When Tavante Calhoun walks through the doors of the Boys & Girls Club of Jefferson County (BGCJC), he doesn’t just see tutoring tables, computer labs or basketball courts. He sees potential.
A Pine Bluff native now raising his own family here, Tavante has led BGCJC for almost three years, and made it his life’s mission to ensure the Delta invests in its greatest asset—its young people. Watching students stream in after school each day, he says, “We see the future right here in front of us.”
For more than 80 years, BGCJC has been a steady presence in Pine Bluff, providing a safe place for children to learn, grow, and thrive. Today, the club serves youth ages 5–18, many of whom face significant economic and social barriers. In Jefferson County, only 15% of students in grades 3–12 read at grade level, and just 19% are proficient in math. With 88% of students coming from low-income families or single-parent households, the club has become more than an after-school program—it’s a lifeline.
With support from the Walton Family Foundation, BGCJC is now expanding its programming in literacy, STEM and career readiness. These efforts build on the club’s long history of adapting to meet community needs and align with the foundation’s strategy to close opportunity gaps for Delta youth.
Tavante says collaboration is key. Students are introduced to new ideas, mentors and career possibilities through partnerships with the University of Arkansas at Pine Bluff, Jefferson County 4-H and the Arts & Science Center of Southeast Arkansas. College students volunteer as tutors and role models, inspiring curiosity about fields from agriculture to criminal justice to nursing. “When a 6'6" ball player tells our kids he’s majoring in early childhood development, they think, ‘Well, what is that?’” he says with a smile.
Literacy is also a central focus. With updated state assessments raising the stakes for student promotion, the club has teamed up with AR Kids Read to provide one-on-one tutoring that builds lifelong readers.
STEM programming adds another dimension by giving students hands-on access to 3D printers, robotics and problem-solving challenges. “Being able to put those things in their hands, have them read instructions, make mistakes, take things apart and try again—it makes all the difference in the world,” he says.
There’s just something about the Delta that pulls people back. It’s the peace, the woods, the bayou. But it’s also our culture, our food, our music ... It’s our people that set us apart.”
For Tavante, these programs represent more than just skills-building. They present an opportunity for deeper community connections. “Every new relationship is a safe adult they didn’t have before—someone who can hold them accountable and have a positive influence on their lives.”
He also sees value in grounding kids in their own history, from railroads, paper mills and agriculture that shaped the Delta. And he wants to help them understand future opportunities, like a new Google data center campus in West Memphis.
“I can’t imagine not preparing them for what’s coming own the pipeline. And I want them to take what they learn and bring these skills home to become an empowering force in their own families.”
Looking ahead, Tavante is confident that the work being done at BGCJC today will shape a stronger tomorrow for his hometown. “There’s just something about the Delta that pulls people back,” he reflects. “It’s the peace, the woods, the bayou. But it’s also our culture, our food, our music. We may not have a huge population, but I see our deficits as our assets. It’s our people that set us apart.”
