When Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities (BGCTC) teen specialists introduced a new “Changemaker Challenge” project to Club teens earlier this year, they were prepared to hear about some very creative and innovative projects as a result. Youth voice and advocacy is a core component of teen programming at the Club, and our teens bring great passion and drive into building these skills. The challenge put forth to teens was to identify a social issue that sparks their passion, educate themselves on their chosen issue, and then develop a project that can actively drive change in their communities.
Teens from nine Boys & Girls Clubs across the Twin Cities participated in the Changemaker Challenge project. The resulting projects were indeed impressive, but what was most notable was the common theme that came through—half of the teams’ projects were addressing the mental health of young people and members of the communities in which they live. Even more striking is that three of the mental health projects are led by teen boys, who are typically far less likely to talk about and reach out for mental health support. Their experiences connected to mental health challenges is unique, and societal expectations and stigma often weigh heavy to keep these challenges to themselves.
Not only are the projects creating change and breaking barriers, they are also impacting diverse cultures and communities across the Twin Cities.
Kalvin Vang, a senior at the East Side Boys & Girls Club and this year’s BGCTC Youth of the Year award recipient, participated in the challenge with fellow senior Club member Keng-Cha Xiong and other East Side teens. Their project “Mindfit” was designed to bring awareness to mental health needs and provide opportunities for youth and community members to feel safe and heard. The project has involved bringing in guest speakers and partners to provide therapeutic activities and bring awareness to resources that are available in the community. “I learned that a lot of us have a passion for mental health,” says Kalvin. “I know that it is an issue that a lot of youth struggle with but don’t talk about it.”
Amerin Chamberlain, a senior at the Little Earth Boys & Girls Club, teamed with Little Earth teens and an Indigenous filmmaker to create a mental health/mental wellness documentary to foster dialogue and discussion with other teens in the Little Earth Community. The documentary will be premiering soon.
Eythan Israel, a junior at the Jerry Gamble Boys & Girls Club, is working alongside fellow Jerry Gamble teens to lift youth voice and community voice. Club-hosted listening sessions provide a platform for teens and adults to openly discuss personal and community challenges to better support each other and work toward solutions. Jerry Gamble teens designed “I Have a Voice” t-shirts promoting their community project.
Club teens are increasingly aware of the devastating impact of mental health challenges and are eager to be changemakers to create safe and supportive environments where everyone has access to the resources they need to be healthy. This July, Kalvin, Keng-Cha, Amerin, and Eythan will travel with BGCTC staff to Washington, D.C., where they will represent Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities and have the opportunity to meet with legislators to advocate for increased mental health resources for teens across the nation.
Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of the Twin Cities at boysandgirls.org
