By David Benoit
Special to the Reporter

A noisy din constantly seems to echo in the cinder-blocked halls and rooms of the Colonel Daniel Marr Club this summer. From 9 in the morning until 11 at night, kids are there, playing basketball, swimming in the pool, making friends, and plenty of noise. There, they are off the streets and away from the increasingly violent and bloody summer avenues. There they are safe.

Safety is what matters most to the people that run the club, which is why they dedicate their summer to "Safe City Streets" the teen program that runs multiple nightly activities designed to just keep kids active.

"Some people think of saving one kid at a time, we try to do as many as possible," says Bruce Seals, the director of athletics at the club. "Basketball is a universal language and we want to try and teach them about sportsmanship and teamwork, and how to be a part of something that is bigger than yourself, because Safe Summer Streets isn't about one person or a hundred people, it's about everyone."

Seals came to the Marr club 17 years ago, in the summer of 1990 when 143 people were murdered on Boston's streets. He had been an NBA player on the Seattle Supersonics and was looking for a way to help out the community. At the Marr Club he found that opportunity in their newest program, started by Bob Scannell and Mike Joyce.

"We saw that when we were working after hours, kids came up and asked if they could just shoot around. Two hours later when we would be leaving the kids would still be there," says Joyce, program director at the Marr. "We were concerned about the safety of the kids, and we said 'why don't we just stay open late?'"

At the beginning they didn't even have the money to fund the nights, but staff simply volunteered to work until 11 p.m. if it would help the kids.

"I remember we sucked it up and we didn't have any money," Scannell recalls. "To us it was not rocket science &endash; keep the club open extra hours so kids have some place to go."

Today the program is seen as a big success, with over 200 kids a night at their multiple locations, by Joyce's estimate. There is no set structure or attendance taken, it's all about just getting the kids in the club and away from the guns and trouble that is out there.

"There is a natural concern with violence in the summer," Joyce explains in an office with walls covered in report cards and letters from kids in the club, highlighting his dedication and commitment to their future. "We are an alternative to being stuck on the streets. They should have some place to go."

Scannell echoes the same sentiments about the importance of their program, saying "if you don't find something to do, trouble finds you. Even if you don't find it, it will find you."

But just because they don't have to sign up for anything official, doesn't mean there aren't rules for the club. They are very focused on teaching these youths the importance of school, hard work, and respect, but they use a more laid-back and informal atmosphere to do it.

Seals describes his work as a continuation of what he was taught growing up and in the basketball world by people such as Bill Russell.

"I was taught by a number of very intelligent people. Everything I do is a reflection of them, what they did for me. Hopefully [the youths] will take what they learn here and do something with it."

Both Scannell and Seals pointed to staff members who grew up in the program as signs of success.

Cesarina DosSantos is one young person who started out going to the Marr Club as a way to keep active, and now directs junior division. The 18 year old is heading to Bridgewater State in the fall to study social work, but is spending her last summer at the Marr in charge of 16 youth staffers and over 160 kids.

"We target specific times, and we have activities that most are actually interested in," she says. "To me, it's very important to be here. It's a safe place."

The protection she feels at the Marr stems from her experiences as a youth, as she soberly says she lost about 10 classmates throughout her years, but never once has she lost a friend from the Marr.

And even for the younger kids at the club, the Marr is a sanctuary, someplace to stay busy and have fun. Alex Gomes, who will enter the sixth grade at the Wilson School in September, says he comes to play soccer and basketball.

"It's a cool place to come," he smiles, "My mom signed me up, and then I starting just coming and having fun."

The summer-long program also provides many field trips and chances to explore other interests. The club offers jobs and internships for older kids, a weekly museum club, and of course their daily 9-5 day program. Later in the summer 150 kids will get the chance to go to a week of camp in Maine, and a large group will also get the opportunity to go Disney World in Florida. It's all part of keeping the kids busy the whole summer.

"I'm extremely excited about that, that's a lot of kids, they are going to what is possibly the best camp in New England and those kids should have a great time," says Scannell. "I love that stuff, a lot of these kids don't get out of Dorchester, don't get out of the city, and don't get on a plane, but this is their chance."

The excitement and energy at the club is almost palpable, from Scannell, Joyce, and Seals right down to the throngs of kids playing kickball and air hockey. It may be the sound bouncing off the cement walls or it may be the hard work and enthusiasm of the people that come day in and day out; but even as Safe Summer Streets enters its 17th year, the excitement stays fresh.

"Work isn't supposed to be this fun," says Seals with a laugh. "When the time comes for me to leave, I'll have tears in my eyes."