How One Student Turned Challenges Into Fuel For Leading Her Community

A hard freeze outside, a warm surge of community inside—this Hometown Hero feature brings the spotlight to  Citlally Diaz-Mar, a student leader whose voice has traveled from Henderson County to a New York campus and back home through the MLK Unity Breakfast. We open with winter-weather realities and neighborly care, then move into a story about how youth leadership grows when mentors, families, and schools pull in the same direction.

Citlally unpacks what it means to value stories over trophies. Being North Carolina’s Youth of the Year mattered, but sharing the lived experience that so many young people recognize mattered more. She talks about mentors who shaped her path: Bonnie Gibson at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hendersonville, parents who welcomed debate at the dinner table, and educators who trusted students with real responsibility. Those influences, paired with the Leader in Me program from elementary through high school, gave her structure, practice, and confidence to lead with empathy and courage.

We trace her decade-long journey at the Boys and Girls Club—from member to Keystone president to mentor—highlighting the Keystone Conference, peer leadership, and coaching the next Youth of the Year candidate. She challenges a common myth: the Club is not only for kids in crisis; it’s for every kid who benefits from diversity of peers, supportive adults, and a chance to grow outside their bubble. It’s a portrait of youth development that is inclusive, practical, and rooted in local community.

Along the way, we keep one eye on the region’s rhythms—storm prep, checking on neighbors, and a real estate market that keeps moving even in icy weeks—because life transitions don’t wait for clear roads. If you care about youth leadership, mentorship, after-school programs, and the kind of unity that comes from listening first, this conversation will stick with you.

Subscribe for more Hometown Hero stories, share this episode with someone who mentors young leaders, and leave a review with the mentor who most shaped your life.

Transcript

Ten Years On Air

SPEAKER_00 0:00

The George Real Estate Group Radio broadcast is celebrating ten years on WHKP. The George Real Estate Group is celebrating ten years on the radio live every Thursday morning at ten oh five on WHKP 107.7 FM and AM 1450, and streaming online at WHKP.com. Each Friday morning at 845, the George Real Estate Group presents the Hometown Hero Award to someone in our community who goes above and beyond to make our hometown a better place to live. Here's this week's Hometown Hero Show. It's 845, and it's time now for our George Real Estate Group Hometown Heroes salute. We do this every Friday. And Noah, I'm so glad you've joined us for uh the broadcast today. It's a special one, and and we're all doing the weather watch, aren't we?

SPEAKER_01 0:58

We are, and and so so much to be thankful for and grateful. I know we made it through the the ice storm last weekend, and here we go. Another winter weather experience that we're about to have. And I mean, my agents did an open house yesterday. We were threading the needle between the the two storms, so we had a lot of activity there. And we have still people, even during the snow and ice storm, calling in, you know, asking, hey, we're getting ready to get our house on the market. We want to sell our house, we want to buy, we want to sell. I mean, we we are still working, even in some cases, remotely as necessary because it's you know, the ice has been challenging just to get around town.

SPEAKER_00 1:37

It has, and uh, it's surprising. Uh, some people are still uh snowed in, iced in. This is a hard layer of ice.

SPEAKER_01 1:47

My my driveways are still covered in ice, and and it's it's got it's still treacherous. Please be careful. Yeah, it's still if you don't need to travel, don't, and and check on your neighbors. I have friends in other neighborhoods that literally are iced in. Their entire neighborhood's iced in, their homes iced in, and uh they've been able to hike out, but their vehicles certainly aren't getting out.

SPEAKER_00 2:10

Our friend uh Bo Loveless that works with us here at WHKP was on WLOS this morning and talking about they had not been out of the house and can't get out of the house. And I don't know when that's going to change because we have winter storm warnings coming into effect at four this afternoon for four to five to six to seven to whatever inches of snow that's on the road.

SPEAKER_01 2:32

Well, I think the forecasters were a little hesitant after, you know, they were calling for the big snow last weekend, which ended up turning into ice. But you know, I think this is it is I think every the point is we are need to be prepared.

SPEAKER_00 2:45

Yeah, we do.

Real Estate Amid The Weather

Honoring Community Heroes

SPEAKER_01 2:45

We were certainly learned a lot from Helene. People were ready for this past weekend, and hopefully the same pre preparations will carry you into this weekend. But we are, I mean, again, even with this weather, we're getting calls still at every day at the George Real Estate Group. People are still looking online, they're looking for homes for sale. Like I said, we had an open house yesterday in Hendersonville, threading the needle between the two storms, and and that was great. And again, so if you're thinking of buying, selling, or investing in real estate or career in real estate, you can give us a call, 828-393-0134. But this this we're so grateful to be here every Friday morning sponsoring the Hometown Hero Series. We're here every Thursday at 10 a.m. with our regular weekly broadcast, George Real Estate Group Radio Broadcast, but we're it's an honor and privilege to sponsor the Hometown Hero Series.

