MONTHLY SPOTLIGHTS
SHARING OUR STORIES OF IMPACT.
Youth of the Year Building Leaders
The population of teens in the United States today is approximately 21 million. All young people have the potential to be leaders in schools, workplaces and communities, yet only a few are encouraged or given a chance to demonstrate leadership in meaningful ways. While there are plenty of opportunities for leadership development in the adult years, many successful leaders report that experiences they had early in their lives are what helped them in leadership roles as adults. What is clear is that leaders do not develop overnight; a lifetime of experiences strengthen an individual’s personal leadership as they mature and grow. The Youth of the Year program was created to develop leadership abilities within participants.
Since 1947, the Youth of the Year program has recognized and celebrated the extraordinary achievements of Club teens. Stories of outstanding leadership, service, academic excellence and dedication to living a healthy lifestyle have made it America’s premier leadership and recognition program for teens. BGCA has since enhanced Youth of the Year to provide a comprehensive leadership development experience. Through Youth of the Year, youth gain the leadership knowledge and skills they need for success in 21st-century life, work and educational settings.
Youth of the Year is our signature effort to foster a new generation of leaders, fully prepared to live and lead in a diverse, global and integrated world economy. It places youth at the center of learning – putting youth first and allowing them to focus on what matters, connecting with them to support social-emotional development, celebrating who they are and where they are in their lives and providing meaningful experiences that respond to the unique strengths, needs, interests and identities they bring to the Club.
Building on this approach, Youth of the Year helps youth discover and develop their leadership ability by focusing on three essential areas: self, other and community. Youth become leaders who are able to create meaningful change in themselves, in preparation for working in collaboration with others toward the shared goal of making transformative change in their community. In the 21st-century world and workplace, leadership skills such as communication, goal-setting and teamwork are essential for everyone – especially young people preparing to meet the challenges of adolescence and adulthood.
Through the Youth of the Year program, youth develop their strengths in self-leadership, leadership with others and leadership in the community, building a strong foundation for personal growth, collaboration with others, and the ability to take positive action in the world around them. As adults and peers work together, they become allies, sharing ownership and responsibility and contributing their unique strengths toward a goal of creating change. Youth also prepare to meet the workforce challenges of tomorrow by exploring their interests and passions, developing their employability skills and applying their knowledge to real-world experiences.
