ST. LOUIS — For more than 50 years, the Boys & Girls Club of Greater St. Louis has helped our region's youth realize their full potential. It's an important responsibility that all comes back to the leadership of the group's president.
Just two months from now, that torch will be passed on to someone new, as former NFL player Brandon Williams was named the new President & Chief Executive Officer of the organization.
Williams joined Today in St. Louis, Weekend Edition, on Saturday morning and talked about what a full circle moment this is.
"I actually grew up in one of the sites that we have, Mathews-Dickey Club. I was there from six years old all the way to 13," he said.
The exact organization that shaped Williams, he now gets to lead.
"I went to the summer camps. I played football and, and other sports in the fall, and just the relationships that you build with coaches, staff members, volunteers. It impacts you throughout your whole life," he said.
It's an impact the Hazelwood East graduate hopes to share with the community, as the new president.
Williams said one of the first things he will focus on when he steps into the role is engaging the youth.
"Creating fun, safe, healthy environments where they can thrive, where they can be their best, where they can lean into integrity, character, ethics, be good citizens, and really show that potential because we believe every child has success in them. It's just about watering that seed, putting it in the right soil and making sure we're giving them those resources," he said.
Williams added that he wants to lean away from the habits built during the COVID-19 pandemic.
"We want to stay in the house, we don't want to go anywhere. We just want to be virtual, so I think it's an opportunity, as we go into 2025 to open those spaces up. We have several sites all across the city and county, and so it's imperative for us to get kids out of the house into these clubs so they can have access to resources," he said.
The former St. Louis Rams wide receiver and Battlehawks Exec will be filling the shoes of former President and Chief Executive Officer, Dr. Flint Fowler, who led the club for nearly 30 years and grew it exponentially.
Williams said he's soaking up all the knowledge now to carry on Dr. Fowler's incredible legacy.
"Just having the opportunity to watch him and watch how he builds relationships with donors, with parents, with volunteers, and just seeing his maturation. I'm just excited and honored that I can sit next to him for the next two months and really understand how he did certain things and how he was impactful and just get wisdom and get knowledge," he said.
As he looks to the future, Williams believes it's all about shaping the St. Louis region's kids in every aspect of their life.
"Before I accepted this opportunity, I asked a lot of my counterparts and colleagues in this city, 'What does this position really mean?' The one thing that kept coming up was that it's the most impactful position for our youth. I was like, 'Wow,' so that really stuck in my heart and that passion to really impact youth, that are the next generation of leaders for this city. That is the thing that kept popping into my head," he said.
Williams continued to describe it as a 'full circle moment' and he's ready for what's to come.
"Really being able to turn the tide. I've used sports and entrepreneurship so far to impact the youth. Now, I get the opportunity to be full 365 and see the whole thing, how we can impact them in every area of their life. It's exciting for me," he said.
Williams will take over the role on January 1, 2025.