The cover story subject for the November/December issue of Community Rec Magazine is the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club and CEO Sabrina Smeltz. Despite coming from a YMCA background, Smeltz saw an awesome opportunity in 2020 to be the first female CEO of the Wakeman Boys & Girls Club in its over 100-year history. The story dives into Smeltz’s personal journey, but also takes a close look at how her graceful persistence has helped the organization reach new heights. Thanks to her tenacity, Wakeman Boys & Girls club has grown to five locations across Bridgeport and Fairfield, Connecticut. Nearly a year ago the organization opened the Madison Avenue Community Clubhouse — a $25 million, 45,000-square-foot facility in Bridgeport. So, what started as a simple boys club with one site is now led by a woman and serves over 3,000 community youth and their families annually.