JACKSONVILLE, FLa. – The Boy’s & Girls Clubs of America’s 2024 National Youth of the Year and Jacksonville student received a brand-new car for his achievements.
Nico Flowers began at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeast Florida. His passion and leadership earned him the 2024 Southeast Region Youth of the Year and ultimately being awarded National Youth of the Year.
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He also went to Edward H. White High School.
Flowers met former President Joe Biden in the Oval Office and represented Boys & Girls Club members nationwide and shared his inspiring story.
“I didn’t know what I wanted to do in life,” Flowers said. “I thought I was defined by things I went through being a homeless kid and dealing with a lot of domestic violence at home.”
He said being in Boys & Girls Club showed him that he could be whoever he wanted to be.
“I feel like I’m a walking testimony even now, being 18 years old in high school, having met the president and having opportunities to get a free car, you could turn it around in a matter of four years,” Flowers said.
Jimmie Starkes is the unit director at Edward H. White High School’s Boys and Girls Club. He talked about some of the work that earned Flowers the award.
“One of the things he started at Ed White was the barber shop...it wasn’t just an opportunity for him to cut hair, but also talk about mental health with the students. ”He inspired those kids to come to the Boys and Girls of Northeast Florida. It really changed their lives,” Starkes said.
His mother, Dajuan Flowers, talked about how proud she is of her son’s accomplishments.
“Words can’t even express, I’m not a speechless type person, but like every time he achieves something, I can say I’m 100% proud, 1,000% proud...I’m more excited to see the man he’s becoming,” Dajuan Flowers
He also threw out a ceremonial first pitch at the World Series and delivered the First DUUUVAL during a Jaguars game.
