The future of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley in Rancho Santa Margarita is unclear, with its contract with the city set to expire in July and the City Council uncertain about extending it.
City Council members, in a meeting last month, expressed concerns about attendance, transportation for children and low attendance.
But Mayor Anthony Beall also alleged that the Boys & Girls Clubs was trying to “indoctrinate families” and push DEI (initiatives intended to address possible discriminatory actions) onto children with a since-removed reading list the organization had promoted on its website.
According to a city staff report, the city pays $120,000 annually for the club. Since 2012, Rancho Santa Margarita has contributed over $1.2 million total, another staff report said.
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Nicole Watson, CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, said about 264 children attend the club in Rancho Santa Margarita each year. She also said comparing this location to other sites in Capistrano Valley is not fair because the club fits the needs of each individual city.
The organization offers after-school programs to support children from first grade through twelfth grade in academics, college prep and leadership skill building, among other skills.
“If the decision is made to not extend the contract, families in Rancho Santa Margarita will need to identify an alternate provider for these programs that is geographically and economically feasible for them,” Watson said in a statement.
About a year ago, Beall criticized the club for publishing a reading list on its website with books including “White Fragility: Why It’s So Hard for White People to Talk About Racism” and “White Rage: The Unspoken Truth of Our Racial Divide.” He brought up the reading list during a Jan. 8 City Council meeting, saying he is concerned “that children are being indoctrinated with political philosophy.”
Both books delve into the history of the U.S.
Robin DiAngelo, the author of “White Fragility,” explores the idea that when White people react to their perception of race being challenged, their reactions contribute to how racial inequality is maintained. “White Rage” shares author Carol Anderson’s reframed viewpoint of race and the “forces opposed to Black progress in America.”
“This was a bold, express, written and overt effort to indoctrinate the families in Rancho Santa Margarita with this political point of view,” Beall said. “You may disagree, but I believe that’s wrong and I believe many people in this community believe that’s wrong and it has no place in an operation funded with taxpayer money.”
Beall did not respond to requests for comment.
The books were removed from the Boys and Girls Clubs Capistrano Valley’s website when concerns were first brought up almost a year ago. Watson said the organization was not pushing political ideologies onto the children, and the reading lists were never meant for the club members but rather for parents who were interested.
“Like all Boys & Girls Clubs, Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley is a nonpartisan organization rooted in service to youth,” Watson said. “The intent of the book suggestions at the time was to offer adults optional resources for thoughtful reflection, understanding, and exploration of varied perspectives.”
The Boys & Girls Club has been at odds with Rancho Santa Margarita — and its future in the city — for some time now.
In November 2023, the City Council proposed booting the Boys & Girls Clubs out of the bell tower – where it has sat since it opened in 2012 — and replace it with a historical museum.
The museum would have displayed artifacts, maps and city-related documents. The plan was to unveil the museum in celebration of the city’s 25th anniversary at the start of 2025. But the museum plan was voted down in a 4-1 vote, with Beall being the only one who voted no and said that the museum would “better serve the community.”
Watson said the Boys & Girls Clubs and Rancho Santa Margarita city staff have met and are discussing the contract. She said both sides are committed to continuing their conversations.
The contract between the Boys & Girls Clubs is set to expire in July. Just when the council will make its decision on whether to renew it has yet to be determined.
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