BGCA Youth Advocates Take Their Voices to the Super Bowl

(Left to Right) Terrence, Alexus, and Jivoni standing in front of the Superbowl 2025 Poster (photo credit: BGCA)

This past February, three youth representatives from Boys & Girls Clubs of America attended the Super Bowl LIX, in New Orleans, Louisiana. These teens earned this all-expense-paid trip by showing incredible leadership in their communities.

Getting to the Superbowl

This year, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the NFL created the Inspire Change Badge Challenge. This digital challenge helped teens learn how to be advocates in their communities and participate in community projects through their local Boys & Girls Club.

Over 200 teens participated, but three stood out: Jivoni, Boys & Girls Clubs of Bellevue, Alexus, Boys & Girls Clubs of the Hatchie River Region, and Terrence, Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Atlanta. These teens were selected because of their dedication to promoting mental health, gun violence, and domestic violence awareness.

Meet the Changemakers

Terrence who grew up in foster care and found a home at his Club, where he organized a Q&A with community leaders to discuss the mental health crisis among young people. Jivoni witnessed domestic violence and now helps peers recognize abuse and build healthy relationships, organizing a “Move for Love” bike ride and block party to support the One Love Foundation. Alexus, aiming for safer communities, created a video on gun violence, which she showed to local police leaders. Her work motivated others in her community to work towards change.

During an interview Terrence shared, “being selected for the opportunity means another chance that I get to promote what I stand against, which is gun violence. Now I am able to bring my project that I thought was small onto a much bigger stage.” Terrence created a Mental Triggers program, focused on gun violence, and later expanded it to include mental health. In addition, he organized a Q&A with local leaders to discuss how schools were addressing these issues. He asked, 'You say you're giving us resources, but something's not working. What can we do to help adjust in schools?” Despite being redirected to the police, he continues to push for change.

(Top left) BGCA Spokesperson Jane Rodgers (Bottom Left) Terrence Labonte Postell - named Youth of the Year (Top Right) Scholastic Kid Reporter Faith Nguyen (photo credit: Faith Nguyen).

The Power of Mentorship

Jane Rogers, National Vice President of Partnerships and Growth Officer for BGCA, shared in an interview how the club supports teens in their community efforts. “We are working to create an ecosystem that supports young people. Our clubs work with many institutions to bring everyone together and create opportunities.”

Rogers added that support can vary depending on where the teens live. For example, Terrence works with both large and small companies in metro Atlanta to support these programs. Even in rural areas, local groups help create opportunities for young adults. Rogers also explained how BGCA connects personally with individuals. “Our clubs nationwide offer activities that align with the needs of local communities and youth. We want young people to feel seen and have a safe space to express themselves and connect with trusting adults." The support that the BGCA has for their teens all across the world is great when connecting youth to beneficial projects for their communities. The NFL’s partnership with BGCA has been crucial in amplifying these young advocates' voices.