Governor Maura Healey visits the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club

HOLYOKE, Mass. (WGGB/WSHM) — Governor Maura Healey made a stop at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club in western Massachusetts this afternoon.

She was greeted by a gymnasium full of children, parents and local leaders, all excited to officially open the annual Summer Night program at the Holyoke Boys and Girls Club.

The Department of Conservation and Recreation has been running its Summer Nights program for a decade.

The initiative offers Massachusetts youth free activities throughout the summer, from sports to nature exploration to college preparatory programs.

The program began with four partner organizations, has now expanded to a record number of 100 and runs until the end of August.

The goal of the program is to provide a fun and safe place for teenagers to have fun during school holidays.

As city leaders look for solutions to the ongoing gun violence among youth, Governor Healey emphasized the importance of such programs.

“Prevention is key and it’s really, really important to provide young people with activities during the day and in the evening,” she said. “It’s key to violence prevention. It’s also really good for emotional and physical growth and development in general.”

The Summer Nights program will continue throughout the rest of the summer.

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