Equipping Today’s Teens with Strong Examples of Historic Changemakers

For several years, the Smithsonian and Boys & Girls Clubs of America have collaborated with teens to support learning opportunities that offer space to imagine change in their communities

The Smithsonian is more than just a repository of artifacts, it invites young people into spaces where history, identity, and possibility converge. By partnering with organizations like the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, the Smithsonian is moving the "classroom" into a space where history feels tactile and alive. This shift from passive observation to experiential learning is exactly what can turn a history lesson into a blueprint for meaningful civic agency. It shifts the needle from "This happened" to "I can make this happen." 

Through our collaboration with the Boys & Girls Clubs of America, teens engage directly with stories of changemakers, using these encounters as mirrors, in which teens see their own identities reflected, and windows, in which they can imagine their own potential for impact. As out-of-school-time learning organizations are increasingly recognized as critical developmental spaces, meaningful learning doesn’t have to stop as soon as the school bell rings. In this article, we invited our collaborators at the Boys & Girls Clubs of America to share more about our co-designed approach to encouraging young people to see themselves not just as learners, but as changemakers in shaping a more just and engaged society. 

The Smithsonian and Boys & Girls Clubs of America Learning Exchange  

Beginning in 2024, Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Smithsonian came together during a pivotal moment in our nation’s social landscape. No longer content to watch decisions unfold without them; this generation demands transparency, accountability, and a seat at every table. The Youth Voice Survey—a national tool used by Boys & Girls Clubs of America to understand teens’ needs and perspectives—reflects this shift through insights from 2,927 young people, most of whom are current Club members. Their responses reveal a clear desire for greater autonomy, trust from adults, and a deeper longing to be treated as equals: “We know what is going on in the world, so instead of trying to hide or ‘protect’ us from it, teach us how to stand up to it.”

With more than a century of experience, Boys & Girls Clubs of America create safe, inclusive spaces where young people build identity, purpose, and voice. As the everyday driver of this collaboration, the Smithsonian’s Office of the Under Secretary for Education leads the Institution’s national education strategy, bringing historical expertise, interactive learning tools, and rich content from the nation’s largest network of museums. Together, Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s direct reach to youth and the Smithsonian’s approach to learning have uniquely positioned the partnership to meet the moment. 

Origins of Youth for Unity: Teen Changemakers 

Club teens consistently express strong interest in civic engagement. While the Youth for Unity program supported foundational skill building for younger youth, there remained a need for a teen-specific experience that connected understanding of the past with leadership in the present and future. 

As a direct response to this need, the Smithsonian Office of the Under Secretary for Education and National Museum of American History partnered with Boys & Girls Clubs of America to adapt content from a National Youth Summit the Smithsonian had previously developed, which had centered on a historical case study of Claudette Colvin, a fifteen-year-old civil rights activist who refused to give up her bus seat and later testified in the case that ended segregated busing in Montgomery, Alabama. Her story became the foundation for the Teen Changemakers module, which guides teens to explore their values, learn from Colvin’s example, and identify possible solutions to challenges in their communities. 

Pilot Findings   

Maintaining the core historical artifacts and case study, the  team identified four local Clubs—in Maryland, Tennessee, Illinois, and California—to co-create and pilot the program. The team spent a week at each site, with mornings dedicated to facilitator training and content walkthroughs, and afternoons focused on running sessions, directly engaging teens, gathering feedback, and refining the module with Club staff. Smithsonian educators facilitated live sessions to better understand afterschool learning environments, while Club staff ensured the experience reflected positive youth development in practice. This was true collaborative content creation, shaped by Clubs and guided by teen voice. 

Across the four participating Clubs, 24 teens described the sessions as meaningful, and more than 90% reported learning something new. They also demonstrated greater confidence in helping others, sharing ideas, and a stronger commitment to standing up for what is right. 

