The Return on Community: How Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston Are Redefining Success

My guest today is one of Boston’s most respected civic leaders and a nationally recognized voice in youth development. Robert Lewis, Jr. is the President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Boston, where he leads a vibrant network of eight clubs and community sites serving more than 12,000 young people annually. A Club kid himself, Robert has spent his life investing in youth, building opportunity, and challenging outdated narratives about talent and potential.He brings a deeply personal, place-based approach to leadership—one grounded in love, grit, and high expectations. From health equity to workforce readiness, from cultural pride to redefining return on community, Robert Lewis is helping reshape what it means to grow up strong in Boston—and what it means to lead with heart.