Soul of 78: Cassie Crowell

Unit Director, Boys and Girls Club of America

Words by Thomas Ingle | Image by Ryan McGill

Cassie Crowell faced a void in her life as her children grew older. At just the right time, the Boys and Girls Club of America stepped in, filling that void and providing purpose in her life. Since then, Cassie hasn't looked back.

The Guin, Alabama, native, who has been a resident of Walker County since 1996, earned her bachelor's degree in business management from the University of North Alabama. After graduation, she resided in Oakman for 16 years until her move to Jasper in 2012.

During the early years of motherhood, Cassie balanced a job while spending time as a stay-at-home mom. After her divorce, she sought employment that would accommodate her children's schedules. She first entered the field of substitute teaching for about a year before assuming her current position at the Boys and Girls Club.

As Unit Director, Cassie oversees the Club's operations at three local schools: T.R. Simmons Elementary, Memorial Park Elementary, and Maddox Intermediate. Reflecting on her journey, Cassie expresses that this job came as an answered prayer, filling the void created by newfound free time.

"One specific memory that stands out is from our time during the pandemic. With schools closing and reopening part-time, we were still determining whether we could open our Boys & Girls Club program. When we were cleared to open, we faced restrictions on the number of members we could accept," Cassie recalls. "A parent contacted me multiple times, expressing the necessity of our program for her children. She explained that she would have to quit her job if she couldn't find a suitable program. Fortunately, we were able to assist this family during one of their most significant times of need. Serving not just the child but the entire family can substantially impact our community."

Now in her seventh year on the job with plans for many more, Cassie envisions expanding the program's reach. "We have talked about reaching out to county schools, and now that our kids from when I started are moving to junior high, the parents are asking if we will start a junior high program, which would be fun," she explains.

Regardless of what the future holds, Cassie remains committed to the Club's mission: "To enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens." 78