A former theatre leader with Island ties is starting a new act as the executive director of the Martha’s Vineyard Boys & Girls Club.
Brittany Giles-Jones took over as the head of the nonprofit following the retirement of Barbara-jean Chauvin in August. Ms. Giles-Jones moved to the Vineyard from North Carolina, where she was the managing director of the North Carolina Black Repertory Company. Prior to that, she was the director of the drama division at Juilliard School in New York, and also has experience in emergency management.
In an interview this week, Ms. Giles-Jones said she wanted to bring her wide-ranging experience to the Island and was excited for the chance to work with the Vineyard’s children.
“The kids are fantastic,” she said. “Every day, they remind us why we’re here and why we support Island families.”
Ms. Giles-Jones is a part of an Island family herself, as her aunt and uncle live on the Vineyard. Originally from Connecticut, she visited here often as a child.
“I grew up coming to the Island,” she said. “So it was just like coming home for me. This is my happy place.”
One of the major projects on Ms. Giles-Jones horizon is the Boys & Girls Club’s new facility, which is expected to open in early 2027. Ms. Giles-Jones said the new $17 million building is just “three cartwheels away” from the current facility off Robinson Road in Edgartown.
“It’s a really unique and special thing that we have such great funders on the Island and so many amazing, committed donors,” she said. “I hope they really see the impact that is being done when we show them the building when it finally opens up.”
The Boys & Girls Club serves 350 families, including 190 children through its afterschool programming. Additional programs include basketball, soccer, flag football and STEAM (science, technology, engineering, arts and mathematics).
One of the new initiatives Ms. Giles-Jones is overseeing is the expansion of the club’s food programs. The nonprofit currently offers a grab-and-go pantry, after-school snacks and packaged meals for families.
“We’re doing a really robust program, and we’re seeing how great it’s been for our community,” she said. “[We are] looking at ways we can provide more support through the pantry. We generally close [the pantry] in the summertime, but we have heard that there’s a need for our families, so we are looking to continue that.”
The club previously partnered with outside providers to prepare and deliver meals. Now, Ms. Giles-Jones has helped bring meal preparation in-house.
“We used to contract out, and so all of the meals were prepared offsite, and then they were delivered,” she explained. “Now, we have a curated menu based on the likes of our kids. Paul Donnelly, who has a background in food service, mass serving and catering, does it all by hand.”
Mr. Donnelly is able to put together 150 prepared meals per week for club families, Ms. Giles-Jones said.
“Our goal is usually around 120, but he always goes above and beyond,” she said.
Ms. Giles-Jones is also interested in expanding programs for teens.
“We’re looking to constantly be able to serve as many as possible,” she said. “With the new building, we have some really cool things coming in… we’re hoping to really re-up our teen department.”
Next year is the club’s 90th anniversary, and the organization plans to celebrate with a gala.
For now, the focus is mainly on the new building, which kids and adults alike have found themselves eagerly waiting for.
“I just can’t even imagine what it’s going to do for our kids,” Ms. Giles-Jones said. “Sometimes, we’ll be going over the ground plans and the kids will see it and get so excited. They love to get involved, and map out where things are going to be.”