Boys Hope Girls Hope Open House Draws Neighbors

Sixteen-year-old Seth has been a Boys Hope Girls Hope scholar since he was 11, living in the group's Chesterfield facility as he attends Desmet Jesuit High School. 

So he's not surprised to hear Brentwood neighbors are hesitant about the group homes for teens proposed for Madge Ave., citing public safety and loss of home value as two of their major concerns.

"If I was in their shoes, I'd think the same thing," said Seth. (Boys Hope Girls Hope requested that media withhold the last names of scholars.) "This is nothing new for me because I've been here so long."

Seth says the No. 1 fear he hears from neighbors of the residential facility (and from boys and girls entering the program) is, What are the other guys going to be like?

His answer: "We're here to better ourselves as individuals."

Seth and other scholars and staff with Boys Hope Girls Hope stood under two tents at the proposed site at 8815 Madge Avenue answering questions from neighbors who came by to ask questions and voice support. Seth and Brandon, another 16-year-old scholar, said they're ready to share their experience with Brentwood neighbors who are unsure of the teens moving onto their street.

Christine Lewis, a Brentwood resident who came out for the open house, says she passionately supports the project.

"When we first heard about it, we were concerned," she said. But after doing some digging into the organization, Lewis started sharing what she learned with her neighbors. "We also feel this is a great application for this piece of land, which has been vacant for decades."