Edenton Boys and Girls Club director

Elizabeth Mitchell has her hands on the pulse of Edenton’s future.  

As the Executive Director of the Boys and Girls Club of Edenton/Chowan, Mitchell interacts with over 130 children and teens each day at the Edenton club. Her dedication to children doesn’t end their, the UNC, MBA graduate and her husband share the responsibilities of five children.  

“I became the Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club of Edenton/Chowan County in 2013.  At the time, we had one club that served about 40 children a day.  The Club was located seven miles north of town, and though the property was beautiful, the location was not convenient,” shared Mitchell.

As membership in the club grew, the club’s board realized it was time to move back into town, offering a better connection to middle school and high school teens.  

“As the number of kids we served began to grow, our board of directors quickly realized it was time to move back into the town limits of Edenton.  Another motivation for moving to town was our desire to connect with middle school and high school teens,” said Mitchell.  

It was board member Bill Whichard’s suggested that set the board’s sights on the DF Walker High School building that eventually became the club’s new home.  

Today, the Oakum Street location is a hub of teen activity in Edenton.  

“ We have teen nights, Tuesdays and Thursdays from 6:00  p.m to 8:00 p.m. for teens ages 14 years and older along with other activities. I believe our organization plays an important role in the lives of working families in our community’” said the director.  “We provide a safe and supportive environment where young people can learn, grow, and have fun.  We offer a variety of programs including academic support,.  Many people do not know that we have a Licensed Clinical Social Worker on our staff, who is at the Club each day to provide informal counseling that guides and teaches our Club members how to understand and manage their emotions effectively.”

The club is a pillar in the community.

We serve a warm, nutritious meal each night and during our summer program, we serve breakfast, lunch and snacks.  This is a tremendous help to families who are working very hard, but may be struggling to make ends meet.  

Our Club continues to thrive and the ongoing kind and generous support we receive from our community is a huge part of that. We would not be in business if not for the sustaining financial support the citizens and businesses in Edenton provide.”