Jake

It is not unusual for the Club to glean a new staff from the pool of practicum students that we get each year.  Every once in a while, we get a practicum that is so great, we practically beg them to join our Club family.  This happened last fall at the Lockwood Clubhouse.  It didn’t take long for our members and current staff to fall in love with Jake. While he could be scatterbrained and easily distracted, he embraced the Clubhouse culture and easily established relationships with some of our toughest kiddos.  Since Jake has joined our Lockwood team, he has brought the team closer, helped build a work environment where positive feedback flows amongst staff, and has built confidence in many members by never failing to invest in them.

Jake is quite popular among the members, and just about everyone he meets.  His positive outlook on life and kind demeaner make him easy to talk to and work with.  Jake embraces everyone he meets with an open mind and a warm heart, making members feel safe and heard.  I have seen Jake put in the time to build strong relationships with everyone he meets – from our Club parents who he actively seeks out just to touch base, to our toughest members who often try and push us away.  In the spring of 2022 Jake was able to build a relationship with AJ, a member who had attended club for many years but had been struggling with facing his traumas in a healthy way.  AJ had a history of being hurtful or violent to other members and often shut down anytime a staff tried to help him.  We noticed that his behavior seemed to be getting worse quickly and had many meetings with his mom, as well as his school counselor.   All of which Jake played an active role in, advocating for AJ throughout the process. While AJ attempted to push Jake away many times, Jake never gave up, attending wrestling meets and playing basketball with him every chance he got.

Jake’s ability to see the best in those around him doesn’t stop there.  Jake has taken the time to make sure all his kids feel heard.  This is especially true in two of his kids- Gabe and Junior.  While Gabe is one of the members that tends to fly under the radar, as he is often quiet and reserved, Jake quickly became Gabe’s favorite staff and in turn, he grew into an outgoing, confident kiddo who was silly and creative.  You can now catch Gabe displaying his best dance moves or helping Club members in need.  On the flip side, Junior has always been an outspoken kid who had a big heart but sometimes struggled to make good choices.  Jake continues every day to help Junior work through the many pressures he and our other intermediate kids face while still holding them accountable.

Jake’s presence at the Lockwood Clubhouse has made a huge impact on our members and I cannot express the appreciation I have for him and all he has done with our members. I thank him for having a kind heart and the willingness to do Whatever It Takes to make an individual impact.