Built to Lead: Holden Speaks Up for Food Justice

Growing up, it was just me and my mom. Before I knew it, the Boys & Girls Club of Benton County became more than an after-school spot; it became a second family.

At first, the Club was somewhere to hang out between the final school bell and my mom getting off work. But as I grew, so did my experiences. Those afternoons turned into opportunities to lead, speak up and start imagining my future.

I joined the Boys & Girls Club at six years old. Now, as I get ready to graduate, I’m grateful for not only what the Club provided, but for what it instilled: the belief that I can forge my future, my way.

Addressing Food Insecurity: From My Community to Congress

I remember starting to see myself as a leader in Torch Club, a Club program for middle schoolers wanting to make a difference. As Torch Club president, I organized park clean-ups and serving meals at assisted living centers. In high school, I grew this passion by joining Keystone, the Club’s teen leadership program, where members work on advocacy projects addressing local issues.

For my project, I chose food insecurity — a challenge I’ve seen affect my family members and community at large.

Through my Boys & Girls Club, I created community “blessing boxes” — outdoor cabinets stocked with shelf stable food and hygiene items, available 24/7, no questions asked.

My friends and I built them ourselves, placing them at churches and other Clubs across the county. Today, ten boxes are consistently refilled, and I’m working to set up more with support from local school superintendents and mayors of nearby towns.

I also got the opportunity to not just visit but speak on Capitol Hill through Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s annual Summit for America’s Youth. There, I looked hundreds of Congress members in the eye and spoke about my work fighting food insecurity back home. Arkansas senator Tyler Dees introduced me that day. Since then, I’ve connected with him a few times, and he always remembers who I am and asks how he can support me.

I’ll never forget that experience — how speaking on the Senate and House floors showed me that young people can be heard and create real change when given the chance.

Finding a Mentor & Community That Believes in Me

Passport to Manhood was another Club program that meant a lot to me. I didn’t have a father figure at home, but through the Club, I found adult mentors and learned skills like changing a tire and shaving by practicing on balloons.

Our Club’s Director of Teen Growth, Ashley, has also been in my corner since I first participated in the Youth of the Year teen leadership program in eighth grade. I was nervous to go up against mostly juniors and seniors, but Ashley never let me doubt myself. With her guidance and support, I earned the Arkansas Youth of the Year title at age 14 and went even further my senior year, becoming the 2026-2027 Southwest Youth of the Year.

Through Youth of the Year, I not only met other teens like me, but learned real-world skills like giving a strong speech and writing a professional email from my mentor, Ashley.

Ashley is always putting me in positions to lead, including serving on Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth Advisory Council. She’s the most important mentor in my life, and I know I’ll be able to count on her as I take my next steps after graduation.

Graduating Prepared for My Future

After earning her college degree later in life, my mom knew setting me up for success early was essential. That’s where the Boys & Girls Club came in.

My resume and college applications were filled with Club advocacy and leadership experiences. My network grew while securing internships and scholarships through the Club. I even host my Club’s podcast, Youth Unmuted, interviewing professional athletes, entrepreneurs, and leaders — and learning with every conversation.

There was a time when I wasn’t sure if college was a possibility. But my Boys & Girls Club helped open that door, and now, I’m enrolling right out of high school.

For a while, I wasn’t sure which career path to take either. I love connecting with people and wanted to know what it’s like to oversee a company. That opportunity came the summer before my sophomore year, when I shadowed Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s President & CEO Jim Clark for a day at their national headquarters.

Everything clicked when I saw Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s leadership in action. It inspired me to work toward becoming an executive myself, so that one day, I’ll get to decide how a big organization makes a positive impact.

I’ll start that journey at the University of Arkansas, and with my Club mentors and experiences behind me, I feel ready. Just wait, someday, I’ll be steering a Fortune 500 company toward a better future, for everyone.