On March 7, thousands of Chicagoans turned out at the 2019 Boys & Girls of Chicago’s Youth of the Year Event. Joshua H., a member of the Louis H. Valentine Club for more than 11 years, took home the night’s top honor, Youth of the Year. In the future, Joshua, who's been heavily involved with the club's Passport to Manhood program, hopes to continue working to quash the stigma surrounding emotional expression and masculinity. Check out photos from the evening below.
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Youth of the Year Candidates smiling and posing with one another (Anthony B., Estrella B., James C., Jocelynn J., Joshua H., and Liannah F.)
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Youth of the Year Finalists and judges smiling together before the competition begins
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Youth of the Year 2019 Winner Joshua H.
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Youth of the Year Judges (Michael L. Boykins, Debra Marton, Jabari Saunders, Greg Sleight, Meredith Bluhm-Wolf)
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Youth of the Year Candidates with Mimi LeClair (CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Chicago), Bartlett J. McCartin III (Board Chairman of Boys & Girls of Club of Chicago), Joe Ferraro and William T. Huffman Jr. (Youth of the Year Event Chairs)
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Mimi LeClair (CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Chicago), Bartlett J. McCartin III (Board Chairman of Boys & Girls of Club of Chicago), Joe Ferraro and William T. Huffman Jr. (Youth of the Year Event Chairs)
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Youth of the Year Reception Hall Landscape
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Chicago Police Department Officers & Company (Lt. Wayne Wiberg, P.O Nicole Deluca, Comm. Sean Loughraw, Comm. Steve Chung, Lt. Mark Sedevic, P.O Sabrina King, P.O. Cheryl Clark, P.O Angel Mendez, Sheri Mendez, P.O. Antonio Guereca, Sgt. Karlene Gurtowski)
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Guests: Andrew Armur, Dave Knaus, Jack Pierce
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Guests: Pamela Spikner, Mindy Blandford
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Board Chairman Bartlett J. McCartin III giving opening remarks
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Mimi LeClair (CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Chicago) giving speech
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Youth of the Year Reception Hall
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Alex Maragos (Youth of the Year Master of Ceremonies and NBC 5 News Morning Anchor)
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Youth of the Year Winner announced as Joshua H.
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Youth of the Year Finalists hugging in celebration
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Youth of the Year Winner Joshua H. posing with the award
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Youth of the Year Winner Joshua H. posing with Joe Ferraro and William T. Huffman Jr. (Youth of the Year Event Chairs)
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Youth of the Year Winner Joshua H. posing with 2018 Youth of the Year Winner Cynthia A.
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Youth of the Year Winner Joshua H. posing with Mimi LeClair (CEO of Boys & Girls Club of Chicago) on stage
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Youth of the Year Winner Joshua H. celebrated on stage with confetti
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Local Chicago Boys and Girls Club Members thanking guests for donations
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