A Place to Go, a Place to Grow: Simple Things That Make a Difference for At-Risk Kids

by Lou Dantzler and Kathleen Felesina

Book Overview

The inspirational story of the man who, as founder of the Challengers Boys and Girls Club, has been a father figure to over 30,000 young people. "If it wasn't for Challengers, where would these kids... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1594864187
• ISBN13: 9781594864186
• Release Date: May 2006
• Publisher: Rodale Books
• Length: 272 Pages
• Weight: 1.20 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.4" x 9.0"

Customer Reviews

Inspiration for anyone who reads

This book is wonderful!! It tells the story of Mr. Lou and his jorney from South Carolina sharecropper to owner of the Challengers Club in South Central Los Angeles. I am a teacher in Baton Rouge and this books makes me want to do more in my job. I think anyone who wants to know how to help kids should invest 5 hours of their life and read this book. It shows that alll you need is dedication, love and patience, and you can make a difference in any childs life. I signed up to volunteer to be a mentor because of this book.

Papa Lou: Honoring South Central's Hero & The Challenger's Boys & Girls Club

It was my privilege to recently read the autobiography of Lou Dantzler, founder of the Boys & Girls Challengers club in South Central. This book is called "A Place to Go, A Place to Grow." This is seriously one of the most motivational, inspiring and important stories I have read in several years. This is a story you need to read, and a man you need to know about. Lou was born and raised a sharecropper's son, in the time before the Civil Rights Movement and the Sexual Revolution. When his father passed away he was expected to run the family business and help provide and care for a large family. His mentor at this time was a soldier who escaped the cyclical poverty of the sharecropper life, only to gain respect for his achievements in the military where work was rewarded according to merit. This guidance was just the beginning of Lou realizing that what a child needs is discipline and inspiration; that there is more to life when you respect yourself and all you have to offer the world. When Lou moved to LA he worked several odd jobs as he helped support and raise his own family, and was saddened by how many children in his neighborhood would spend their time out in the streets with nothing productive to do. He decided to truck a group of boys to the park to play, many of whom were afraid to do so unchaperoned, because of the dangers of gangs and drugs. Lou and the boys had so much fun that this small gathering eventually lead to converting an abandoned VONS shopping center into what is now an amazing facility that provides job training, dental care and a full basketball court! What I love about this true story is that is shows the love and dedication of just one man can truly change the world. Lou never lost hope and just kept on trucking, literally, and it payed off big time! He helped inspire several generations of youth growing up in South Central to aspire to greatness in self respect, education and family. Recently Lou passed away, but his legacy truly does still live on! I think you will love this book. It is not only a time capsule about the turbulent 20th century, but it is also very vital to our contemporary issues with poverty and street violence here in LA and what we can do as a community to turn the tide. [...] Remember a portion of the profit made on the sale of this book goes back to Challengers! *I hear they are always looking for donations and volunteers! :)

Must Read for Youth Development Professionals

This book shares the essential characteristics that a youth development professional must possess in order to make an impact on the lives of today's youth. The dedication, commitment, yet the simplicity of the concepts behind empowering and motivating today's youth to reach beyond the physical surrounding is embraced in this journey from the cotton fields of South Carolina to the urban inner city of Los Angeles. The determination to achieve by holding a community up to a standard of commitment to its youth is demonstrated in this epic story that shares how hard work with compassion along with sheer determination can change a community initially through its youth, then it parents, and bring forth the common good from mankind from all walks of life to help in changing a community. Anyone working in the youth development field would be inspired by this book as well as educated on simply methods to achieve change through parent engagement, establishing clear enforceable standards, and holding everyone accountable.

An Inspiring Story of Hope and Determination

Anyone who has devoted their life to one cause or another will find inspiration from Lou's first hand account of how he started Challengers Boys and Girls Club. Each page is filled with pieces of wisdom and advice he gained from people who understood his mission and wanted to help. You get a total understanding to how the club grew from a few dozen kids and trips to the park into a beautiful, sprawling oasis in the middle of South Los Angeles. Lou's gentle nature and natural curiosity are also evident throughout the book, as he describes in great detail how strangers latched onto his desire to help children and chipped in with advice, money, and perhaps most importantly, support. Now, 38 years later, the reader will become so entranced by what they read, they to will want to lend a hand. As the expression goes, Only Time Will Tell and Lou's time at Challengers has told at least 30,000 kids that his committment and conistency to their well being is paying off in dividends.

Unfaultering Passion for Young People

For anyone that works with or cares about young people, this is a must read, like Manchild in the Promised Land and There are No Children Here. In a simple to read form, this book tells a towering story of one man's inspiring drive to make the world a better place, starting with our young people. From his work in South Central LA, Lou Dantzler's story reaches out and looks to touch all of our communities.