At Boys & Girls Clubs of Metropolitan Baltimore, mental health isn’t a moment we recognize once a year—it’s something we see, feel, and respond to every day inside our Clubs.

One of the most encouraging shifts happening across Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Baltimore right now isn’t something that shows up in a dashboard or formal report—it’s showing up in how staff are engaging with one another every day. Since launching our core values campaign, there has been a noticeable change in the way teams are showing up for each other and for young people.

Each year, Youth of the Year is a showcase of what is possible when young people are given the chance to be seen, heard, and supported. Held at our new Baltimore Ravens Boys & Girls Club, the day centered on one important theme: helping young people find and use their voice. Families, staff, and community members gathered to celebrate and hear from the young people at the heart of it all.