The Joy of Giving Back

Editor's note: Helping Hands is the newest column from Aliso Viejo Patch. Begin every Sunday with a story about people making a difference within the community. Columnist Suzanne Chun lives in Aliso Viejo and is married to Aliso Viejo Community Association President Ross Chun.

James Littlejohn has a smile that lights up the room.

As Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley, Littlejohn is exactly where he wants to be.

"I knew when I was about 10 that one day I would be running a Boys & Girls Club," he said.

Littlejohn grew up in Alameda, CA with eight brothers and sisters.  When he was seven, his older brothers were away in the military and Littlejohn was at home with six sisters.

"That's a lot of mothers," he said.

Littlejohn's mother decided he should join the Boys Club in Alameda since his older brothers enjoyed their experiences and because she didn't want him getting into trouble after school. Littlejohn remembers the day three of his sisters walked him to the Club to sign up.

"I love my sisters and we're a close family, but I was really excited to be around all those boys at The Boys Club. We had a gymnasium, a game room, a wood shop...what more could I want?" he said.

With the Boys Club, Littlejohn enjoyed trips to Yosemite and Lake Tahoe, experiences that his family couldn't afford.  

His father, Emmett Littlejohn, was unemployed due to a work-related injury.  He died when James was fifteen.  His mother, Elector Littlejohn, cleaned houses to support her family.  While raising nine children, Elector still found time to make contributions to her community.

"She volunteered at our church and in our schools, and she got the Head Start program up and running in Alameda," James explains.  "She was a well-respected community activist."

Elector Littlejohn Park in Alameda is named after James' mother.

Elector wanted all nine of her children to graduate from high school—and they did.  She also wanted one of her children to graduate from college. James graduated with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Physical Education from Linfield College in McMinnville, Oregon.

 After college, James worked as the Athletic Director at Columbia Park Boys Club in San Francisco.  He held this position for a year before leaving to become a flight attendant. 

"I knew my future would be with the Boys & Girls Club, so I took a 10-year hiatus to travel the world," James said.

After working as a flight attendant, James served as Operations Manager for the Columbia Boys & Girls Club in San Francisco and Executive Director of the Boys & Girls Club in Martinez, California before accepting his present position at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Capistrano Valley.

"I just want to give kids the opportunities that I had," he said.

James said his mother was instrumental in teaching him the importance of giving back, and he attributes his happiness to the way she raised him.

"She told me that life is short and there's a lot less stress when you're happy.  She was always smiling."  James said. "She had a lovely smile."

Elector Littlejohn passed away 19 years ago, but her spirit of giving and her smile live on through James.