2021 Youth of the Year

“T EENS T ALK ”

THURSDAY FEBRUARY 11, 2021 4:00PM - 6:00PM VIRTUAL EVENT ON ZOOM

YOUTH OF THE YEAR SELECTION PROCESS Thank you so much for helping us recognize the outstanding youth of Napa Valley. Judges will be responsible for selecting one of the enclosed candidates as the primary youth representative of our organization. This candidate should be a reflection of the Club’s mission: “To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens ."

Enclosed, you will find information relevant to their selection. A short bio, pictures, and letters of recommendation have been provided to give you an idea of who these children are prior to meeting them.

Additional time has been set aside for judges to meet each candidate for a brief interview session. This will be their opportunity to ask questions and get to know each of our candidates. At the end of this interview the judges will be allowed to confer as a group and will be prompted for their final decision as to which of our three candidates will be the Youth of the Year.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Registration This year’s Youth of the Year Event, like everything else in the time of COVID-19 is a little different. Here is how to register for the participate in this years Youth of the Year Event.

Step 1: Click HERE or follow this link:

HTTPS://US02WEB.ZOOM.US/WEBINAR/REGISTER/WN_S8QIBYZETJWBKD6TMAJY3Q

Step 2: Complete the Registration Page Step 3: Check your email for Event Details with an individual link as identified below.

Tonight’s Event Master of Ceremonies: Opening Remarks: Nominee Introductions: Closing Remarks: Awards Presentation: Judges:

Jaime Gallegos, Boys & Girls Club, Area Director Joshua Sergeson, Boys and Girls Club, Teen Coordinator Joshua Sergeson, Boys and Girls Club, Teen Coordinator Greg Bouillerce, Boys & Girls Club, Executive Director Greg Bouillerce, Boys & Girls Club, Executive Director

Micki Hambro, Friendly Fortuna Family Foundation, President Heather Keffer, Cole’s Chop House, Owner Brett DeLeuze, ZD Wines, President/Owner Claire Stull, Stull Family Foundation, Executive Director Elaine Jones, Jones Family Vineyards, Napa Valley Vintners, St. Helena Hospital Foundation, Napa Valley Community Foundation, Board Member

Event at a glance PROGRAM PART ONE Welcome– Greg Bouillerce Opening Remarks– Jaime Gallegos Youth of the Year Speeches & Interviews: Rudolph B. - “Lost, Now Found” Dareydy R. - “Finding Rhythm” Jahir M - “Developed in the Dark”

15 Minute Intermission PROGRAM PART TWO Closing Remarks– Greg Bouillerce Youth of the Year Presentation

What is Youth of the Year

At the Boys & Girls Club, we believe in the importance of recognizing youth for their personal achievements as a vehicle for inspiration, encouragement and success.

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premiere recognition program for teen Club members promoting service to the Club; community and family; academic success; strong moral character; life goals; and poise

and public speaking ability. The program is designed to foster young people’s character, personal growth and leadership qualities.

Each year, one exceptional Club member that exemplifies The Club’s mission is selected to be the Youth of the Year, serving as an ambassador for Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley as well as a voice for all of our communities young people.

Each nominee has completed three essays on the topics of their Club experience, what matters to them most, and overcoming obstacles. Tonight they will have the opportunity to share their Club journey. One will be selected and advance to the Northern California competition in March.

Our Mission:

To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens.

Thank you to our Sponsors

Last Bottle has been incredibly supportive of our efforts in the Napa Valley. The Pandemic makes everything harder but we can’t express how much easier their support has made our mission when those who need us most have never needed us more.

Thank you to our Sponsors

2016 Yuliana Rojas

Yuliana started attended the Club in the 1st grade.. The Club is where she learned how to speak English, it was where she made friends and the first place she was able to get the help she needed to not only create a future for herself but for her family who immigrated with her at the age of 6. In high school, she was a weekly mentor, helping elementary school students with their reading and writing. Her dedication led her to being named the 2016 Youth of the Year.

2017

Francisco joined the Club in 2015 as a student at Valley Oak Highschool which happened to be located right next door. He first saw the Club as a place to wait before his long bus ride home, but quickly it would go on to mean much more and in his own words a “Haven” for him. He was named the 2017 Youth of the Year and inspired many to Francisco Rojas reconnect with community

2018

Gabriella Silva attended the Club from first grade through middle school and returned her sophomore year as a Teen Mentor. Being a mentor landed her an internship with the Club’s technology center where she used her passion for STEM to help girls like her get more involved. As the 2018 Youth of the Year she inspired others to find success in being their true selves.

Gabriela Silva

Joel Navarro joined the Club in 2006. He represented Keystone as vice president, helped coordinate volunteer projects in the community and led a teen voter committee with senator Mike Thompson. His work led him to the being named a 2019 California state Youth of the Year finalist.

