Bringing Opportunity to the Community: KYOSA Visits the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana’s Mobile Learning Lab

When transportation becomes a barrier to opportunity, what if the program could come directly to young people? That’s exactly the challenge the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana set out to solve with its new Justin Thomas Mobile Learning Lab.

KYOSA Director Kathleen Kelly recently had the opportunity to tour the new 38-foot Mobile Learning Lab and learn more about the vision behind this innovative approach to expanding access to out-of-school time learning. During the visit, Kathleen spoke with Noah Wilshire, Mobile Club Director, and Daryle Unseld Jr., President and CEO of Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana, about how the mobile club is bringing high-quality programming directly into communities.

For families across Kentucky, simply getting to an afterschool program can be a significant challenge. According to Kentucky’s America After 3PM data, 47% of parents say the lack of a safe way for their child to get to and from an afterschool program is a concern.

The Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana saw that barrier and asked an important question: What if, instead of asking young people to come to the Club, the Club could come to them?

The result is the Justin Thomas Mobile Learning Lab—a fully equipped mobile learning environment designed to bring enriching, hands-on experiences to communities where access may otherwise be limited.

Taking High-Quality STEM Learning on the Road

Inside the Mobile Learning Lab, young people have access to tools including 3D printers and a laser engraver, giving them opportunities to explore technology, develop new skills, solve problems, and see themselves as creators.

And the experience isn’t scaled down simply because it happens on wheels. The technology available inside the mobile lab is the same quality students can access in the organization’s brick-and-mortar Club locations.

The space is also ADA accessible, helping ensure more young people can participate and benefit from the experience.

While STEM is a major component of the lab, its potential extends much further. The mobile space can become a community hub for activities such as career exploration, workforce development, resume building, and other opportunities that connect young people and families to resources.

Partnerships Multiply the Impact

One of the most exciting elements of the Mobile Learning Lab is the organization’s emphasis on partnership.

Rather than working in isolation, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana is partnering with other community-serving organizations to bring the mobile club into neighborhoods and connect families with programming where they already live, learn, and gather.

That approach strongly reflects something KYOSA believes in: the strongest out-of-school time systems are built through connection and collaboration.

When organizations share resources, relationships, and expertise, they can reach more young people while creating stronger networks of support for families and communities.

Innovation That Removes Barriers

Across Kentucky, communities are continually looking for ways to expand access to quality out-of-school time experiences—particularly in rural areas, neighborhoods with limited transportation, and communities where traditional program models may not reach every young person who could benefit.

The Justin Thomas Mobile Learning Lab offers a powerful example of what can happen when organizations design around the realities families face.

Instead of viewing transportation as an unavoidable obstacle, Boys & Girls Clubs of Kentuckiana created a new pathway to opportunity.

For KYOSA, the visit was an inspiring reminder that expanding access does not always mean building another facility. Sometimes it means rethinking where learning can happen, taking resources directly into communities, and creating partnerships that make those opportunities possible.

As Kentucky continues working to ensure more young people have access to high-quality experiences before school, after school, and during the summer, innovative models like this provide ideas worth sharing—and opportunities worth celebrating.

If you'd like to see more images of the lab and a more in-depth interview, check out this WLKY report.

Additionally if you can always find access to STEM out-of-school time activities on our Learn and Grow tab on our website.