Meet Sit Lolly Diazmar

SPEAKER_00 3:32

It really is. And this young lady has uh been impressing me for quite some time. I do the news here at WHKP also, and uh this uh young lady has been making the news. And it's time to introduce everybody to uh sit Lolly Diazmar. Good morning, Sit Lolly.

SPEAKER_02 3:53

Good morning, Randy. How are you?

SPEAKER_00 3:55

I'm fantastic. It's so good to hear your voice and to uh welcome you to the airways here at WHKP, your hometown radio station. You're not at home anymore, though, are you?

College Life And Introductions

SPEAKER_02 4:07

No, I I'm currently not. I am currently away uh for college in New York, where it is currently zero degrees. Um at least that's what they say it feels like, but it's really seven degrees. But you know, if it feels like it, that's what I'm going with.

SPEAKER_00 4:24

So amen. Amen. Well, it's so good to talk to you, and I'd like you to meet a a friend of mine, Noah George. He's on the air with us.

SPEAKER_02 4:34

Hi, George, nice to meet you. Good morning.

SPEAKER_01 4:36

Good morning. We're so grateful to have you and to take some time and honor you and to share. I mean, you you've been uh throughout the news. I mean, last year as the the 2025 North Carolina uh youth of the year, and I understand uh you spoke recently in Henderson County just uh at uh MLK Unity Breakfast.

MLK Unity Breakfast Keynote

SPEAKER_02 4:59

Yes, I did. Uh I had the privilege and honor to deliver the keynote address at the this year's uh Martin Luther King Jr. Unity Breakfast. So yeah, that was another amazing opportunity I got, you know, to just really share my story, um, you know, just you know, have my voice out there and have the people here, you know what I what I have to say, and you know what I think uh we need to have happen. So yeah.

SPEAKER_01 5:24

Between the the honor of Youth of the Year and then just again this recent honor of sharing your story and speaking uh at the breakfast, how what does that mean to you personally? And then and then how do you connect the theme of Unity, the Unity Breakfast with empowering our next generation?

SPEAKER_02 5:41

Of course. Um so as I mentioned in my speech that day, um, I had the honor of being to North Carolina Youth of the Year. And additionally, I had the honor to go to Southeast Regionals. I was actually one of the two finalists um for the regional title. And I I say in my speech, you know, and although I did not walk back home with the regional title in hand, my biggest win that night was being able to share my story and having people hear my experience because my experience is not a monolith. There are so many people who have lived my experience. My experience is not unique to me. And having people, kids especially, who have who have been or are in the similar position to me, hear that it's possible to grow from that and to take that and grow with that experience and use it as fuel and motivation to better oneselves was ultimately my goal. And I've been so extremely grateful to have people, adults, educators, mentors, uh, community leaders um be so willing to hear me out and listen to my words because, you know, I bet they can see other students in my story. I know they see loved ones, I know they see other community members with what I have to say. And honestly, that's really my biggest end goal, you know, to give people more unity and just a sense of uh what that experience is like for some of us.

SPEAKER_01 7:21

You've talked a lot about trying about transforming challenges into opportunities, um and and the opportunities you've been given is can you speak to maybe the person in your life that has helped walk you walk with you, or has there been a mentor who who stands out in your life as to made making a big big impact in your life?

Leader In Me Foundations

SPEAKER_02 7:45

I would say um I definitely have a lot. I'm very grateful to have very amazing mentors by my side. But if I had to boil it down to three, I would have to say one of my biggest mentors is Ms. Bonnie Gibson over at the Boys and Girls Clubs of Hendersonville. Uh, she's been there for more than, I believe, 25 years. Um, and she's been an amazing mentor to me. I mean, I've known her since I was 10. Um, and she's such a kind and compassionate woman. And she's always just really reaffirmed my own belief, you know, in that kindness um, you know, wins it all, you know, we can achieve so much things just by talking to each other and just simply, you know, engaging in, you know, any kind of discourse. Um, and then I would definitely say my parents, of course, um, I'm extremely grateful for them. I'm very lucky to have parents who are very um willing to hear my different opinions. You know, they say that like um once kids reach a certain age, parents, you know, they um they they they t they start to dislike it because you know their kids are starting to form their own opinions, and oftentimes parents don't know how to handle that. Um but I'm very grateful that my parents have always really encouraged my expression. Um you know, and they're just they're just always talking to me. Um, especially my dad, he's always asking me questions. We'll sit over the like the dinner table and we'll debate like the most like weird topics ever. Um, but like it's it's great. It it's honestly been so pivotal in my education and my development. And you know, last but not least, of course, my educators um all throughout like my K through 12 education. Um I would definitely say something that does stand out though in my educational experience that has been pivotal to my development, you know, just my growth and what really stands out to me um is I'm not sure you're familiar with the Leader in Me program.

SPEAKER_01 9:53

Wonderful program for Henderson County.

SPEAKER_02 9:55

Yes. Um, and so I'm very grateful to have a very unique experience in the sense that my elementary school, Sugarloaf Elementary, was a leader in me school.

SPEAKER_01 10:03

They were one of the first, I believe.

