that.”
Their approach includes stronger neighborhood presence, deeper partnerships with schools and organizations, and clearer communication about programs and opportunities.
“This shouldn’t be a hidden asset,” Ellison said. “It should be a community anchor.”
The goal is not simply to increase numbers. It is to rebuild connection.
Structure That Supports Growth
The Club operates on the USD 259 school calendar and provides transportation from area schools to the Opportunity Drive unit. All staff are bus-trained, and the organization continues to seek additional drivers with the appropriate CDL credentials to expand service.
Membership remains intentionally affordable. Families pay a $50 annual registration fee and $30 per month for after-school programming — roughly one dollar per day. Scholarships are available, reducing that cost to $15 per month for qualifying families.
A typical after-school day begins with students arriving around 2:30 p.m. Youth are given time to decompress before transitioning into “Power Hour,” a structured homework and study block that runs until 4 p.m.
From there, students rotate through programming that may include STEM projects, financial literacy through Money Matters, leadership development, health and wellness activities, art and organized sports. Dinner is served around 4:30 p.m., and programming continues until 6:30 p.m., closing with supervised recreation.
Staff-to-student ratios average about 20 to 1, allowing for consistent oversight and engagement.
The Power Of Showing Up
In many young lives, stability can be fragile — shifting environments, fractured relationships and unpredictable routines. What the Club offers, leaders say, is steady presence.
Staff show up the same way every day. Expectations are clear. Encouragement is consistent. Accountability is balanced with empathy.
Roberts understands that personally.
As a teenager, he worked in this very building in one of his first jobs. Now he returns as Unit Director, carrying both professional responsibility and lived experience.
“I know what it means when adults show up consistently,” he said. “That consistency can change a kid’s direction.”
Bell shares that perspective. Though he was not a Club member growing up, he credits youth mentors who invested in him and shaped his adulthood. The mission now, he says, is to provide that same dependable influence for the next generation.
That reliability builds trust. Trust builds confidence. Confidence builds trajectory.
Summer Programming: Planning Ahead
While school-year attendance remains steady, summer is traditionally the Club’s strongest season.
Full-day summer programming includes academic enrichment, recreation, leadership activities, field trips and meals. At peak, the Opportunity Drive unit can serve close to 200 youth.
Summer enrollment fills quickly.
“We want families planning early,” Roberts said, noting that available spots can reach capacity before summer begins.
Enrollment for both school-year and summer programming is handled through the organization’s parent portal, with staff available to assist families with pricing, scholarships and registration questions.
A Community Asset With Purpose
The Opportunity Drive facility was built as an investment in northeast Wichita’s youth. The structure remains. The programming is in place. The cost is accessible. Transportation is available.
The building has the capacity to serve more young people. The opportunity is there for the Club to once again play a central role in strengthening youth and the community it serves.
Great article! Looking forward to the this team rebuilding the connection to the community!