For young people, having someone who consistently shows up, listens, and provides guidance can make a lasting difference. That belief is at the heart of Talented Teen Club, a Palm Beach County nonprofit dedicated to reaching, teaching, guiding, and empowering underserved middle and high school students.
On a recent episode of The Gold Standard Radio Show, GOLDLAW Founder and CEO Craig Goldenfarb sat down with Shawn Ho-Hing King, founder and CEO of Talented Teen Club, to discuss the organization’s work, the experiences that inspired her to create it, and why mentorship remains so important for the next generation.
Reaching Young People Throughout Palm Beach County
Talented Teen Club was founded in 2005 and today serves approximately 1,200 young people annually throughout Palm Beach County.
With five full-time employees and 39 community mentors, the organization works primarily with students attending Title I middle and high schools. Its mission extends beyond any single activity or program. Instead, Talented Teen Club takes a “whole child” approach designed to help young people develop confidence, practical skills, leadership abilities, and relationships with adults who are invested in their futures.
During their conversation, Shawn tells Craig that what many young people need is a mentor willing to “do life with them”—someone who is present not just for a single event or lesson, but throughout the challenges and milestones of growing up.
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Building Leadership, Confidence, and Life Skills
Talented Teen Club offers several programs designed to address different aspects of youth development.
Through its PUSH Leadership Academy, students learn about mentorship, leadership, entrepreneurship, and sportsmanship. The organization also offers a track and field program along with youth cosmetology and life-skills programming.
For Shawn, teaching a skill is only part of the equation. Programs also address areas such as mental well-being, personal hygiene, professional attire, etiquette, and self-esteem.
The organization’s Hygiene Store supports that mission by providing young people with “Empowerment Boxes” containing hygiene products and other tools intended to help them feel prepared and confident.
Together, these initiatives are designed to help students recognize their abilities and begin thinking about how those abilities can create opportunities for themselves and their families.
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Turning Personal Hardship Into a Mission to Serve
Shawn’s commitment to young people is deeply connected to her own story.
She lost her mother at age 10 and later experienced difficult periods in adulthood while navigating a divorce and building a career in the beauty industry. During that time, she saw firsthand how closely self-esteem could be connected to a person’s ability to move forward.
Community service became an important part of her own journey.
By volunteering and helping others, Shawn found a renewed sense of purpose. That experience eventually helped inspire her to establish Talented Teen Club in 2005 and create the kind of support system she believed young people needed.
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The Importance of Mentors Who Show Up
One of the strongest themes of Craig and Shawn’s conversation is the importance of simply being present for young people.
That applies to mentors, but Shawn also has a message for parents: show up.
Careers and other responsibilities can demand significant time and attention, but childhood offers a limited window for parents and other trusted adults to make an impact. When families need additional support, community organizations and mentors can help fill gaps and provide young people with another positive influence in their lives.
Talented Teen Club invites adults from a variety of professional and personal backgrounds to become mentors. Prospective mentors can apply through the organization, complete an interview and background check, and work with the team to develop a mentoring plan based on their skills and experience.
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Planting Seeds for the Future
As Talented Teen Club celebrates its 21st anniversary, the organization is looking toward its next chapter through its “Planting Seeds Start Here” campaign. The campaign aims to raise $21,000 in 21 days, providing additional support for the organization’s work with young people throughout Palm Beach County. During the episode, Craig committed $1,000 to the campaign, helping support Talented Teen Club as it continues expanding its impact in the community.
Shawn’s conversation with Craig is a reminder that investing in young people can take many forms, from teaching practical skills and building confidence to providing something as simple and important as a trusted adult who consistently shows up.
To learn more about Talented Teen Club, support its programs, or apply to become a community mentor, visit talentedteenclub.org or call 561-649-1234.
