The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield are proud to announce that John Cordero, the Clubs’ Esports Coordinator, has been awarded a Collaborative Programming Award by the Professional Association’s Yankee Chapter. John was recognized for his development of the Clubs’ Esports program, and the creation of the Northeast Esports League of youth teams from Club locations throughout northern New England. The award celebrates John’s dedication to designing innovative initiatives that enrich youth members’ Club experiences, and help develop important skill sets to carry throughout their lives. John’s vision for the Esports program is to guide youth members and use video games as a vehicle to teach social and emotional learning, teamwork and critical communication.
“I’m humbled to be given this award for collaborative programming. I believe that what we’re doing here will pave the way for the future of Youth Esports – not only for our members here in Wakefield and Stoneham, but for kids across the Northeast,” says John. “It’s been a pleasure to work with the Clubs to ignite the passion of competition and learning for Esports that these kids have.”
“John’s hard work breaking ground into a field where few youth development professionals have dared to go has paid off and we are all be proud of him and his accomplishments,” said Evan Reppert, Wakefield Teen Center Director.
John introduced the Esports program in September of 2022 at the Clubs’ Wakefield location, and the newly designed “Esports Arena” has been a favorite space and after-school activity for many youth members. In addition, he launched the Boys & Girls Clubs Northeast Esports League and just this month, held the inaugural Northeast Esports League Championship competition at Southern New Hampshire University, which gathered teams from Clubs in both Massachusetts and New Hampshire for an exciting, fun, and friendly video gaming competition.
“It’s a dream come true,” he adds. “My favorite part of the day is watching the kids come into the Arena and share a strategy they were thinking of, or ask me for advice on how to improve.”
The launch of the Esports program is further proof of the Clubs’ dedication to delivering innovative programming that makes a lasting impact on the lives of local youth.
To learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield’s mission to build great futures for members and their families visit bgcstoneham.com or bgcwakefield.org.
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About the Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Stoneham & Wakefield is a proud affiliate of Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the nation’s most effective youth development organization in the United States. We are proud to work with young people from a wide range of economic, social and family circumstances, regardless of their gender, ethnic and racial background.
Our Clubs are open when kids need us most – after school, on most school holidays, and all day during the summer. Clubs offer safe places where young people can learn, grow, and succeed.
