In the tech center, sewing machines have touch screens and use digital files.

Tolleston Boys & Girls Club gearing up for afterschool programs

Contributed By: The 411 News

The spotlight has been on the John Will Anderson Boys & Girls Club this summer. Its rebuild and expansion were celebrated in June at a grandopening, followed by tours and community engagement sessions.

Come September, the club will be in the spotlight again when its partners at the Tolleston Opportunity Campus – Crossroads YMCA and Methodist Hospitals – will have a ribbon cutting to celebrate the completion of the $40 million project.

“The project has formed a one-of-a-kind partnership among three strong nonprofit organizations. All three came together as a collaborative spirit to form Tolleston into what it is today,” said Mike Jessen, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Northwest Indiana.

Meanwhile, summer camp at the club is in session, but not for long. Kids will be heading back to school in the coming weeks and the afterschool programs will be in full force.

The club had about 70 kids a day in summer camp and about 150 during the school year. “We expect to double that next year,” Jessen said.


Brand new Best Buy Teen Tech Center at JWAnderson Boys & Girls Club

The Best Buy Teen Tech Center is getting finishing touches.

The Anderson Club is the only one in the region with the Teen Tech Center – for club members who want to learn the tools for media production, design and fabrication. They are introduced to STEM learning and can get advice on career building.

The tech center has a recording studio, professional cameras, and video editing software for media production.

Construction of a stage for performances was just recently completed. “It makes a difference; not like being down on the corner,” said Bre Keys, the Teen Tech Center Director.

Tools for design and fabrication include 3D printers, graphic design tablets, Glowforge, and heat transfer presses.

In the tech center, a station with sewing machines seems out of place.

Not out of place at all Keys said. “Kids love it because it’s super diverse. Sewing is a life skill, so it is definitely part of the center.”

Those sewing machines have touch screens and use digital files.

Best Buy Teen Tech Center is a club within the Anderson Club for middle and high school students.

Teens in the tech center have to be dedicated to the space. “Teens are part of the tech center or follow the Anderson Club schedule. We can’t share kids because this room is so high tech. I want them to learn to diversify their palate, and they can’t do that if they’re going in and out of this space,” Keys said.

Keys has plans to make the Anderson Club’s teen tech center state-of-the-art, adding a virtual reality studio. “It’s going to be the biggest virtual reality room in the world; kids connecting across the world, playing games, doing Job Simulator,” she said. The room is expected to launch in January.


Mike Jessen, l-r, Bre Keys, and Harmonie Holden

Story Posted:07/29/2026