John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club

John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club:
The Innovation & Expression Studio (T.I.E.S.)

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta is excited to announce a new addition to our Club family – John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club: The Innovation and Expression Studio (T.I.E.S.).

Our focus will remain the same – helping kids to reach their full potential – but we will also be using a creative youth development approach driven by arts, innovation, and expression.

As the Arts & Innovation Hub for the entire Boys & Girls Club organization, the new Club will serve even more kids and teens, reaching more than 200 youth each day, including our current members from the John H. Harland Club along with hundreds of kids from Boys & Girls Clubs across the area.

In addition to our day-to-day members, we will open our doors to the West End community serving youth and art enthusiasts alike.

John H. Harland Boys & Girls Club has been serving kids and teens on Atlanta’s West End for nearly 50 years and we will continue to honor this rich history as we look toward the future.

The new Harland T.I.E.S Club recently launched with the support of a larger national study supported by the Wallace Foundation. This Club, along with our Grant and Whitehead locations as well as Clubs across the country, will explore how high-quality arts programs can help attract and retain tweens and teens, catalyze exposure to and passion for the arts, and drive positive developmental outcomes. These research findings will shape how youth organizations develop arts programs for years to come.

We are grateful to Fulton County Arts and Culture and the Board of Commissioners for their support of our 2021 summer programming at the Harland Boys & Girls Club!

Club Location & Hours

Location

John H. Harland
Boys & Girls Club:
The Innovation &
Expression Studio (T.I.E.S.)

434 Peeples Street
Atlanta, Georgia 30310

Fulton County

T 470-823-3465

Hours

General Hours:
2:30 pm – 8:00 pm

Holiday & Summer Hours:
June 2nd – July 18th
7:30am – 6:00pm

Programs & Activities

Each Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta has a variety of special programs and activities. T.I.E.S. will focus on:

Performing Arts
Culinary Arts
Visual Arts
Music & Production

Learn how you can become a Program Partner today!

Transportation Details

BGCMA picks up from these schools:

M. Agnes Jones Elementary
Finch Elementary
KIPP Strive Primary
KIPP Strive Academy
KIPP Ways Primary
KIPP Ways Academy
Brown Middle School
Sylvan Middle School
KIPP Atlanta Collegiate High School
Washington High School

These schools drop off at our Club:

Director Q & A

Q & A with the Executive Director – TaKara Abuwi

Why Boys & Girls Club

The Boys & Girls Club allows me to be the person I needed growing up. I’m passionate about creating safe spaces where youth feel seen, supported, and empowered to try new things. Exposure can change lives—and when young people are introduced to experiences that expand their horizons, it can transform not only their futures but also their communities.

Who Influenced Me

I’m deeply influenced by the women in my family—those who nurtured generations and served as positive role models in their communities. Their strength, grace, and commitment to service have shaped the way I lead and show up for others. I carry their legacy in every space I enter.

Advice for our Youth

Be open. Say yes to new experiences and learning opportunities—you never know what will light you up. Expanding your horizons can lead you to passions and possibilities you hadn’t imagined. Take time to study yourself, get to know who you are, and choose who you want to be. When you’re grounded in your identity, you don’t have to follow the crowd—you become the one others want to follow.

Our Impact in the Community

Our Club is more than an afterschool program—it’s a hub of hope. We provide safety, structure, and support for young people navigating a world full of challenges. We build confidence, cultivate creativity, and create opportunities for youth to lead. The ripple effect of our impact reaches into homes, schools, neighborhoods, and beyond. When our members thrive, our entire community gets stronger.

What Makes Our Club Special

Harland is a hub for youth empowerment. Our staff is deeply dedicated to creating safe spaces for youth to explore, create, and grow through exposure to new opportunities. As an Innovation & Expression Studio, we center our programming around youth voice and choice, ensuring that what we offer reflects their interests, passions, and potential. This Club belongs to them, and that’s what makes it powerful.

Enroll Your Child

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta works to save and change the lives of children and teens, especially those who need us most, by providing them with a safe, positive and engaging environment and programs that prepare and inspire them to achieve Great Futures. Ready to sign up? We can’t wait to meet you and your family! Check out our membership application for more details.