2019 Joel Navarro

2020 Jahir M.

Jahir has been a member of The Napa Clubhouse since the first grade. He participates in everything from soccer, break dancing, Jazz band, and volunteering daily as peer tutor in the teen center. As a Junior he was named our Clubs 2020 Youth of The Year and used his platform to help others break out of the shadows so they too could realize great futures.

Today Yuliana Rojas

Yuliana graduated from Napa High School and went on to attend the University of California Merced where she is pursing a degree in Psychology. Today she is still continuing her journey of perseverance as she is finishing up her bachelors degree and on her way to living out her life long dream of ensuring a bright future for her family.

Today

Francisco graduated from Valley Oak high school a semester early and enrolled part time at the Napa Valley College. He used that time to explore his interests and take classes in audio engineering and graphic design. He is currently living in San Jose and plans to attend San Jose State in the near future where he will pursue a bachelors degree in Francisco Rojas Creative Arts.

Today

Gabriela went on to graduate from New Technology High School. Her journey as club kid came full circle as she took on a role as staff member in our middle school program for the summer. Currently she is enrolled full time at Napa Valley College and works a full time job as she is finishing up her general education with plans to transfer to a 4 year university in pursuit of a medical degree.

Gabriela Silva

Today Joel Navarro

Today Jahir M.

Joel went on to graduate from Napa High school with top honors and was accepted to the University of California San Francisco. He is currently a full time student at the university pursuing a degree in communications. On top of school he recently became a resident dorm advisor on campus and is employed outside of school as a full time employee at Apple Inc.

Jahir was our 2020 Youth of The Year. His positive attitude as leader and voice is still heard as a participant of the Club’s distance learning program. Over the last year he has used his role to help his peers stay safe and connected. He is currently finishing up his senior year and awaiting his college acceptance letters so he can make his decision on where he will be attending next year.

Club 1515

Jahir Medina, age 17

Jahir has been a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs for 11 years now. He is currently a senior at Vintage High School and upon graduation, he plans to continue to pursue a professional soccer career, a 4-year degree at the University of California Los Angeles with a major in Music and Film. Much like the success he has enjoyed as captain on the soccer pitch, he has become a captain in our Club. In 2020, he was awarded the tittle of Youth of The Year and was able to use his platform as a leader to inspire others to come out of the shadows and stand in their own light. Jahir has grown to become one of the most unique and confident individuals at The Club. He uses his confidence to help others feel more confident about themselves. Every day he finds a way to use his strengths to help better someone else’s experience and then, in turn, betters himself by learning from their strengths. His commitment to continuous learning and the unique value of each person he meets, has been a driving factor in his success.

About Jahir

Letter of Recommendation December 15, 2020 To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure that I write this letter recommending Jahir Medina as he pursues the title of Boys and Girls Clubs National Youth of the Year. Jahir has been a member of our organization since the 2nd grade and is currently an active member and Peer Study Mentor for our Teen Center program.

Our organization can say confidently that Jahir has a left a big imprint on the lives of many and is one of the most positive peer mentors we have at the Club. He has developed immensely over the last few years and has become the positive picture of what it means to be a leader.

Through his time at the Club he has gone from being a young boy in a very dark place, to a young man who has found the light by finding personal value in what makes him unique. As the Co-Vice President of Keystone he has volunteered for many causes in the community, like the Crush Challenge bike race for cancer, the annual Halloween carnival, and Southern California college road trips for his Club peers. During the pandemic he orchestrated a virtual scavenger hunt that helped keep many teens in his community connected.

On top of his commitment to the community, he has used his leadership to help our Club by volunteering as a Peer Study Mentor. Every day he finds a way to use his strengths to help others who are struggling and that pushes both him and his peers to excel. He is an avid learning and is deeply committed to helping others achieve their goals.

Jahir’s leadership has helped many in our program step outside of themselves to stand in their own light. I know that through a platform like National Youth of The Year, Yahir will continue to help youth develop and become the positive picture they are meant to be. If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you, Joshua Sergeson Teen Services Coordinator Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Club 1515

Dareydy Rojas Solano, age 15

Dareydy has been a member of The Club for Nine years. She is currently a sophomore at Vintage High school and upon graduation she plans to pursue a 4-year degree at Stanford University. She wants to be a lawyer specializing in family law. Today she is one of the most positive leaders we have at The Club. On a typical day you can find her dancing around the club, leading Keystone Meetings, volunteering for service projects, mentoring elementary school members, helping friends during peer study, and setting up for teen nights. She has had to overcome much adversity, but every time she runs into an obstacle that takes her off beat, she continues to stay committed to finding her rhythm again. She is a two time candidate for Youth of the Year and so it isn't surprising that she was recently recognized as the 2020 Volunteer of The Year

by Heart of Napa Valley. She is was elected Keystone President by her peers. She created her own dance club, and has mentored over 30 elementary school members. She has already accomplished so much in her brief time with the The Club, and we are very excited to see what she does next as her drive and potential makes for a truly inspiring individual.

