Rashell Brobst '95 3rd District Woman of the Year

Rashell Brobst (Recreation Administration, ’95) was named Woman of the Year by the California State 3rd Assembly district.

Assembly member James Gallagher, nominated Brobst, the CEO of the Boys and Girls Clubs of the North Valley.

Brobst began as a volunteer for the Boys and Girls Club 22 years ago when the organization managed one site. Today, 10 sites serve 700 children a day and 2000 each year. She received the promotion to CEO in 2010.

Brobst originally volunteered as a student through Community Action Volunteers in Education (CAVE), at Chico State. She later volunteered for Ability First Sports Camp via her major in recreation administration.

She spent her senior internship semester working at Rancho Los Amigos National Rehabilitation Center in Los Angeles, in the pediatric and spinal cord injury area.

Brobst is a first-generation college graduate, the first in her family to complete a four-year college degree. She understands the needs of underserved youth in the community.

“We eliminate barriers to success,” said Brobst. “If its food, hygiene, lice kits, soap, or deodorant we provide for their basic needs.”

The staff and volunteers at the Boys and Girls Club support the school day for children ages 6–18 by helping with homework and reading, making behavioral goals and providing snacks and supper. They work with school administration and social services case managers to create a plan for each student based on their needs.

“Every situation, every community is different,” said Brobst. We protect kids, advocate for kids and be that safe place where they can come and talk about whatever is going on in their lives.”

The Boys and Girls Club provides more than homework and snacks. According to Brobst, the Club teaches kids to swim, experience their first time camping, and their first time seeing the ocean. The kids from the Oroville Club had a field trip to a working ranch where they able to see where their food comes from and to watch walnut processing. The Club staff also takes kids to tours of local companies and colleges.

Brobst is a parent to two sons, Holden and Sawyer, along with husband David. She loves camping and roller-skating. She still uses the same skates she used when she was 16 years old.