Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida Mindset Minute Transformed How Teens Build Mental Strength

Under the vision and leadership of Jamie Merrill, President and CEO of the Boys & Girls Clubs of Central Florida, the organization partnered with the Mindset Minute Foundation to launch an AI-powered Mindset Lab that helps teens practice confidence, focus, and resilience. Dailyhuman served as the service provider, integrating insights from elite athletes and behavioral science to deliver a modern, scalable approach to mindset training.

The pilot, hosted at the Disney Clubhouse, gave members the chance to explore their self-talk and learn to reframe challenges in real time. Within weeks, engagement doubled and positive mindset indicators rose by 120 percent. Teens who began describing only their physical state ended the program expressing emotion, identity, and growth, proving that reflection itself is a skill that can be trained.

Guided by Merrill’s commitment to innovation in youth development, Gary Wilcox, Abigail McGlashing, and Opal Walker-Warren from BGCCF worked closely with Dailyhuman to create a scalable model that fits seamlessly into existing programs like Youth Arts and Mental Health Myth Busters. This approach was designed to built trust, gave staff meaningful data for grants, and set the foundation for expansion across the organization nationwide.