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This August, Boys & Girls Clubs of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties hosted a powerful two-day Town Hall that put youth voices front and center. Designed and led by teens, the event brought together local leaders, community members, and Club advocates for conversations that matter most to the community and to the next generation. Historically, town halls came together to highlight civic engagement that rooted itself in the foundation of this country. The democratic process exists in rooms where citizens can engage in thoughtful conversations about their future. The Lee Wetherington Boys & Girls Club Teen Room turned into a place where our teens could do exactly that. Public officials were invited to answer questions that affect their community. As couches were swapped out for rows of chairs, the stage became home to the podium and mics. Youth Council teens knew the questions they wanted answers to and were ready to begin day one of Town Hall.
From panel discussions to one-on-one conversations with elected officials, teens took the lead. Vice Mayor Debbie Trice and Representative Fiona McFarland joined to listen and respond to thoughtful questions created by our teens. These discussions gave youth a meaningful platform to share their perspectives on community issues and the future they want to build. Teens took full ownership of the event from creating the agenda, designing the questions, and leading thoughtful panel discussions. By facilitating conversations on the topics that matter most to them, they engaged directly with local leaders. This experience not only amplified youth voices but also showcased their ability to lead with confidence, shape dialogue, and inspire action in our community. “It was such a pleasure to be part of this opportunity, and I’m so grateful to everyone who made it possible. I felt truly empowered being able to ask questions about issues that impact me as a teenager, and most importantly, to be heard and answered directly by leaders with real experience,” says Club teen Elizabeth H. “This reassured me that youth voices matter. I hope we can continue working towards creating a change in our communities and helping others.”
A highlight of the Town Hall was the showcase of Garden for Good, a youth-led initiative addressing food insecurity in Sarasota and DeSoto Counties. Started in January 2025 through Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s Think, Learn, Create Change (TLC) model and supported by a national partnership with Dollar Tree, the project has already donated fresh produce to All Faiths Food Bank and Harvest House. Plans are underway to expand the initiative with a second garden at the Roy McBean Boys & Girls Club in Newtown, a community identified as a food desert. “The Town Hall event allowed teens in our community to directly engage with elected leaders about issues we found to be important. It was great to have the opportunity to take questions about issues we were passionate about directly to elected officials to discuss,” says Youth Council teen, Devdaan L. “Being able to continue finding ways to combat the issues we found that led to building the Garden for Good was amazing and allowed us to take our project to the next level.”
In 2022, more than one in four children in DeSoto County experienced food insecurity. By designing and managing projects like Garden for Good, our teens are not only addressing urgent challenges but also demonstrating the power of youth-led solutions. The Town Hall showcased how advocacy, leadership, and service can come together to create lasting impact. Guided by their own experiences, teens shaped the agenda around issues deeply rooted in the community, ranging from healthcare access and food security to disaster preparedness, youth mental health, housing affordability, workforce development, climate policy, school safety, substance abuse, and transportation. By bringing these topics forward, they proved that young people are not only aware of the challenges their communities face but also ready to lead conversations and drive change. “The Town Hall event allowed teens in our community to directly engage with elected leaders about issues we found to be important. It was great to have the opportunity to take questions about issues we were passionate about directly to elected officials to discuss,” says Youth Council Teen, Devdaan L. “Being able to continue finding ways to combat the issues we found that led to building the Garden for Good was amazing and allowed us to take our project to the next level, says Bowie L. “Boys & Girls Club of Sarasota and DeSoto Counties is very grateful to Representative Fiona McFarland for participating in the Town Hall and engaging directly with Sarasota’s youth. Her visit provided a meaningful and educational experience for all in attendance.”
The success of this Town Hall is a testament to the incredible leadership and vision of our teens. With the support of community leaders and partners like Dollar Tree, our youth are showing that they are not just preparing for the future; they are shaping it right now. Here at the Club, we understand that to empower future leaders, we must position them in places where they are encouraged to take charge. Programs like Youth Council do exactly that. To learn more about Teen Programs, visit https://theclubsdc.org/
