Each of the five boys and girls clubs in acadiana have members who make it unique.

News Ten’s Caroline Marcello has the story of one club member who returned home to give back– he’s now working as a unit director. 

Micah Nicholas, the current director of the iberia unit boys and girls club first started going to the club when he was 10 years old.

His single mother needed a place for him to go while she worked. 13 years later he’s working to give back to the club that gave so much to him. Take a look. 

When micah was 10 his single working mother sent him to the boys and girls club after school. 

Micah:  “She knew that the boys and girls club was going to be a safe place for us to learn something, be with our friends, and not be in the street doing something we shouldn’t be doing.” 

Through an opportunity with the club, Micah was invited to a three week summer camp at the Episcopal School of Acadiana before his freshman year of high school. 

“On the last day of the program I was very sad because that camp had challenged me in ways that I hadn’t been challenged before, and made me step out of my comfort zone.” 

After the camp, he was offered a full four-year scholarship to go to E-S-A.

Following high school, Micah went to college in Tennessee, and as graduation approached he realized he needed a job. 

“And I was like I need to be back in New Iberia. That was right around the time when I was watching the news and crime was rising. I feel like teenagers, even now are fighting for their lives. I feel like the club is in that fight to give something better”. 

At 23, Micah is now the unit director working to give students in New Iberia the same opportunities he was given to succeed. 

“That’s what’s most important to me is you know having a kid being able to come in here and tell me how their day was. If they having trouble at home, or whatever, I think that’s the most important part about what we do here is about being able to form those connections. That’s one of the main reasons why I feel like this is where I’m supposed to be. Just talking and listening and helping.”  

Micah has been the unit director for a little over a year. He says its been exciting and his work has just begun.