In the News

After somber meetings on health and human services earlier in the day, Representative Brittany Pettersen’s visit to the Boys & Girls Club in Salida on Friday, August 7 was a joyful celebration of kids and hubbub over the lunch hour.

Pettersen’s four-year-old son Davis, who had accompanied his Mom on her visit to Chaffee County was overjoyed to run and play. “He’s so at home in a setting like this,’ commented Pettersen. She added that she and her staff hadn’t realized that the Salida Club had a large outdoor playground too. “He just loves to meet people and the chance to play with other kids — this is great!”

The occasion was a chance for Boys & Girls Club of Chaffee County Executive Director Brian Beaulieu to recap the strong support for the clubs in the county, and why they are needed. He was joined not just by Salida staff, but several members of the B&GC board.

“We are so pleased that you are a fan and a supporter of the Boys & Girls Club,” began  Beaulieu. “We say here that when school is out, Boys & Girls Club is in, right guys?”

The question elicited a roar of agreement from the kids.

“Here in Chaffee County, the Boys & Girls Clubs are open 252 days/year. It is such an important part of our community, all across the county. As you and your staff may know, there are over 4,000 Boys & Girls Clubs all over the country, and over the past couple months, we’ve had some struggles making sure that support is still coming in to the Boys & Girls Clubs,” said Beaulieu.

“The 21st century funds were held up for a while. “But because of you,” he pointed to Pettersen, “Thanks to the congresswoman and some of her peers, that money was released and came back to the Boys & Girls Clubs — 927 Boys and Girls clubs got to continue because of Congresswoman’s Pettersen’s support.”

This brought another enthusiastic round of applause.

He reminded the kids of the idea of listing “the top 15 things you really believe in,” and added that Pettersen had chosen the Boys & Girls Clubs of Chaffee County and supporting the construction of the new club space in Buena Vista.

Pettersen took the mic, explaining how she represents this county and has to fly often to Washington, D.C. to vote. “That’s  where I fought, to try to bring dollars to have a new Boys & Girls Club facility in Buena Vista.”

“I’m here because you all matter, trying to make sure you have the support that you need,” she explained. “That you’re able to thrive and succeed.”

“You are our number one priority,” she continued. “I know that I’m getting in the way of play time, but I heard you have some questions for me.”

Hands went up from all across the audience of kids, many waving enthusiastically.

Little Baily got the first question, asking, “what did you like to do after school when you were a kid?

“My favorite thing was to play outside… How many here love to be outside?”

Dozens of hands went up, and a boy added loudly, “video games!”

“My son also likes video games, we try to limit that,” she agreed. “We live here in this beautiful state, that’s why I’m fighting to protect our beautiful public spaces.”

A boy named Max asked, “Did you ever get in trouble as a kid?”

“Never,” said Pettersen, to much laughter. “Just kidding. I was a good kid, I did really well in school, and I was on the soccer team. But I was a high risk kid. I had a mom at home who struggled with addiction. I went through a lot of challenges. But I had amazing support — role models and public school teachers who provided support for me — the same way I know the Boys & Girls Clubs do for you and for so many kids, I was able to succeed because of those things and go a different path.”

Another hand shot up. “When you were a kid did you know you wanted to be a politician?”

“I definitely did not want to be a politician,” she chuckled. “Actually, when I was younger, I didn’t vote, and wasn’t engaged. Then I saw the consequences of an election when I was 28 years old and people like me sat it out, there was a really negative outcome because people like me chose not to be involved. So I started organizing for other people, and never thought I’d run myself.”

“Actually,” she added, “it was highly unlikely that I’d ever graduate from high school where I come from, let alone be a congresswoman, but I was given those opportunities.”

“It’s an honor to represent you every day, and fight for you, to level the playing field for regular people,”

She encouraged the mass of kids, saying, “I didn’t know that I would do this. It’s OK not to know right now what you want to do. Stay on that path of learning, ask questions, follow your heart, do the things you’re passionate about and I promise, you’ll figure it out.”

Another hand raised, asking, “What’s your favorite thing to do?”

She responded that she grew up playing soccer. She added that the Boys & Girls Clubs provide a place after school and during the summer that is an important safe place to go.

One final question came from the kids: “If you weren’t in Congress, what would you be doing?

There was a long pause. “I don’t know,” she answered. “I would be working for a nonprofit, probably. Something that helps people.  Everything that I do has to have a meaning. I would be doing another job that helps support our community and our kids.”

One of the Buena Vista B&GC kids read a letter she had written to Pettersen, that read in part ….”I cannot wait to have our own club. When it’s finally built I will be 12-years-old. So we need to hurry up. When it’s finally built, I hope you will come back to visit and I’ll give you a tour.”

“Thank you for fighting for all of us,” concluded Beaulieu.