As We Move Toward GEN250

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When I founded Club Stride, I believed deeply that young people should not have to wait until adulthood to be seen, heard, or taken seriously. Their ideas, questions, concerns, creativity, and lived experiences already tell us something important about the communities we are building — and the communities we are leaving behind.

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As we move toward our June 25 GEN250 event, I find myself thinking about what it means to preserve a moment in history while we are still living it.

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GEN250 is not simply an event. It is part of Club Stride’s larger commitment to youth voice, civic memory, and community storytelling. Through this initiative, we are creating space for young people and community members to reflect on who we are, what we are experiencing, what we hope for, and what should be remembered by future generations.

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Too often, history is written after the fact — by people who were not always closest to the experience. GEN250 is our way of saying that the voices of young people, families, educators, community leaders, and everyday residents belong in the record now. Their words matter. Their presence matters. Their perspective is part of the story.

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On June 25, Club Stride will bring together youth, public leaders, institutional partners, and community members for a civic archive experience rooted in reflection, belonging, and future vision. This gathering will help mark a defining moment in our work: the beginning of a longer effort to document community voice in a way that can be carried forward, studied, remembered, and honored.

For our young people, GEN250 is an opportunity to see themselves not only as participants in a program, but as contributors to history. They are learning that civic life is not limited to voting, public meetings, or formal offices. Civic life also includes asking questions, telling the truth, listening to others, documenting experiences, and imagining a better future.

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As Founder and CEO of Club Stride, I am proud that this work is beginning with youth at the center. I am proud that we are choosing to build something that lasts beyond a single event. And I am proud that GEN250 invites our community to pause, reflect, and recognize that what we say today may become part of what future generations need to understand tomorrow.

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This is the heart of GEN250: preserving voice, strengthening belonging, and honoring the people who are shaping our shared future.

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Dr. Rhonda R. Renfro
Founder & CEO
Club Stride Inc.