Boys and Girls Club of Broward County April Club Highlights

Club Highlights

Empowering Futures Through Annual Career Day

Our BGCBC Annual Career Day engaged 160 teens in a dynamic experience focused on career exposure, exploration, and meaningful connections with industry professionals. Through interactive stations and real-world conversations, participants gained insight into a variety of career pathways while building confidence in their future goals. The event was designed to inspire our teens to explore both immediate workforce opportunities and long-term college and career options. We extend our gratitude to American Heritage in Plantation, FL, whose support and generous hosting made this event possible.

Our teens also completed a post-event survey where they selected a “Pathway of the Day,” helping them reflect on which career best fit their interests in industries such as law, media, aviation, and culinary.

Total Teens Attended: 160
Total Professionals/Speakers: 20+
Speaker: Stichiz from 103.5 the Beat

Total Teens Attended: 160
Total Professionals/Speakers: 20+
Speaker: Stichiz from 103.5 the Beat

Moments That Matter:

We provided free professional attire to our teens, helping them confidently prepare for interviews, internships, and career success.

Participating Organizations & Career Stations

RealEdge Labs
JetBlue
The Florida Bar – Young Lawyers Division
Fifth Third Bank
Dade County Federal Credit Union
Marine Industries Association of South Florida
Bank of America
Career Closet
1SalonLife
Culinary
Synergy
Xanadu Academy
Plantation Fire Department
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Dr. Hans Dorval
Old Navy
Pollo Tropical
BGCBC People & Culture Department
BGCBC Aquatics Department

Moments That Matter:

We provided free professional attire to our teens, helping them confidently prepare for interviews, internships, and career success.

Participating Organizations & Career Stations

RealEdge Labs
JetBlue
The Florida Bar – Young Lawyers Division
Fifth Third Bank
Dade County Federal Credit Union
Marine Industries Association of South Florida
Bank of America
Career Closet
1SalonLife
Culinary
Synergy
Xanadu Academy
Plantation Fire Department
Broward Center for the Performing Arts
Dr. Hans Dorval
Old Navy
Pollo Tropical
BGCBC People & Culture Department
BGCBC Aquatics Department

Jakeclaude M:
Youth of the Year State Finalist

We would like to congratulate Jakeclaude M. on being selected as a 2026 Florida Youth of the Year Finalist.

We are incredibly proud of him for this outstanding achievement. His hard work, dedication, and growth throughout this journey have truly set him apart. Watching him step into his voice and represent our organization with confidence has been inspiring.

This moment is well deserved, and we are excited to see all that he will accomplish next.

Welcoming Christopher M. Barnett
into The BGCBC Hall of Fame

Christopher M. Barnett has been inducted into Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County’s Alumni Hall of Fame, an honor recognized during the 2026 Today’s Youth, Tomorrow’s Leaders event presented by ABA Centers in Fort Lauderdale, Florida. The honor reflects both his personal journey as a former “Club Kid” and his continued commitment to creating opportunity for young people across Broward County.

For Barnett, the recognition is especially meaningful because of the role the Lauderhill Boys & Girls Club played in his early life. It gave him structure, mentorship, encouragement, and a sense of belonging during his formative years. Those experiences helped shape his confidence, work ethic, and belief in the power of community. As Barnett said, “It’s our family’s goal to preserve generational principles of humanity. As a child, the Club was that sense of humanity for me, before I even knew what that meant.”

FAMU Spring Preview Trip

Recently, Delanie, Ben, Ania, and Marlee, all current Youth of the Year participants, proudly represented us while attending the FAMU Spring Preview Trip!

During the trip, they toured the campus, connected with students and staff, and gained valuable insight into academic programs, student life and the college admissions process.

For our Teens, this visit was more than just a college campus tour. Instead, it was an experience full of culture, pride, belonging and possibility!
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“The trip was a very fun experience, especially the bus ride on the way there and back. We learned a lot of things and got to see the nice landscape of FAMU as we were touring some of the buildings. We were presented with various types of information such as the different programs/majors FAMU has to offer, more about the college I’m going into (CSSAH), dorm life, and which buildings to go to for certain things. I am choosing FAMU because of the environment and the culture that it embodies. Going to this university would constantly remind me what an honor it is to be a black student and would give me such a strong sense of belonging I wouldn’t find anywhere else.”

–Marlee (attending FAMU this Fall)

“FAMU was definitely an unforgettable experience. From touring the dorms to hearing the Marching 100 perform, everything just felt real and exciting. What stood out to me the most is how much they embrace creativity and individuality—you can tell it’s a place where people are free to be themselves. That’s a big reason why I’m choosing FAMU after BC.”

