Lafayette, LA – Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana received a Champion of Youth award from Boys & Girls Clubs of America for their advocacy on behalf of Acadiana’s youth.
“Clubs like ours have a unique role as community leaders in providing valuable afterschool programs to our community’s youth that empower them to achieve great futures,” said Edward Bienvenu, Board Chair of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. “We are wholly committed to raising the visibility of the needs of the youth in our community, especially the ones who need us most, and show what we can accomplish with the support of our elected officials and our community.”
Our Clubs elevated teen voices through in-Club and out-of-Club Teen Town Halls, creating safe, youth-led spaces for open conversations around mental health, school stress, and community challenges while engaging both Club members and non-members to broaden impact. Building on this momentum, teens traveled to Washington, DC to advocate for youth mental health, meeting with policymakers to share personal experiences and community needs, gain hands-on civic education, and see the real power of their voices in action, returning home as confident leaders and mental health ambassadors in their schools and communities.
The Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Club Advocacy Engagement Recognition Program recognizes the advocacy work that Boys & Girls Clubs do every day, with an emphasis on impact, creativity and innovation. The program consists of three tiers for Clubs: Advocate (first 50% of Clubs), Hero (next 40% of Clubs) and Champion (top 10% of Clubs). Clubs receive points for impactful engagements, and those points determine which Tier a Club is placed.
“Boys & Girls Clubs champion opportunities for all youth, equipping young people with the experiences and tools they need to succeed,” said Rhyan Wheeler, CEO & President of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. “Our advocacy isn’t just a one-day event. We are raising our voices every single day, to ensure top issues and solutions impacting young people are prioritized in our community, our state and at the national level.”
About Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana
This year marks the 56th anniversary of Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana. Boys & Girls Clubs of Acadiana operates under a mission to empower all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, and responsible citizens. Serving youth in 8 different locations, Boys & Girls Clubs provide opportunities through after school programs and summer camps with activities focusing on Academic Success, Healthy Lifestyles & Habits, and Good Character & Leadership.
If interested in supporting the Boys & Girls Club, visit www.bgcacadiana.com/donate or call 337-268-9555.
About Boys & Girls Clubs of America
For over 160 years, Boys & Girls Clubs of America (BGCA.org) has provided a safe place for kids and teens to learn and grow. Clubs offer caring adult mentors, fun and friendship, and high-impact youth development programs daily during critical non-school hours. Boys & Girls Club programming promotes academic success, good character and leadership, and healthy lifestyles. More than 5,500 Clubs serve over 4.2 million young people through Club membership and community outreach. Clubs are in cities, towns, public housing and on Native lands throughout the country, and serve military families in BGCA-affiliated Youth Centers on U.S. military installations worldwide. National headquarters are in Atlanta. Learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of America on Facebook and X.
