Built for a generation eager to learn by doing, the Brian Lamar Brady Workforce Readiness Center officially opened Tuesday, bringing hands-on workforce training to Mulberry.
The new Center joins the Wogan S. Badcock, Jr. Boys & Girls Club and the Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County corporate office on a shared campus designed to meet young people where they are and prepare them for what comes next. Together, the three facilities form the Wogan S. Badcock, Jr. Campus—a hub for growth, guidance, and opportunity rooted in Mulberry and built with the future in mind.
For Executive Chair Stephanie Hoskins, the opening marked the realization of a vision years in the making.
What began as a simple question in a board meeting—about access, advocacy, and the future of teens in Polk County—grew into collective action. Board members wrote letters, met with elected officials, and pursued state funding with a shared belief that young people deserved more pathways to success. That effort helped lay the groundwork for what is now the first facility of its kind in Polk County.
Funded through a $3 million state appropriation, made possible by Representative Melony Bell, Representative Josie Tomkow, and Representative Colleen Burton, the Brian Lamar Brady Workforce Readiness Center reflects a shifting landscape. As more young people pursue certifications, trades, and technical careers, the Center was intentionally designed to support what many are calling the “Toolbelt Generation”—teens eager to gain skills they can apply immediately in the real world.
“This is not just a safe place for teens to go after school,” Hoskins said. “It’s a place where they can learn and earn—where independence, responsibility, and real opportunity meet.”
Inside the new Center, teens will find spaces built for hands-on learning and career exploration: a lab focused on skilled trades, STEM, and emerging technologies; a computer lab for certifications, digital literacy, and post-secondary planning; tutoring and mentoring rooms to support graduation; a commercial teaching kitchen for culinary exploration; and dedicated teen spaces focused on leadership, soft skills, and job readiness.
The facility expands the long-standing Wogan S. Badcock, Jr. Boys & Girls Club, which has served Mulberry youth since 1997 and long outgrown its original footprint. Together, the campus now offers young people the ability to spend their afternoons not just staying safe—but building toward what comes next.
During the ceremony, speakers reflected on what the Center represents for the broader community. Mulberry Mayor George Hatch emphasized his excitement for the future of Mulberry, while Vice Chair Sarah Finlayson—President & Owner of Riverhawk Industrial Supply—highlighted the connection between youth development and workforce sustainability.
“I’ve always believed that the work we do at [the Clubs] is a true win-win. It’s a win for our kids who get the support they need to thrive, and it’s also a win for the community which grows stronger because of it. But today as we open this Workforce Readiness Center, we.re taking that idea to the next level. It’s a win-win-win. A win for our kids, a win for the community, and now a win for local businesses, like mine.” Finlayson said, announcing a $25,000 gift in support of the Center’s work.
John Lane, Vice President of Operations, shared “We know this center will play a powerful role in prep high students for the real helping them explore career paths, building job skills, earning certifications, and ultimately providing them a step confidently into their futures.” He went on to introduce Dustin Hooker, Director of Teen Initiatives, who will play an instrumental role in the future of the Center.
For many in attendance, the most powerful reminder of impact came from the youth themselves. Llerli Isidro-Lucas, Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County’s 2026 Youth of the Year, shared her story and spoke to the role the Club has played in her life.
“I am living proof of what the Boys & Girls Club can do.” she told the crowd, “Thank you for believing in us.”
Ashley Ray, Vice President of Development, shared “None of this happens without people that choose to invest. With land, with funding, with leadership, and with heart … Thank you for believing in Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County.” Ray’s remarks closed the program, followed by tours of the new facility and conversations centered on what comes next: putting the space into action.
The Center is named in honor of Brian Lamar Brady, whose commitment to service and belief in young people helped inspire a space focused on workforce readiness and possibility. His legacy now lives on in a building designed to open doors—for first jobs, certifications, and futures shaped by choice.
While the Center is located in Mulberry, satellite programming will extend its reach across other Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County sites—ensuring more teens have access to certification tracks, career exploration, and meaningful employment pathways.
“This is a pivotal moment for Polk County,” Hoskins said. “When businesses invest their time and insight here, they’re investing in the future of their workforce.”
As part of the expanded Wogan S. Badcock, Jr. Campus, the Brian Lamar Brady Workforce Readiness Center stands as more than a new building. It is a statement—about the value of practical skills, the power of community investment, and the belief that every young person deserves access to opportunity.
To everyone who attended, and to those who tuned in from home—thank you. Your continued support makes it possible for thousands of kids across the county to have access to the tools they need for a great future.
Click here to read the official press release.
Click here to view the recap.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County
Boys & Girls Clubs of Polk County serve thousands of children and teens each year through afterschool and summer programs focused on academic success, healthy lifestyles, workforce readiness, and character development. With 10 Club sites across the county, the organization is committed to ensuring every young person, especially those who need us most, has a safe, supportive place to learn, grow, and thrive.
For more information on how to get involved, visit bgcpolk.org.