Jessica A.
Club/Organization: Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Conejo Valley
Length of Membership:Â 6 years
What kind of difference do you hope to make while being a part of BGCA’s National Youth Advisory Council?
I want to amplify the voices of more youth nationally and hopefully grow my advocacy platform so I can continue to do so after I graduate from the program.
What do you enjoy most about your Club?
My favorite part about the Club is all the opportunities it has given me. I’ve been the Keystone Club president for the past four years, painted multiple murals, started my own youth advocacy podcast and participated in the Youth of the Year competition! I genuinely don’t think I would be who I am today without the Club and the people I’ve met along the way.
Why is it important for BGCA to consider the voices of young people when creating things for Clubs?
When adults make choices for kids without consulting them, programs and enrichment activities can end up feeling unhelpful or boring. Kids can feel like adults are overexplaining things and can end up uninterested in the activity. Listening to Club kids when creating programs makes activities better and encourages youth to be more involved, helping to create a closer community.
