Stanley Martinez, an alumnus of the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence, has been appointed as assistant director of its Beacon Unit in South Lawrence.
A 2014 graduate of Greater Lawrence Technical High School, the Lawrence resident earned a bachelor's degree in criminal justice from UMass Dartmouth this past May.
Martinez worked for the university's Labor Education Center and interned at the Bristol County District Attorney's Office. In addition, he was president of the United Latino Society, chapter vice president of Lambda Sigma Upsilon Latino Fraternity, Inc. and a member of the Big Friends Little Friends mentoring program. He also founded the dance team and Hispanic Heritage Month showcase, which is now in its third year.
Martinez, a Latin dance choreographer who oversees the Movimiento dance team in Lawrence, began working part-time at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence in 2012. In his new role, he helps oversee a myriad of programs promoting youth members' academic success, healthy lifestyles, leadership development and community involvement.
While the fun aspect of the activities hooks the kids, expectations for their behavior and future are high.
"This generation of kids is our future," Martinez said. "We all need to give the best of ourselves so they can develop the life skills they need to succeed."
Every day well over 600 children engage in fun and positive activities at the Boys & Girls Club of Lawrence.