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Projecting My Voice Ramatoulaye Bah, BGCD Member “I practiced my speech with loud music on.” Was that so her family wouldn’t hear her? “No, I wanted to work on projecting my voice.” Ramatoulaye Bah – who says, “my name is long, so you can just call me Rama,” — was the keynote speaker at the 2019 Boys & Girls Clubs of Dorchester New England Women in Leadership Awards (NEWLA). The then high school freshman was tapped to tell her story about how the club equipped her to stand up for herself. Rama’s mother emigrated from Senegal, moving in the Harbor Point neighborhood. Rama’s family is Muslim, which set them apart. Queenette (Queenie) Santos, director of BGCD’s Walter Denney Youth Center, recounts how she would see Rama’s mom walk by the club everyday and each time hesitate a little longer. One day she came up the walk and through the doors. Impressed by all the happy children, she signed Rama up. Rama tried every activity, and even enjoyed Homework Club. “I can get my homework done and have more time at the end of the day.” She was a happy kid who loved to learn and had lots of friends. Then came fifth grade and all of a sudden a clique of girls decided that, “I was out.” They commented on the color of her skin. They made fun of her name. But Rama didn’t fall into the trap. She drew strength, instead, from her friends and the adults at the club. “When I’m at the club, stress goes away,” she says. “We’re all there in the rec. room — boys, girls, staff — everyone is welcome and together.” The bullies learned they couldn’t rattle her. She believes her example ultimately influenced their behavior for the better. Queenie Santos sums Rama up, “Even a quiet girl can be fierce, too.” 12