SPEAKER_02 10:05

One of the first, yes. So actually one of the very first and few uh student um lighthouse schools. And it's funny enough because I actually showed WLOS a clip of me being interviewed exactly 12 years ago by them at Sugarloaf, uh, since I was also on the student lighthouse team back in elementary, in my elementary days. Um but yeah, I had I had that in my elementary years, I had that throughout middle school, and last but not least, I had it in high school. And North Henderson High School is actually one of the few schools to hold that title across the whole nation. Um, and just having that structure and having that program in my life from an extremely young age has been so incredibly momentous in my development as a young professional and as a young leader. Um, so I would definitely say those are the top three things that come to mind, you know, when they think of, you know, what's really pushed me, what's really who who and what have really been the biggest, you know, um changes in my life, or you know, just those uh support systems.

A Decade With Boys And Girls Club

SPEAKER_00 11:15

So Lolly, you you mentioned the boys and girls clubs. Uh how uh we bring it back to Main Street here, you know, how long were you involved or are you still involved with the boys and girls clubs of Hendersonville?

Mentoring The Next Youth Of The Year

SPEAKER_02 11:28

Yes. So I've been going to the boys and girls club since I was eight years old. So that's about a decade that I attended the boys and girls club. Um I honestly hold so much love for the club, um, for the people, for the program, just the things that they do for the kids, man. Um, and I was very lucky to serve um as the Keystone president um in my senior year at the Boys and Girls Clubs. And actually, our Keystone group, they got to go to um our National Keystone Conference, which this past year was held in Chicago. Um, and they got to go for the first time in a really long time, which was a really big uh step forward for us. And um I'm so very much involved in them. Just this past winter break that I was back home. Um, I spent the month, you know, helping mentor and just um prep our uh this year's use of the year candidates um for their use of the year uh competition. Uh so you know I practiced their speeches with them, I gave them advice and tips on their resumes, interview questions. Um, and I'm actually very lucky to have uh personally really mentored uh this year's winner, uh Luna Trejolugo, uh, which we are so very proud of her. Um but yeah, I mean I it's such a passion for me to help these young leaders. Uh so that's why I spent my winter break doing, you know, talking it up with these kids, checking in with them. I dropped by the Boys and Girls Club, you know, just say hi to everyone, talk to the kids, see what they got going on. Because although I may have technically graduated from the Boys and Girls Club, it's always gonna be my home. And I'm always gonna be there with open arms uh to provide any help that I can in any way, shape, or form.

SPEAKER_00 13:22

And I'd say you would recommend highly to any youth in our area to get involved.

Why Every Kid Belongs At The Club

Closing Salute And How To Connect

SPEAKER_02 13:28

Yes, most definitely. I feel like there's a large misconception that, um, and I face this growing up as well, that the Boys and Girls Club is reserved only for, you know, minority kids or kids who are struggling, kids who need that extra support system. Um, but I'm very grateful to say that we have such a diverse array of students, of members that come to the club from all walks of life, um, with just so many different backgrounds. Um, kids who may be a bit more privileged, kids who aren't. And I think that's the beauty of it because kids get to interact with people they may have never met before, people with experiences maybe they've never lived. Um, and I recommend it so much, um, especially just for the youth, being able to be in an environment in which they can interact and socialize with kids outside of their uh normal bubble, you know. As younger kids, they only really interact with, you know, the kids they go to school with.

SPEAKER_00 14:30

So Lolly, thank you so much for taking time to visit with us this morning. I've uh I'm not sure. Noah, I think we'll all be working for her real soon.

SPEAKER_01 14:41

That's right. We might need another radio segment with Sit Lolly. We need some more time, but sit Lolly, congratulations as our hometown hero this week.

SPEAKER_00 14:49

Uh we have thank you for coming to uh join us via phone this morning. And Noah, thank you as always. We'll see you next Friday on the Hometown Hero Show. The George Real Estate Group is located in Flat Rock, North Carolina, near Hendersonville in Henderson County. You can find them online at realestatebygreg.com. The George Real Estate Group can be reached at 828-3930134 or stop by their office at 2720 Greenville Highway, Flat Rock, North Carolina. Tune in live each week on Thursdays at 1005 AM on WHKP 107.7 FM and 1450 A.M. or stream online at WHKP.com or download these podcasts wherever you get your podcast. The George Real Estate Group brings you the WHKP Hometown Hero Series every Friday morning at 845.

SPEAKER_01 15:48

Maybe the house feels a little too big these days. The stairs a little steeper. The pace of life a little too fast. But what if your next move wasn't about letting go? It was about making space for peace, for freedom, for what matters most. At the George Real Estate Group, we understand that real estate isn't just about the house. It's about transitions, timing, and trust. We've helped thousands of families in Western North Carolina make smart, thoughtful moves. Closer to nature, closer to family, closer to home. So when you're ready to right-size, simplify, or start fresh, we'll be here. The George Real Estate Group. Local, trusted, proven. Call us today, 828-393-0134. Find us online at realestatebygreg.com because your next chapter deserves to feel just right.