A Michiana Life in the Spotlight: Tami Hicks

Tami Hicks is a supermom, and with her role as CEO of the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County, it’s clear that her capacity to care for children,  regardless of blood relation, knows no bounds. Hicks is many things: a mother, CEO, problem-solver, educator, friend, and another community member giving back in big ways.

The club’s mission is simple: empower and inspire all youth, especially those who need it most. With Hicks leading the club, those efforts continue to evolve catering to the needs of both members and the wider reaching community.

Hicks and her supportive team are spearheading experiential and educational opportunities for local kids in aviation technology, building stable connections with the Elkhart County school system, expanding afterschool programming, opening new clubs in areas where access is limited, and even supporting a child of her own.

Like most Boys and Girls Clubs across the country, the Elkhart County organization relies heavily on community and county support, and it is especially dependent on the school system.

“I frequently say that the school districts are our number one partner,” Hicks said. “If we don’t have them on board, it makes it really hard for us to do what we need to do, and vice versa.”

With several clubhouses across Elkhart County, schools transport kids directly to the club, giving young people the extra support, as well as safe space away from home and school. Everything they need to thrive in a third space. The club supports kids academically, offers field-trip experiences, and helps maintain the standards that the schools are held to. That means small-group work, one-on-one tutoring, and other academic and social exposure kids might not get elsewhere.

In total, the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County serves around 5,000 members. Under Hicks’ leadership, and with the support of her team,  the club plans to double its outreach by 2034, expanding east to other communities and serving 10,000 members.

In just 3.5 years, Hicks has blazed a trail creating experiential learning programs for students in STEM fields, building a direct pipeline into the aviation industry — a field with growing demand and a shrinking workforce. One of the club’s main initiatives right now is tackling workforce readiness. Hicks and her team researched the school system’s diploma requirements, which jobs are hiring, and where the demand is greatest.

“We have one of the best airports in the state in Goshen, and we have a shortage of aviation mechanics and pilots coming up. Getting kids into the aviation mechanic pathway was something that is high demand, high pay,” Hicks said. “We have a group of 24 teens building an airplane at Goshen Airport while working toward their certification.”

Hicks recognized the need for more afterschool programming and experiential opportunities during her time as an educator in the Elkhart County school system. There, she built her network and laid the groundwork for her future work in the nonprofit world. She had no intention of leaving public education. But opportunity knocked, she answered, and she says she left the rest to God.

“It aligned with my thoughts, passions, and philosophies on youth opportunities and experiences. I had nothing to lose,” Hicks said. “I applied and left it in God’s hands, and here I am. Now, I get to impact more youth and do more work with all the school districts in Elkhart County and beyond.”

Her track record speaks for itself. Hicks and her team at the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County have been nationally recognized for their work, receiving a national award for government advocacy and a marketing and communications award for their promotional efforts.

Hicks is quick to say the work isn’t possible without the team, and the leaders, who came before her.

“That’s probably the number one game-changer: having board members who know how to be involved but not overstep. They support the mission, they lift, and they help support what we’re trying to do for kids,” Hicks said.

Her humility was on full display as she reflected on the club’s history and the foundation it was built on. This year, the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County celebrates its 70th anniversary.

“We started in 1956, so we have some longevity and a good reputation. That goes to the people who came before me.” Hicks said.

To celebrate the milestone and to keep planning for the future, the club is hosting a BBQ and Brewfest on August 8 at the Elkhart County Fairgrounds in Goshen.

“We have 26 grill teams, so a lot of our corporate donors put together grill teams, and they make these incredible burgers or chicken. Then you get to try them all and vote on your favorites,” Hicks said. “It’s a family-friendly event, but it’s also all-you-can-drink. It’s just a lot of fun, and a major fundraiser for us.”

All proceeds support the mission of the Boys and Girls Club of Elkhart County. All-inclusive adult wristbands are $80 and include food, drinks, parking, and entertainment for the evening. Designated drivers get in for $45, students for $20, and children under 12 are admitted free.

Outside of the club, Hicks is a wife and mother to her son Ethan, a 25-year-old living with Angelman syndrome, a rare genetic disorder caused by a missing portion of the 15th chromosome.

“He’s always laughing loudly and is just a happy person to be around,” Hicks said. “He makes other people smile. He loves people, and he’s very kind.”

While Hicks is a woman who wears many hats, she believes there is still more work to be done to create safer environments for kids of all abilities. Her mission is purpose-driven and centered around expanding, growing, and bettering lives; whether it is the lives of club members of the Elkhart County community.