Brianna Cannon, 17, grew up homeless and lost her brother in 2018 to gun violence. But she vowed not to let these things define her.
St. Paul, Minnesota – I don’t often meet high school seniors who have the passion to make a difference like Briana Cannon. The 17-year-old was named Minnesota Boys and Girls Club Youth of the Year in 2025, but her journey to get there was no easy way.
Growing up in a family of 10 siblings, she experienced homelessness at a young age. Then in 2018, she lost her brother to his brother’s violence.
However, Brianna refused to let these hardships define her. Instead, she directed her experience on a mission to support the mental health of her teens.
“If it’s not good mentally, it can’t be physically good in school or educational terms,” Brianna says.
One of her initiatives is a podcast called “Our West Side Story.” She created it with three friends. The podcast aims to provide a safe space for teens to discuss their emotions and experiences.
“Did our motto be someone who knew your teens better than your teens?” Brianna said. “By creating a podcast, I was able to actually share my story and how this gun violence affected me.
Brianna’s journey at the Boys and Girls Club began when she was five years old. Terryl Brumm, CEO of Boys and Girls Club Twin Cities, has seen Brianna grow over the years. “It was very emotional for her to win the youth of the year. I was very honest and saw how hard she worked, and I was in tears,” Brumm said.
With the award, Brianna received a $20,000 scholarship for college education funded by all major sports teams in the Twin City. Brianna will be studying primary education in the fall as a first-generation university student to attend Augsburg University.
Brianna will compete for the Midwest Region Youth of the Year title in June. If she wins it, she moves to a national event where additional scholarships are awaited.
