Teens Want to Advocate; It’s Time to Take Us Seriously
Adults don’t seem to agree on much these days, except for, of course, what they think of us kids. From the news to government officials, I’ve heard the words used to describe my generation. Lazy. Lonely. Apathetic. Hopeless.
But I’m setting the record straight: Gen Z and Gen Alpha are not “broken” or bystanders. We are the leaders of tomorrow and today. Three-quarters of young people believe the U.S. is more divided that ever. But we aren’t just waiting for things to get better – we’re trying to do something about it.
However, willpower is not enough. You can’t fix a car without the right tools or manual. A new study from America’s Promise Alliance revealed that 91% of young people want more access to civic education, and yet a quarter of students didn’t learn or even talk about civics at school in 2024. In fact, only 40% of teens feel ready for civic engagement at all.
Teens need training, resources and opportunities to take action on issues we care about. Fortunately, we’ve been able to turn to programs, clubs and organizations outside of school for support. I found it at my Boys & Girls Club after a dangerous incident.
Two years ago, a girl in my town disappeared for three days. No one knew she’d been talking to someone online; someone who convinced her to run away from home.
That girl was me.
At 8 years old, I got my first device with unlimited internet access. What started with watching YouTube videos turned into chatting with strangers on anonymous sites. At first, these were harmless conversations. But soon, it unraveled into manipulative relationships. Eventually, I found myself three hours from home, persuaded by someone I met online who wasn’t who they claimed to be. Thankfully, the authorities were able to bring me home safely.
My Boys & Girls Club gave me the second chance I needed. There, I not only found a safe place to heal; I found my voice through Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC), Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s youth advocacy model. For hours after school, other teens and I worked with adult mentors, learning skills and leading projects to address issues in our community.
For me, it was youth online safety.
Since then, I’ve worked hard to help prevent experiences like mine. I advised leaders at my Club and local officials, like State Senator Adam Lowe, on designing child cyber safety programs. I sat on a youth advocacy panel during Boys & Girls Clubs’ Summit for Tennessee’s Youth, sharing my story with state legislators, and launched a podcast called “Cyber Youth Today” to spark conversations about kids and cyberspace.
These experiences taught me that I don’t have to wait for a degree or government title to make change happen. I can start here and now, and I’m not alone.
Through BGCA’s partnership with Dollar Tree, hundreds of Club Kids like me can not only participate in TLC, but also attend the Summit for America’s Youth (SAY) in Washington D.C. This is one of the biggest youth advocacy events of the year, with teens flying in nationwide to hear from lawmakers, participate in trainings, and speak with members of Congress about issues we care about. Sharing my story and advocacy work at SAY was one of the most rewarding experiences I’ve had, inspiring me to pursue psychology and public policy in the future.
Boys & Girls Clubs of America is one of many organizations supporting teen advocacy initiatives. These are places where teens can find mentorship and training to make a difference in our communities, state and country. In 2022, 1-in-3 young eligible voters felt like their vote didn’t matter. With greater access to youth advocacy programs, younger generations will go to the ballot box more informed and confident in our ability to create positive change. But you don’t have to be 18 to start trying.
If you have an idea, act on it. Contact your legislators. Ask the hard questions. Join a Boys & Girls Club. Stand up for what you believe in because without leaders brave enough to change systems or challenge ideas, change will not come.
I’m Aubri and America needs Clubs Kids like me. Because when it comes to creating a better future, teens aren’t asking “if”; they’re asking, “Can we start yesterday?”
Aubri, Club Kid, Age 16
Youth Online Safety Advocate
Boys & Girls Clubs of the Ocoee Region, TN
