Mona Dixon boarded her flight to the UK with a clear purpose: to champion young people. Although she was once homeless, she became Boys & Girls Clubs of America’s National Youth of the Year—where WYC founder and CEO Susan Porcaro Goings first met her as a judge. Now a World Youth Clubs Global Ambassador, Mona shared her story at the NABGC Centenary Conference and with students at Southmoor Academy, reflecting on her own start at the Boys & Girls Club of the East Valley in Tempe, Arizona.

From Arizona club kid to global advocate, Mona, who has a doctorate in organizational leadership, is an example of what’s possible when dedication meets purpose. “I’m excited to keep working alongside this global community to empower young people and light the way for their futures,” she says. “The best part is that this is only the beginning.”