About Dareydy

Letter of Recommendation December 15, 2020 To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Dareydy Rojas as she pursues the title of Boys and Girls Clubs National Youth of the Year. Dareydy has been a member of our organization since the 2nd grade and is currently an active member and Teen Mentor of our Teen Center program.

Dareydy is one of the most positive influences we have at the Club. Her incredible personal growth over the last year has positioned her as both a leader in the Club and the Napa Community. She came to us as a young girl with the weight of the world on her shoulders. We supper her now as a young woman who actualizes through creativity and courage. Her transformation was sparked by her vision of a community that shares the burden so that individuals can reach their full potential. That Vision dovetails with her member experience at the Teen Center. As the president of Keystone, she has volunteered for many causes in the community, like the Crush Challenge bike race for cancer, the annual Halloween carnival, putting together care packages for troops at Operation with Love From Home.

On top of her commitment to the community and her peers in the Teen Center, she has used her leadership to engage her peers at the Club by designing and teaching a weekly dance class for our elementary and middle school members. Under her leadership, the dance classes allowed over thirty members, with a weekly opportunity to learn routines and creatively express themselves.

The positive relationships she has built along the way have led to a positive culture shift, with many finding their rhythm through her activities at our Club.

Dareydy is committed to improving the emotional health and confidence of the next generation on and off the stage. She believes that true peace comes from finding positive outlets in the midst of obstacles and I am confident that with a platform like National Youth of The Year, she would be able to inspire youth to find their rhythm again.

If you have any questions, please feel free to contact me.

Thank you, Joshua Sergeson Teen Services Coordinator Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Club 1515

Rudolph Barragan, age 18

Rudolph has been a member of the Boys and Girls Clubs since the first grade. He is currently a senior at New Technology High School and upon graduation, plans to pursue his lifelong dream of traveling in addition to attending The Culinary Institute of America. Rudolf’s time at the Club has been formative in that he has left behind the boy who always felt left out to be a leader among his peers and more importantly a leader who seeks out and invests in peers who seem disconnected or out of step. Rudolph is someone you can always count on to show up; a commitment demonstrated in the over 300 hours of service volunteering for projects like cooking for his peers every Friday for Teen Night, creating art showcases with the Di Rosa Museum for Contemporary Arts and even publishing a book in hopes of inspiring the next generation of Club kids to learn from his and his peers experiences at the Club.

We are confident wherever the next chapter takes Rudolph that he will continue to make a positive impact.

About Rudolph

Letter of Recommendation December 15, 2020 To Whom It May Concern: It is with great pleasure that I write this letter of recommendation for Rudolph Barragan as he pursues the title of Boys and Girls Clubs National Youth of the Year.

Over the last four years at the Teen Center, Rudolph has been a positive role model for his peers and our younger members as well. He exemplifies what it means to give back to the community. He Volunteers regularly for causes like The Martin Luther King Day Celebration, putting together care packages for troops with operation with Love form Home, the ZD Wines Crush Challenge, and helping coordinate fundraisers for the Northern California Wildfire relief efforts.

Volunteering in our community has provided Rudolph with a sense of responsibility to pay it forward to the next generation.

With that perspective he has dedicated an incredible amount of time and energy to work with his second home, The Teen Center.

As a leader in Keystone, his service has led him to developing projects that directly address problems confronting his community. What really sets him apart, however, is his resiliency. Every Friday for the last three years, for example, Rudolph has volunteered to help put together teen night events to give his peers an opportunity to come together and participate in something positive. At these events he cooks meals and organizes activities for the 30 teens. Many teens in our community have a hard time finding ways to connect, feeling alone or lost and following a herd of bad choices. His similar experience, has allowed him to connect intimately to his peers and enables them to start trailblazing. He took this initiative one step further by starting an annual Southern California College road trip for his peers at The Club so they could travel, see something new within themselves and realize their vast potential.

Rudolph Barragan is more than deserving of National Youth of the Year. He has transformed from a student who was lost and wandering into an active contributor of society as he leads the way for many to a bright future.

Thank you, Joshua Sergeson Teen Services Coordinator Boys & Girls Clubs of Napa Valley

Thank you to our Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors

Thank you to our Sponsors

SOCO LLC

“To inspire and enable all young people, especially those who need us the most, to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens."

Want to learn more about our program and how you can help? Visit us at www.thepositiveplace.org for schedules, locations, and contact information!