Sixteen staff responses echoed this momentum. Facilitators reported feeling motivated and well-prepared, and many shared how impactful it was to see the content resonate with teens. Staff feedback also highlighted opportunities to strengthen the program, including adding more time for discussion, expanding additional examples that reflect diverse and more contemporary youth experiences, and adjusting pacing for different age groups and geographies.

The final Teen Changemakers module was shared with the network of over 5,000 Club sites. To support quality implementation, the Smithsonian Office of the Under Secretary for Education created a set of microlearning videos to support the modules. The Think, Talk, Act! series features Smithsonian educators modeling practical facilitation strategies with Boys & Girls Club teens, followed by brief reflections on how staff can apply these approaches in their own learning spaces.  

Strengthening & Expanding the Learning Experiences

To ensure the work remains relevant, impactful, and accessible, the partnership is gathering additional feedback through surveys and listening sessions with Clubs to understand what has worked well and where there are opportunities for growth in the first module. Brianna Holyk, College and Career Prep Mentor at Boys & Girls Clubs of Southwest Washington, shared that “it’s empowering to know that I am helping teens build their own agency and see themselves as advocates for what they want to see. This experience also changed my thinking and reinforced that teens can make change themselves.” 

These insights, along with feedback from the Boys & Girls Clubs of America National Youth Advisory Committee, are helping inform the development of the second Teen Changemakers module and ensure the content continues to reflect the needs and experiences of the field. 

Building on the first module’s focus on translating values into tangible action, the second module explores the power of storytelling as a tool for change. Storytelling has long served as an avenue to preserve knowledge, share lived experiences, and drive intergenerational change. When paired with this generation’s natural ability to creatively communicate and leverage social media, it becomes a powerful vehicle for youth voice. Through this module, young people learn how teens—past and present—have used storytelling to shape narratives, uplift communities, and develop the skills to tell their own stories. 

Together, these two modules provide a practical framework that helps Clubs use historical case studies to explore the past, presenting teen leaders with moments of positive change. This framework gives staff a clear foundation for supporting youth leadership in their own communities in ways that honor lived experiences and are uplifting. 

Learning From the Past, Leading Forward  

Youth for Unity: Teen Changemakers has shown what’s possible when meaningful history and youth leadership come together. By connecting Claudette Colvin’s story to the lived experiences of today’s young people, the sessions help young people understand themselves and relate to others. It is a reminder that when young people understand the past and are supported in shaping the future, they become powerful advocates for themselves and their communities. 

The partnership between Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Smithsonian shows how cultural expertise paired with strong youth–adult relationships can translate insight into authentic leadership. The organizations help young people build the character and confidence to lead with empathy —proof that when Boys & Girls Clubs of America and the Smithsonian work together, teens rise. 

Gerald D. Smith Jr. | Read More

Gerald D. Smith Jr. is the Lead Education Specialist for Youth Development Programs within the Smithsonian’s Office for the Under Secretary of Education working with museum experts to develop out of school curriculums for programs across the nation. He holds a doctorate in Educational Leadership at Xavier University of Louisiana, with research centered on culturally relevant pedagogy and developing agency among students of color. With over two decades of experience as an educator and leader, Gerald has worked across classrooms, schools, and professional learning networks to design transformative learning experiences. He is a longtime collaborator with Harvard’s Project Zero and the Smithsonian Institution, creating programs that integrate critical thinking, student voice, and real-world problem-solving.

Melissa Alamo | Read More

Melissa Alamo serves as Director of Program Design & Strategy at Boys & Girls Clubs of America, supporting the Character & Leadership portfolio of programs. She has a background in youth development, including college access and postsecondary success, and enjoys spending time with family, friends, and going on walks in nature.

Zakiya Powell | Read More

Zakiya Powell is the Director of Program Activation and Enablement for the Boys & Girls Clubs of America. Powell is a proud Brooklyn native with Caribbean roots and over a decade of experience as an educator and nonprofit leader. She is dedicated to building inclusive, culturally responsive spaces where young people and communities thrive. An engaging speaker and facilitator, she uses her platform to champion human-centered leadership and inspire others to create cultures where people feel seen, valued, and empowered.