EVANSTON — Over a couple of emotional days, the Evanston Youth Club for Boys and Girls celebrated both the grand opening of its new facility on 6th Street and its 5th annual fundraising and awards dinner. For CEO Holly Slade-West and multiple members of the board of directors, the events marked the culmination of months of planning and work and the realization of a long-held dream. 

On Thursday, May 10, the youth club cut a red ribbon at its new building, lovingly named “The Dana,” in honor of Dana Larson Boote of the Larson Family Foundation and the youth club board of directors. Slade-West said the new facility was made possible thanks to funding from both the Larson Family Foundation and the Daniels Fund, as well as many others who donated funding, materials, labor or time to the project. 

Slade-West emphasized the support of the Larson family, who are not residents of Evanston or even the state of Wyoming, who not only provided funding but offered support and mentorship as well. Of the Larsons, Slade-West tearfully said, “They’ve become family.”

She also spoke of the donations of BOHICA Construction, who donated time and resources; Gary and Nikki Hodson, who donated time and labor in wiring phone lines, WiFi and security cameras; the Carol and George McKinley Foundation, who will have the STEM room of the facility named in their honor; and many others. 

Members of the Larson family and Sparky Turner with the Daniels Fund were present for the grand opening, and Dana Larson Boote spoke about the new facility being named in her honor. “I am deeply honored to have my name connected to this amazing building,” she said, “but I am here not to be honored but to honor Holly. She is an example of a life well-lived and having my picture next to hers in the foyer takes my breath away.” 

Indeed, many speakers over the two days touted Slade-West’s dedication and vision and credited the success of the youth club to her tireless work. At the opening of Friday’s awards banquet youth club board member Dave Huggins said, “Holly and her incredible staff are the guiding light here. Their energy and love are contagious.” 

References to light were a recurrent part of Friday evening’s festivities, when the theme for the night was “Be the Light.” Huggins said the theme referred to inspiring those around you because by igniting the light in others you can also ignite your own. 

The evening featured a meal courtesy of the Youth Cooking Club and the Main Street Deli, and Youth club students proved themselves to be an incredibly attentive and courteous wait staff. The Dana was completely transformed from the ribbon cutting just 24 hours earlier, with formal tables with linens and lights and decorations strung throughout. 

Awards throughout the night included acknowledgements of those who were honored with the “Be the Light” award and youth club graduating seniors. Several students performed a youth club rap written specifically for the occasion, seated in a circle and providing both vocals and instrumentation. 

Program director Cecilia Adams presented the names of those, including board members, staff and kids, who met goals and earned hoodies through the “Earn a Hoodie” challenge. Goals could be in any one of the three areas that club focuses on, including healthy lifestyles, good character and academics. 

The culmination of the evening was the presentation of the “Youth of the Year” award, with speeches given by all four students under consideration, including Sierra Dacey, Aryanna Little, Damarius Gonzalez and Berenice Flores, as well as last year’s winner Nayeli Mota. All of them gave emotional and personal speeches focusing on the “Be the Light” theme, and all of them credited the youth club and Slade-West in particular for changing their lives. 

Following the speeches, judges Gary Spencer, Jessica Kendrick and Jon Kirby, along with Youth Club board chair Kevin Kallas, took the stage and announced they were so impressed with all four of the young women they had decided to give each one an award of some sort. 

Berenice Flores received the “Light Award,” Damarius (Mary) Gonzalez was honored with the “Best Public Speaking” award and Sierra Dacey received the award for “Best Interview.” Aryanna Little, who in her speech said she viewed Holly as her second mom, was honored as the 2018 “Youth of the Year.” Little’s speech on the level of caring found at the club was memorable, including the line, “Beauty is not in the face, it’s in the heart, and the club has a beautiful heart.” 

Board member Wendy Schuler gave the closing remarks of the evening and continued the trend of hailing the club, staff and Holly Slade-West in particular. Schuler spoke about the history of the club, including the first incarnation of Evanston’s youth program, the YOU (Youth Opportunities Unlimited) Center that began in 2001. 

She said that program reached a point where it lacked direction and vision.

“We needed a new captain and direction,” she said, “and Holly was the difference maker.” Schuler said the youth program has grown from having 5-10 kids at one point to regularly having about 250 currently. 

Kallas, Huggins and Schuler all spoke throughout the evening of Slade-West’s vision in pursuing the construction of the new building, as well as the trepidation felt by many on the board who were skeptical that vision could become reality. 

Schuler, however, said, “Holly had the vision, and I was on board if she was on board.” She closed her remarks by saying, “This is our fifth year now of being a real club, and we know it’s going to stay. I wore my heart necklace tonight because I’ve just got a lot of love for this club.”