Monomoy High students attend Youth Leadership Institute
A group of Monomoy Regional High School students recently attended the first INSPIRE Youth Leadership Institute. INSPIRE is a one-day civic engagement institute dedicated to fostering leadership and social responsibility among high school students across Massachusetts. Presented by the Massachusetts Teachers Association in partnership with Team Harmony, this institute aims to inspire the next generation of leaders to actively engage in their communities and address the social issues that matter most.
The Monomoy students who attended the first INSPIRE Massachusetts Youth Leadership Institute heard powerful speeches from MTA President Max Page and MTA Vice President Deb McCarthy about the success of initiatives across the state when students use their voices for change to advocate for themselves and others, citing the recent success of the removal of MCAS as a graduation requirement. The students also heard an empowering and moving speech from keynote speaker Becky Pringle, the President of NEA, where she reminded us all that our young people have always been and continue to be the change makers in our society. Throughout the event, students got to interact with host Dee-1 who kept students entertained with songs and dancing, as well as engaged in meaningful conversations about being "real, righteous, and relevant" and what that looks like for each of us.
During the event, Monomoy students attended two informative and thought provoking breakout sessions. In "The Art of Negotiation and Having a Difficult Discussion: Techniques for Effective Negotiation" students learned how to communicate with others and find common ground in order to reach a win:win at the end of a conversation no matter who their audience is. In "Building Stronger Communities:The Power of Community Schools in Shaping Our Future", students learned about the structure and function of the community school model. They then took a critical look at their own school to identify problem areas and possible solutions before creating their dream schools with notable features like indoor sports amenities, vast internship and career readiness opportunities, and lots of student leadership.