Children’s Aid is extremely proud of its partnership with the Boys & Girls Club of America. Together, we offer programs at four sites that build well-being for our kids in so many different ways. Put another way, we collaborate on challenging our youth to reach new heights.
Perhaps the most towering test is when we ask our teens to apply to be the Youth of the Year. The competition began just weeks ago when four teens from Fannie Lou Hamer Freedom High School, Hope Leadership Academy, and Opportunity Charter School convened at West 125th Street to vie for the title of Children’s Aid Youth of the Year. They had already put in hours of work, writing essays, filling out an intensive application, securing letters of recommendation, and practicing a three-minute speech.
There are two constants from year to year: All the teens are exceptionally driven and accomplished, and the judges have a difficult time making a decision. This year wasn’t any different. In the end, they chose Naseem Haamid, a junior at Fannie Lou, to represent Children’s Aid in the state competition in late May. He’s got several weeks to continue prepping for what will be a busy weekend of interviews and public speaking, but Naseem has what it takes to win the title and go to nationals. Let’s all wish him luck.
