This post is part of a “Where Are They Now” series highlighting Youth of the Year winners who have gone on to become the leaders, innovators, and problem-solvers who now shape our world.  

Alexia Lewis has set her sights on being a socio-political global game changer. From working with the U.S. State Department on cultural diplomacy initiatives via virtual federal service, to running a chapter of the nation’s largest youth voter mobilization program on her college campus, the Hampton University student is putting leadership skills she learned at New Jersey’s Boys & Girls Club of Vineland into practice.

“The Club was there every step of the way, providing me with the resources I needed to figure it all out,” says Alexia. “Once I knew what I wanted to do, I decided on a historically black university to launch my trajectory into the socio-political field.”

Alexia focuses her time on contributing to organizations that strive to make progress on critical issues that face the next generation. She was recently named a REAL Change Fellow to advocate for the global eradication of poverty and also served a fellowship and internship for NextGen America. She credits her time at the Club for how well prepared she was for college and has a passion to do whatever it takes to ensure other young people can simply enjoy being a kid and receive the support they need to have a great future.

“Pursuing a post-secondary education is necessary,” says Alexia. “Kids these days have to tackle school and survive at such a pivotal time in our nation where everything – from climate change to the racial wealth gap – can and will affect their futures.”

Alexia graduates next year with a degree in political science and is excited to apply the lessons she learned as 2016 Northeast Youth of the Year to her next act. “I never knew that my dedication to be greater made me a leader,” she says. “Being Youth of the Year showed me my value and proved to me and the world that I can do it. That I am someone.”

Youth of the Year is Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s premier youth leadership program, honoring extraordinary young people and their achievements in leadership, service, academic excellence and leading a healthy lifestyle. Learn more at BGCA.org/YOY.