Celebrating the Voice of Richmond’s Youth — Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond

More than 300 friends, family, students, donors and community partners came to celebrate Richmond’s young people on April 10, 2018, at BGCMR LIVE!—the annual celebration of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond.

Before the evening’s programming began, guests milled around the Virginia Museum of History & Culture and enjoyed hors d’oeuvres and refreshments, making new friends and enjoying the company of old ones.

Students set up exhibits to showcase their recent creative work, including stations for handmade jewelry, tribal masks, skateboards and woodworking projects.

As they confidently talked to guests about their projects, Club members spoke with evident pride and joy.

In the theater, guests gathered to hear Ayjyon Depeaza, the 2018 Junior Youth of the Year from the Petersburg Club, give a cold open. Ayjyon boldly delivered his speech without notes, striding across the stage.

“As a kid, you’re always asked, ‘What do you want to be in 10 to 20 years from now?’” he said. “When I get asked that question, only one word comes to mind: success.” He encouraged the audience to consider how all of the boundaries and difficulties we face can drive us to succeed: “Let negative things boost us toward our goal.”

The evening’s program was emceed by Micah “Bam-Bamm” White, a local comedian who served as the coach and mentor for the 2018 Youth of the Year.

Micah’s introduction was followed by a performance from the harp ensemble, composed of members from the Northside and Southside Clubs. When the instructor from the HARPS Foundation came to the podium to introduce the group, she said that two young girls had volunteered backstage to give the introduction instead. Standing on their tiptoes to reach the microphone, the girls happily described the songs with dance-like gestures, and the group proceeded to play a medley of four songs on beautiful wooden harps.

Next, Desiree Wiggins, the 2018 Youth of the Year from the Petersburg Club, spoke of her dream of becoming a social worker. Desiree, a member of the Club for 10 years, shared her thoughts on family, focus and future. “Focusing on my future means speaking things into existence and going for what I want,” she said. “One day, I will use my voice as a voice for others who do not feel they are heard.”

The Petersburg step team, in collaboration with Virginia State University, performed several high-energy and well-choreographed dances for the audience, concluding to raucous applause.

Jasimine Scott, the 2018 Youth of the Year from the Fairfield Court Club, delivered a poem, “The Power Within.” Commanding the room with her memorable presence, she said, “Many teens before me and after me have been told that we are the next generation. But we’re not just the next generation. We are the voice—my voice, your voice, our voice—of tomorrow.”

Following the direction of their instructor, Club members from the Northside and MLK Clubs jumped on stage next to sing and sign in American Sign Language to the song “I Can, I Will, I Must.”

Rodesha Smith, the 2018 Youth of the Year from the Northside Club and the 2018 statewide champion for Youth of the Year, delivered a powerful speech about her personal history and her involvement at the Club.

Rodesha Smith, the 2018 Youth of the Year for the Northside Club and the 2018 Youth of the Year state champion.

After losing her mother, she found encouragement in the community at the Club and brought her middling grades up to the point where she is now: holding a 4.0 grade point average and at the top of her class. “I have overcome difficult obstacles to get where I am,” she said. “Being self-motivated to succeed takes courage, which I learned at the Club. I refuse to be anything but great.”

The 2018 Youth of the Year, performing a rendition of “One Day.”

Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Richmond President and CEO Todd McFarlane closed the evening with a few remarks and introduced the Youth of the Year, who performed a powerful rendition of the song “One Day.”

As guests filed out of the theater, Club members and staff handed out colorful rocks that the students had painted with encouraging messages. The rocks, tokens of gratitude for a celebratory night, were intended to be hidden for someone else to find—spreading the warmth and inspiration from LIVE! out into the broader Richmond community.

Thank you to our sponsors: Altria, Bon Secours, Genworth, Aetna and Lowe, Brockenbrough & Company. All photos by Jaclyn Brown.