Y’landa Burch led a successful Boys & Girls Club in Hartford, Connecticut, before moving to Baltimore in 2007 to build the program from the ground up all over again—for a new local community of youth.
A mother of three—Zorra (8) and twin sons, Warren Jr. and Zaire, (7)—Burch is the executive director and lead administrator for the Maryland Alliance of Boys & Girls Clubs.
In those roles, she assists all nine of the state’s local boys and girls club organizations with programming, resources, training and development, and oversees a multi-million -dollar government grant, which has allowed the clubs to expand to more than 80 service sites spanning every county in Maryland—providing young people with beneficial after-school and summer programming.
She reflects on life in leadership—and how being a mother fits into it.
What do you love most about your job?
What I enjoy most is just being able to go to all our locations, and seeing the [magic of] Boys & Girls Club happen in real time. I like experiencing how communities are similar, yet so different. Kids are kids, but they deal with different issues. We get to find additional resources and partners to help organizations with [meeting unique community needs].
What do you love most about being a parent?
I love the fact that I am a parent. I have suffered from fibroids all of my life. I was told I wouldn’t have children. To actually have my children, three of them, is just a blessing in and of itself.
I love to watch how they interact with each other, how they grow as little people. [I love] really seeing them as individuals.
Why do you think Boys & Girls Clubs are important?
From my perspective, which is actually now a couple different perspectives— I’ve been an employee, a leader and, most importantly, a parent—it’s the love that Boys & Girls Clubs have for children. Our tagline is “Whatever it takes.”
It’s not just about saying, we’ve served this many kids. It’s about being a change agent in communities we serve.
How do you balance work and family life?
Before I had children, I was on a quest to find a work-life balance. Then, I had children and I really wanted to find it, but there’s no such thing as a work-life balance—it’s a work-life blend.
Sometimes, work requires a little more [of] me, and sometimes being a parent requires more of my time, my patience and everything else.
That blend is possible because of my wonderful husband [and] the village I’ve created here in Maryland. I don’t technically have family here, but my job is like an extended family.
What is the biggest challenge you have faced as a parent?
I had my daughter five days before my 40th birthday, so I was late to the parenthood audience. I think because I was so well-established in my career, [my biggest challenge] was trying to figure out what type of professional I would be.
I think my Boys & Girls Club experience allowed me to get it right. Doing that for 20 years allowed me to roll right into parenthood. If [my kids] do something wrong, it’s not an automatic no. I allow opportunity for conversation with my children.
‘Instead of throwing your brother’s ice cream on the ground because you wanted some of his, did you ask him for some? Did he say no?’
What do you hope your children learn from you?
I know that they have learned to be of service—not just with each other and family members, but also with kids at school and kids in their camp. I take pride in that because I try to be very intentional.
What I hope for my daughter is that she remains fearless, that she remains a leader who will always go after what she wants and that she’ll know how to advocate for herself.
For my sons, I want them to remain compassionate individuals and to continue to look at the positive side of things.
Family Favorites
Meal: My husband’s chili (especially [for] my daughter—she will ask for it once a week)
Dessert: Fruit salad. That’s because Warren loves oranges, Zaire loves strawberries and Zorra loves raspberries.
Vacation Spot: First is the beach—they love the beach; they expect to go every summer. [We] love visiting family, especially grandparents.
Local Place: The steakhouse we have to go to once a week, or every other week, and Rita’s.
Family Activity: Friday is movie night—every single Friday.
Movie: Right now, in this house, it’s any “Star Wars.” My daughter was into it for a while, but she’s definitely over it. We also like “Black Panther” 1 and 2. Any Pixar movie comes after that.
