Image Courtesy of BGCGTC
Boys & Girls Clubs names Mansfield’s Ja’Miyah G. the 2025 Youth of the Year.
In Fort Worth and across Tarrant County, there’s a quiet revolution happening. It’s not being led by politicians or influencers, but by teenagers in sneakers, supported by a team of adults who believe that advocacy isn’t just a skill — it’s a responsibility.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County (BGCGTC) was recently honored with the “Hero for Youth Award” by the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. The national recognition is awarded to Clubs that rank among the top 50 percent nationwide for their work in youth advocacy. It’s not a trophy for the shelf. It’s a sign that something is working.
That “something” is a focused, intentional push to give young people meaningful opportunities to speak up — and be taken seriously. From the halls of Congress to community boardrooms, BGCGTC has made youth voice a priority. In the past year alone, Club teens and leaders participated in the Keystone Conference, the Summit for America’s Youth in Washington, D.C., and the National Days of Advocacy — annual events designed to connect youth with lawmakers and offer a real-time civics lesson you can’t get in a classroom.
For 2025 Youth of the Year honoree Ja’Miyah G., the experience was transformative.
“I traveled to Washington, D.C., at 16 years old, talking to senators and advocating for a Club that has done more for me than I can ask for,” she said. “That experience taught me I can actually do something to affect change.”
Courtesy Image
The Keystone Conference, a global leadership event for teens, brought together thousands of young people to discuss community service, career development, and personal growth. The Summit for America’s Youth gave them a national platform. And the National Days of Advocacy put them face to face with lawmakers, where they spoke candidly about mental health access, education equity, and support systems for teens.
Daphne Barlow Stigliano, president and CEO of BGCGTC, sees the award as validation — not just of the work being done, but of the direction the organization is heading.
“Our job is to equip youth with the experiences and tools they need to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens,” she said. “This award shines a light on what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”
That community includes the 76,400 young people served by BGCGTC last year — a record-breaking number. Services range from academic support and college prep to mental health resources and mobile programming that meets families where they are. It’s a holistic approach that understands life doesn’t happen in silos — and neither does youth development.
And while the stats are impressive, the stories carry the real weight. Like Ja’Miyah’s. Like those of teens who return to the Club not just as alumni, but as mentors, ready to lead the next generation.
This isn’t just a story about an award. It’s about a local organization treating youth like the leaders they are — and helping them realize their own capacity to shape the future.
Because when teens are trusted, supported, and given the floor, they don’t just rise to the occasion.
They raise the bar.
Learn more about the Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Tarrant County at bgcgreatertarrant.org.
