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After a year of isolation and disconnection for many teens due to the pandemic, Boys & Girls Clubs of America is bringing teens together in a meaningful way by hosting its first-ever Military Teen Summit. This free event – open to ALL teens – will bring learning and engagement opportunities to both Military-connected and non-Military-connected teens worldwide. The Summit will highlight the unique experiences of Military-connected teens while also focusing on issues that all teens face every day.
"The last year has been a tough one for all teens, both Military and non-Military. The topics we're covering in the Military Teen Summit – from mental health awareness to suicide prevention to diversity, equity and inclusion – were brought forward by our teen planning committee as top issues in their lives," said Jane Rodgers, national vice president of partnerships & growth for Boys & Girls Clubs of America. "It is part of our responsibility as youth advocates to provide a platform for teens to voice their concerns, offer peer-to-peer advice and share solutions and coping mechanisms from experts in the field. We're thankful to have Boys & Girls Clubs of America-affiliated Youth Center teens helping to guide these important conversations."
One of the highlights of the Summit is a townhall discussion on diversity, equity and inclusion (DEI) titled "Elevate. Activate. Lead." This townhall will be moderated by Boys & Girls Clubs of America's DEI Officer, H Walker, and features social justice and youth advocates Justin Simmons, safety for the Denver Broncos; Damaris Lewis, actress, dancer, philanthropist and entrepreneur who is also a member of Boys & Girls Clubs Alumni Hall of Fame; and Dr. Daphane Carter, State Superintendent and Chief Academic Officer for KIPP Texas Public Schools. Two Boys & Girls Clubs of America Military Youth of the Year who grew up as Military-connected teens round out the panel.
The virtual Military Teen Summit runs April 22-24, 2021 through Boys & Girls Clubs of America's youth development website www.MyFuture.net. Though free to participate, registration is required at www.bit.ly/MilitaryTeenSummit21. Once registered, participants will receive instructions on how to access the content which will be made available each day at 10 a.m. in an on-demand format.