(TUCSON, Ariz. – July 1, 2019) -- The Pascua Yaqui Tribe is very pleased to announce they are the recipients of the competitive 2018 HUD ICDBG Grant award.  Since 1999, the Boys and Girls Club of Tucson has had a long-standing relationship with the Pascua Yaqui Tribe in providing youth development in the five core program areas: Character and Leadership Development, Education and Career Development, Health and Life Skills, the Arts and Sports, Fitness and Recreation.

The current location of the Pascua Yaqui Boys and Girls Club House is 5010 W Calle Torim in a 2,213-square-foot modular building which accommodates a maximum number of 66 youth in the program areas.

During the fiscal year of 2014 – 2015 there were 536 active members in the Pascua Yaqui Boys and Girls Club House. Programs for the youth have been limited to use of computer time and activity areas due to the limited space to safely accommodate the active membership and in order to ensure that all youth have access to equipment and program areas. With the construction of the 4,000-square-foot Pascua Yaqui Boys and Girls Club House/Youth Facility, adjacent to the Pascua Yaqui Wellness Center, a much larger number of active members will be able to use the facility versus the limited number of 66.

In addition, because of its proximity to other facilities such as the gymnasium, swimming pools, baseball fields, multi-purpose field, volleyball courts, basketball courts, boxing room, fitness rooms, skate park, playground, ramada, picnic tables and grills, walking pathways, batting cages, traditional arts center, kitchen and conference rooms, and equine arena, both the Boys and Girls Club and the Tribe’s youth development programs (Sewa U’usim Program) will be better able to coordinate activities.

The construction of the 4000 sq. ft. Boys and Girls Club/ Youth Facility will reach a broad and increased number of tribal youth.

According to Reuben Howard, Executive Director of Health Services Division, Pascua Yaqui Tribe, the new facility will provide an ideal space for development of youth programs, team sports and health and educational programs.

“It will provide a safe space where youth can gather, learn, participate and get support from a long-standing, structured and proven youth organization, the Boys and Girls Club,” said Howard.  “Construction of the Boys and Girls Club House/Youth Facility is critical to the viability of the community, they include:  increased access to health and educational programs; decreased tribal gang activity and juvenile delinquency because of the programs housed in the facility; healthier and more active lifestyles while reducing incidents of diabetes in youth; increased development of health, education and prevention programs for youth.”