Dachel Martinez

On May 19, 2009 Dachel was chosen as Boys & Girls Clubs New Jersey Youth of the Year from a pool of more than 17,000 teens in the state. She stands out among most members when it comes to leadership, service, and simply caring about the Club and the people who fill its walls.

As President her Club's Keystone, she has been involved in a number of service projects including raising money for Malaria No More, raising funds and participating in AIDS Walk NYC, park cleanups, and teaching younger members table tennis. She also attended the 42nd Annual National Keystone Conference, in Atlanta, GA.

Aside from all of her service, she has participated in nearly every program the Club has to offer, such as Power Hour, CareerLaunch, Club Tech, and the Turning the Table on Violence DJ Program. Dachel is a member of the Club table tennis team that competes on a national level, the Counselor in Training Program where teens who could not participate as campers volunteered as staff.

Dachel is a three-time Youth of the Month winner, a NJ Digital Arts Competition winner in graphic design and music making, and the 2008 Youth of the Year for the Broadway Unit.

She is currently a student at Rutgers University where she is studying to be either a corporate or criminal lawyer.

Club Location: Newark, N.J.
Occupation: Student
Member Since: 2000

Watch 2009 NJ Youth of the Year, Dachel Martinez from the Boys & Girls Club of Newark