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As she greets Club members on her daily pickup route, Ayanna sees a little of herself in each kid. She was once one of those youth, a Club member looking for a place to belong and find her voice. Today, she’s helping create that same experience as a staff member at the Loveland Pulliam Boys & Girls Club.
A Place to Belong
Ayanna became a member of the Loveland Pulliam Boys & Girls Club when she was six years old. She grew up with a single mother who needed somewhere for her daughter to go while she worked. Though Ayanna was shy at first, she soon found a sense of belonging in the art room, where she could express her creativity.
As her time as a Club member went on, she started to participate in leadership development programming, specifically the Youth of the Year competition. According to Ayanna, her favorite part about Club was how it helped her grow from a shy kid into a confident youth who wasn’t afraid to use her voice.
“Now I’m not afraid to be in big crowds of people. I’m not afraid to command a room, and that’s something that Club really taught me,” she says.
As she grew up, Club remained a space for her to grow and find a sense of belonging. When Ayanna turned 13, she was finally able to go to the Teen Room and participate in teen nights. The Club staff threw her a party, complete with cake and candles, on her 13th birthday.
“That was the moment it was, like, okay, everybody really does want me here. I’m so excited to be a part of this, and the community is accepting me here,” Ayanna said.
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The Mentors Who Shaped Her Journey
Ayanna played basketball every day at Club during high school, which helped her become more aggressive on the court, an important skill that she took with her as she later earned a basketball scholarship.
Her Club Director, Ashley Prowe, was a source of sound advice and encouraged Ayanna to participate in Youth of the Year and Keystone Club.
“She really pushed me to do the things that I knew I wanted to do, but I just couldn’t get there on my own,” she said.
Returning to Community
Even after Ayanna moved on from Club, she always remembered the opportunities and community she had there. After a period of unemployment, she decided to take her resume to the Loveland Pulliam Boys & Girls Club. Now, she’s a Youth Development Specialist.
Her favorite part of the day is picking up middle and high-school-aged students during her bus route. It’s a chance to connect with the teens via inside jokes or playing Pokémon Go at Willowbend Park. With the middle schoolers, it’s an opportunity to connect and check in after school.
“When you ask them about their day, they’re always so excited, and they’re so excited to get to Club,” Ayanna said.
From running programming to painting backdrops for the Peter Pan play, to coaching basketball during gym time, Ayanna sees every day as a chance to create community, that third space she found during her youth.
“I try to create a space where everyone feels welcome to do something that they feel connects them to Club. I remember what it feels like to be connected to Club, and I’m trying to create that for them as well,” Ayanna said.
Watching the Next Generation Grow
Ayanna experienced a true full-circle moment during the 2026 Youth of the Year competition when the Junior Club-level winner, Julian, credited her in his speech. Seeing the Senior Youth of the Year winner, Jose, network at the countywide competition also inspired her, and reminded her of the opportunities at Club that helped her gain confidence.
“I wish I could go back in time and show myself a video of Jose doing that and be like, you go do this too. It was pretty rewarding to see. I didn’t teach any of them that. I can’t take credit for that, but I definitely enjoyed witnessing it,” she said.
Building Great Futures
According to Ayanna, working at Club is a constant reminder to have fun and stay in touch with her inner child. Ayanna hopes to pass on lessons about respect and different career options that teens can take with them. She also wants to empower youth to never be afraid to meet new people.
Looking ahead, Ayanna’s goal is to bring her knowledge and skills to Club programming. She hopes to teach stretching and proper safety in the new weight-lifting gym being built through a partnership with Planet Fitness. But ultimately, she wants to keep strengthening the Club’s sense of community through kindness and leadership.
“My goal is to really just be that person that everybody knows that they can come to and who is a safe place for them. So I’m working on building that with all of our members here,” she said.
From Club member to staff mentor, Ayanna’s journey reflects the lasting impact Boys & Girls Clubs can have on a young person’s life. The lessons and opportunities she found as a child continue to guide her today as she helps create those same experiences for the next generation of Club kids.
