VIDEO: Renton/Skyway Boys and Girls Club Teaches Real-World Skills

“Welcome to Renway!” we were greeted upon entry into the Renton/Skyway Boys and Girls Club Valentine’s Day marketplace event in the fictional town of Renway. 

Renway is a town run by kids within the microsociety of the Club, located on the Dimmitt Middle School campus, which is part of the larger Boys and Girls Clubs of King County. It's currently the only one with a microsociety.

“All our Clubs aim to help our kids progress in the areas of academic success, good character,  citizenship and healthy lifestyles,” said Meg Pitman, Director of Impact, with the Boys and Girls Club of King County.  Pitman describes Renway as the best example of a local outcome-driven program with proven results.

The after-school program serves 250 kids ages 6-18 each year, and approximately 45-50 daily.

In Renway, each child has a “real world role” within that city—designed to teach them career and life skills beyond the imaginary walls.  There are bankers, and shopkeepers, and artists, and cooks.

Upon entry to Renway, we were greeted by its president, Thalia. My job, she said, “is mostly to help everyone with what they need to do.” Sounds like a good job.  She was elected at the start of the school year.

Her first task was to invite us to fill out an application for citizenship (a not so sneaky way to get an address and email from you). Once we were approved as citizens, we received $75 of “money” to spend wherever we wanted.

At the marketplace, 48 kids managed "their ventures and agencies," according to Dorina McHenry, the coordinator. They sold Valentine’s gifts, spa items, snacks, tattoos, soap, newspapers, face painting, and a photo booth. There was also a restaurant and the X-Box juice bar. Over 50 attendees attended the event.

There was a large assortment of food available at the event that the kids were responsible for making—including orange chicken with vegetables, brownies, and three different flavors of juices.

There was a bakery where we bought heart-shaped cookies (pretty good—and you had your choice of frosting and sprinkles which the kids put on your cookie).

The spa offered chair and foot massages, mints, and lavender sachets.

We met Tiyanna, the face painter at the event, and Leilani, the tattoo artist.  Leilani was expertly applying a tattoo to Sally, who not only has a child in the program but has been volunteering for two years.

“I love being around the children,” Sally said. “I like being able to give an encouraging word. Plus, the kid in me just loves this,” she said.

The "peace-keepers" trolled the place with their police hats, just like real life, too.

For your valentine, you could choose all sorts of items to take home. We opted for votive candles, soap, vases, and a cookie on a stick that said "I love you."

My husband asked the jeweler what he should buy for me (same as real life) and he pointed to the red heart on a long red ribbon. What would he buy for his mother? He pointed to the same necklace.

In addition to the marketplace, Deshawna S. was honored during the evening as the Youth of the Year.

Pitman loves this program because “it allows our youth to imagine the possibilities of their future and master those skills they will need to make those dreams become reality (in a really fun way).”

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