Aundre Smith with Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston named Youth Ambassador by the Afterschool Alliance

Joins the 2020-21 Youth Ambassador class in advocating for strong afterschool programs

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, (BGCGH) announces that Aundre Smith, a member of the Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston, has been named a 2020-2021 Youth Ambassador by the Afterschool Alliance in Washington, D.C. Photo credit: Cheryl Chatman, Johnny Mitchell Club, Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston.

Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, (BGCGH) announces that Aundre Smith, a member of the Johnny Mitchell Club in Galveston, has been named a 2020-2021 Youth Ambassador by the Afterschool Alliance in Washington, D.C. Smith is 16 and a sophomore at Galveston Ball High School. The Alliance selects qualified teens from organizations around the nation annually and then provides training, technical support and a stipend for their Ambassadorial activities throughout the school year.

As a 2020-2021 Youth Ambassador, Smith and his class will receive advocacy training and participate in monthly calls in preparation for the “Afterschool for All Challenge” in person Apr. 12 – 14, 2021 in Washington, D.C. (pending Covid-19 restrictions). The Youth Ambassadors will complete a series of assignments to better understand the national afterschool field and how to tell their afterschool story, culminating with meeting their representatives and giving remarks on Capitol Hill during the Challenge.

To kick things off in a big way, Smith participated in the Afterschool Alliance’s Youth Town Hall via Zoom on the evening of Oct. 22, along with other ambassadors from various organizations around the country. The teens, including Smith, engaged in substantive discussions about key issues facing youth today by sharing their thoughts and opinions during the session.

“A huge congratulations to Aundre Smith for being selected as a member of the Afterschool Alliance’s 2020-2021 Youth Ambassadors cohort,” says Jenna Courtney, Executive Director of Austin-based TXPOST (Texas Partnership for Out of School Time, a partner with BGCGH). “As we continue to navigate difficult and ever-changing times, it is more important than ever to trust our youth and listen to their voices. I’m excited to see the powerful work of Aundre and his peer ambassadors this year and thrilled to have Texas so well represented.”

“Honestly, I was shocked when I was told that I was chosen as The Youth Ambassador, being a Youth Ambassador had boosted my self-confidence,” says Smith. “I once was afraid to speak in public, but this program is teaching me how to voice my opinions and stand firm on the things I believe in.”

To expand support for quality afterschool programs, the Afterschool Alliance works with agencies, elected officials, business, 50 state afterschool networks, community leaders and program providers across the nation. The organization is in touch with more than 25,000 afterschool program partners and its publications reach more than 65,000 interested individuals every month.

“This recognition of Aundre and his exemplary leadership by the Afterschool Alliance validates Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston’s commitment to provide the highest quality afterschool programming for area youth,” says Kevin Hattery, BGCGH President and CEO. “Many of our Club members lag behind due to educational and social disparities. Our afterschool programs help to close this gap and prepare them for success beyond high school.”

To learn more about Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Houston, please visit www.bgcgh.org.