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Jacques McGuffie When
Haitian-born Jacques McGuffie wanted to explore the world of computers
as a boy, he went to the library or school to find one until 1996, when
a friend took him to the Computer Clubhouse at The Computer Museum in
Boston. There the 17-year-old McGuffie learned Adobe Photoshop and Illustrator,
Flash animation, digital photography and a lot more. 
“The
staff and members were welcoming. It was always hard for me to leave,
but when I did, I looked forward to going back the next day. They treat
you like family,” says McGuffie, who came to the United States from
Haiti in 1992.
Fluent in French, Creole and English, McGuffie, now 23, says, “The
Computer Clubhouse has given me what other places can’t. For young
adults who’re willing to get involved in doing something constructive,
it’s the best. Whether it's music or creating your own website or
artwork, the Clubhouse is the only place that I know of that lets you
do it free of charge. When I come, I am doing something positive and at
the same time improving my artistic skills. If I have an assignment, I
can always count on any of the staff or other members. They are always
there to help.
The Clubhouse gives you the freedom to do whatever you want. It doesn’t
push you to the edge, so the eagerness to learn is all in front of you.
It’s up to you to take advantage of what many people don’t
have—technology.”
A 1999 graduate of West Roxbury High School, Jacques is now involved in a year-long technology training and internship program called Year Up, working towards college and a bachelor’s degree in business, while also interning at Harvard University as a Web developer. Jacques found out about Year Up from the Clubhouse bulletin board which has information on job opportunities.
He recalls, “As a kid I spent most of my time drawing and playing basketball.” His boyhood dream was to become a cartoonist. “Now, I'm more of an illustrator than a cartoonist,” he says. McGuffie created the logo for the Intel Clubhouse Network Teen Summit in 2002. His “Art Not War” drawing is displayed in this year’s Clubhouse Digital Studio exhibit at the Museum of Science. He says its message is “designed to influence peace instead of violence within our society.” Now he’s working on a mural and also on his personal website. “My art is definitely influenced by Hip-Hop, but I also do a lot of fine art drawings.”
As part of the Clubhouse alumni community, he meets and helps create projects for the Clubhouse. Currently living in Boston’s Hyde Park, Jacques started volunteering at the Museum’s flagship Clubhouse in October 2002. “By committing to do so, I learned how to be more responsible and work with different people. The next step for me is mentoring new members.”
His biggest challenge has been “focusing on my career and going
to school.
That’s what matters most to me.” He’s investigating
Harvard Extension School, Northeastern and Suffolk Universities. Eventually,
he would like to earn a master’s in business administration and
possibly an associate’s degree in fine arts. In 20 years, he sees
himself “living a comfortable life. My own business, married with
children, and traveling the world.” Meanwhile, the Computer Clubhouse
is “still my favorite place to go, do my artwork and meet others
with the same interests.”