New data from The Trevor Project on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health shines a light on why Pride is still important, plus resources from BGCA and others to support your work.
New Data on LGBTQ Youth Mental Health And What We Must Do
Supporting Black LGBTQ+ Youth
The below article is revised from a resource on TheTrevorProject.org by Dr. Tia Dole, the organization’s Chief Clinical Operations Officer. For 160 years, the mission of Boys & Girls Clubs of America has been to enable all young people, especially those who need us most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens. As we… Continue Reading →
Creating Community Partnerships to Support LGBTQ Youth
Today’s post is from Rachel Greene-Wilber of the Youth Trends team here at BGCA. As Boys & Girls Clubs, we strive to promote inclusive environments. This week, we are highlighting how establishing community partnerships can advance that goal and improve the experience of our Club members. The Komatke Boys & Girls Club, located in the… Continue Reading →
Creating Safer Spaces for LGBTQ Youth
Today’s post comes from BGCA’s Youth Program Design & Trends Team. June is for warm weather, summer Club activities and LGBTQ Pride Month! In celebrating Pride Month, we are thrilled to partner with GLSEN in supporting the 16% of Club teens who identify as Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transexual, or Questioning (LGBTQ). GLSEN is the leading… Continue Reading →
Webinar: Supporting LGBTQ Youth
This month’s Culture of Wellness Webinar is on supporting LGBTQ youth in your Club. Here’s the description: Boys & Girls Clubs have a responsibility to provide a safe, positive and inclusive environment for ALL youth, regardless of sexual orientation, gender identity, or gender expression. Join us for tips and best practices on creating an inclusive… Continue Reading →
TikTok in the News: What Youth Development Needs to Know
The social media app TikTok has been making headlines. What is it and why does it matter?
Four Resources to Set Your Club Up For Success in 2023
Level up in 2023 with these four game-changing resources from BGCA.
Creating Club Experiences Where Trans Youth are Expected, Respected, and Connected
Learn more about creating safe afterschool environments where trans youth can thrive PLUS learn how Tier 2 National Trainers can be entered to win $500 for completing the new LGTBQ+ specialization.
Five Issues Teens Care About in 2022
Teens have a lot on their minds, including these five topics chosen by the 2022 Keystone Conference Steering Committee.
NYOI 2021: The Club Experience During a Pandemic
Every year, we survey youth to learn about their Club Experience. Find out what we heard in 2021 and what questions it might raise for your Club in this new ClubX Blog post.
Supporting Trans and Nonbinary Youth Amidst Anti-Trans Legislation
A wave of state-level legislation around the rights of transgender youth is making headlines. Here’s what is happening, why it is so important, and what we can do.
Reacting vs. Responding When Hateful Words Are Said
Advice from one Boys & Girls Club on responding to discriminatory speech in a way that teaches youth how to change their behavior and value diversity in out-of-school time spaces.
Racial Trauma, Healing, and Youth Advocacy
The high-profile violence against Black Americans during interactions with police continue to occur. When it occurs in our local communities, youth may be directly impacted. Increasingly, the trauma has expanded across the country with social media and news coverage. Either way, part of our role as supportive youth development professionals is to help youth to… Continue Reading →
Three Steps to Becoming a Youth Advocate
We are SO EXCITED for the 2020 National Virtual Keystone Conference! To get us motivated BGCA’s Senior Director of Programs Val Killebrew is here to give us guidance on how to help youth take action about what they are passionate about. Youth of America are purpose driven and motivated to act on causes they believe… Continue Reading →
Reflecting on Pride
This post was written by BGCA staff Kate Endries and Clarke Hill, with contributions from Jennifer Bateman and Heather Campbell In the United States, June is well known as Pride Month and is dedicated to celebrating Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) identifying individuals. Parades, festivals, and celebrations across the nation are devoted to… Continue Reading →
7 Things to Consider About Teens and Virtual Club
This post is part of our special series on the Coronavirus outbreak. One of the most common questions being asked about virtual programming right now is “What do I do with teens?” And there isn’t a simple answer. Teen programming has always been opt-in for many of our members, but that is true now more than ever. As you make your program plans,… Continue Reading →
Club Story: Whatever It Takes To Be Inclusive
Continuing the celebration of Pride in our Movement, we are proud to share this post from Erin Wigley, Education Director at the Fort Craig Club of Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley. She is sharing her personal experience as a queer woman, keeping our youth safe, and ways in which we can make… Continue Reading →
Club Stories: Pride in Our Movement
June is here and it’s time to celebrate! In the United States, June became the month to celebrate Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender and Queer (LGBTQ) Pride Month to honor the 1969 Stonewall riots in Manhattan. 2019 marks the fiftieth anniversary of the uprising that played a pivotal role in human rights progression within the United… Continue Reading →
16 Books and Movies Featuring Women in STEM – With Discussion Questions!
We are celebrating the International Day of Women and Girls in Science on the ClubX Blog! Be sure to read Part 1 of this series for information on the BGCA STEM Challenge. Get those prizes! STEM can be intimidating for adults, let alone young girls. But when it’s presented in an approachable way, it’s much… Continue Reading →
2018 Year in Review
2018! WHAT A YEAR! It has been a GREAT year for Boys & Girls Clubs across the Movement, and it has been an INCREDIBLE year for the ClubX Blog! This is our first full calendar year, and I’ve been so excited for all the support. So how did the year end up looking? I MADE… Continue Reading →
Runaway Prevention: Why Youth Run and What We Can Do
November is CHOCK-FULL of awareness campaigns, but one of them is of particular note for Boys & Girls Club staff. National Runaway Prevention Month is a good time (though it shouldn’t be the only time!) to stop and learn about the issue of youth who run away from home, and how Clubs can play an… Continue Reading →
Cyberbullying: Warning Signs and Resources for Prevention
BGCA’s Youth Trends team is at it again with this mashup of information for October’s National Bullying Prevention Month AND Cybersafety Month. We know young people spend A LOT on time online and on social media. Approximately 95% of teens have access to a smartphone, and 45% say they are online ‘almost constantly’. YouTube, Instagram,… Continue Reading →
Supporting Youth Coming Out
Today we are featuring an excerpt from BGCA’s Serving LGBTQ Youth Toolkit here on the ClubX Blog. For the full toolkit and other resources, visit BGCA.net. Coming out is when any person reveals an aspect of their identity to another person or a group of people. An LGBTQ individual must choose if they will come… Continue Reading →
What Clubs Can Do to Prevent Youth Suicide
This week the ClubX Blog and the Youth Trends team are marking National Suicide Prevention Week. Be sure to check out the accompanying Club Story for more guidance. If you or someone you know is in need of support, seek help immediately. You can call the free, confidential National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK (8255)… Continue Reading →
