We kicked off our first Youth of the Year workshop with curiosity, support, and powerful resources for our upcoming competition! Boys & Girls Clubs of Santa Monica flew in Christina Hadera, a former Club member and Youth of the Year winner, to host Your Story, Your Power, an empowering workshop focused on finding your voice.
She shared parts of her upbringing and history to help members feel comfortable. Within the safe space she created, they began exploring what it means to tell their own stories.
Youth of the Year is a premier, nationally recognized Boys & Girls Clubs leadership program that provides our members with opportunities to gain future-ready skills, share their stories, succeed academically, and compete for scholarships. This program represents the voice of the next generation and empowers participants to develop their leadership voice with the support of dedicated mentors like Christina!
Our next workshop, Dressing for Success, will take place on November 14, 2025. We encourage you to get your members motivated and lean into this opportunity with intention.
Check out our YOY video for more information about the program:
More About Christina
Christina’s journey began at Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Denver, where she was an active member for nine years. During her time at the Club, she participated in softball and Torch Club, and served as Keystone President and Junior Staff. Christina competed in Youth of the Year from middle school through high school, winning at the Club level twice (2007 and 2011). In 2011, she won for the City of Denver and went on to place 2nd at the State competition. Her dedication and leadership earned her a full-ride scholarship to Colorado State University in Fort Collins, CO, where she remained deeply involved on campus.
Christina has carried her commitment to education and leadership throughout her life. She graduated from Colorado State University in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Studies and went on to earn her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership from the University of Denver in 2022.
Professionally, Christina is a Senior Recruiter with Comcast, where she recruits for professional and leadership roles within Residential Sales and Marketing. She brings her passion for networking and talent development into her work, helping individuals find career paths that align with their skills and aspirations. Prior to Comcast, Christina gained valuable experience at the City and County of Denver and Amazon.
Christina remains a proud and active alumni of the Boys & Girls Club community, continuously supporting its mission of empowering young people. She also gives back through her membership in Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. and serves as a board member for Blessed to be a Blessing, a nonprofit that provides educational programs and resources to encourage Denver Public Schools and Aurora Public Schools high school students to study abroad in college.
In her free time, Christina loves traveling the world, exploring new cultures and cuisines, spending quality time with friends and family, and enjoying the outdoors.