–Ben (attending FAMU after Broward College)

“The trip was amazing! I learned so much about not only my future major, but about FAMU and all of the opportunities waiting for me. What made me so captivated about FAMU was their spirit. They carry the title of being a student, professor, alumni etc with such pride showing just how much this school means to them and how much it has changed their lives. So much so, that at the end of our psychology presentation an alumni who was attending the tour with his wife and children went out of his way to share his experience with FAMU and advised us to come here. Telling us a little about his story and how if it wasn’t for FAMU he would’ve been in a horrible place in life. And it really moved me because I now know people don’t show this much pride and joy when it comes to FAMU for no reason. This school changes lives, and gives purpose to people all over and I hope to be one of those people in the upcoming years.”

–Delanie (attending FAMU after Broward College)
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Huge shoutout to the FAMU National Alumni Association (Broward County Chapter) for this wonderful opportunity! Thanks to you, we can’t wait to see our Teens thrive in the years to come.

Impact Health Sharing

Thank you, Phil and Angela Chrysler of Impact Health Sharing, for your generous support of the 2026 BGCBC Youth of the Year program. Your commitment to empowering young people through scholarship opportunities is truly meaningful and deeply appreciated. Because of your generosity, our youth are better equipped to pursue their goals and build a brighter future.

Gary Wendt: Teen Center Highlight

At BGCBC, we empower our Club members and teens to pursue what excites and inspires them. Herjada N., 16, from our Gary Wendt Teen Center, opens up about her creative journey and answers the question, “What inspires you as a poet?”

I was inspired to become a poet because writing is my safe place. In my latest poem, I reflected on how powerful a community can be. At first, I felt like one person could not really make a difference. Sometimes it feels like the world is too big for just one voice.

However, I noticed how people come together during difficult times. Friends support each other when they are struggling, and families stay strong and never give up on one another. One person may feel small alone, but when many people stand together, their voices become louder and more powerful.

That realization inspired me to write. My hope is that through my words, I can make a meaningful and positive impact in my community and at my club.

General’s Club Gathering: Honoring Doug Cady

Please join us in honoring our 2026 General of the Year, Doug Cady, President of AA Advance Air, Inc.

Doug has not only been a loyal 5 Star General Member, since 2009. He is also a “Club kid,” spending his formative years at the Kalamazoo Boys Club in Michigan.

The AA Advance Air, Inc. team’s continuous involvement in our Annual Generals Construction Career Day has had a tremendous effect on our BGCBC Club Members as well- exposing them to the vast amount of careers in the Trade Industry.

We thank Doug & his team over at AA Advance Air, Inc. for their unwavering commitment to our youth.

Teen Takeover: Exploring Career Pathways!

Ten of our teens from our Fred DeLuca Teen Center spent a day exploring career pathways with the City of Fort Lauderdale. Through hands-on experiences in IT, Fire, Police, and Strategic Communications, our youth saw firsthand what their futures could look like.

The impact was immediate:

3 of our teens have joined the Fort Lauderdale Police Explorers Program.
1 graduating teen was offered a position with the city’s IT Department.

A huge thank you to A huge thank you to Commissioner Ben Sorensen, Vicki Gargano, and Nicole Archie from the City’s HR team for making these life-changing connections possible. We are proud to partner with leaders who invest in the next generation.

Parenting in the Digital Age

We had a great turnout at our Lauderhill Club for our “Parenting in the Digital Age” Workshop!

Families came together to learn practical tools for navigating social media, online safety, screen time and exploring ways to healthily communicate in today’s tech-driven world.

We are proud to equip parents and caregivers with the tools and knowledge needed to help our youth thrive on and offline.

Huge shoutout to Club Director of our Lauderhill Club Nicole Carter for hosting us, as well as our dynamic Life & Resiliency team, and Brenden Hojara, our Marketing Committee Chairperson, for introducing practical strategies to navigate this ever-evolving digital age. Thank you to everyone who joined the conversation and for those who continue to show up for our Club members in every space that matters.

“FLY Like a Girl” Experience

Twenty of our girl Club members, ages 10–14, had an incredible opportunity to soar with JetBlue through the “FLY Like a Girl” experience. They explored the world of aviation, gaining insight into the many careers that exist. This program encourages girls to dream big and see themselves in roles that break barriers. Thank you JetBlue!

What is GenYOU?

GenYOU is a leadership and professional networking here at BGCBC. It’s designed for young professionals, community leaders and Club alumni who want to:

Give back
Grow professionally
Connect with like-minded changemakers
Volunteer and make an impact
Help with fundraising

Our most recent GenYOU Social Event at Rooftop @ 1W1LO was our biggest yet! Thanks to everyone who came out!

April Work Anniversaries

Please join us to congratulate our Boys & Girls Clubs of Broward County April Work Anniversaries! These individuals have shown dedication, disposition, and passion in all they do for BGCBC.
Thank you, Happy Anniversary!