WOHS Student Council members attend Jeter’s ‘Re2pect Our Voice’ conference

WEST ORANGE, NJ — Four West Orange Student Council members had the opportunity to attend Derek Jeter’s 2019 Leaders Leadership Conference in Philadelphia from Aug. 4 through 8. The event was presented by Goldman Sachs.

Jeter’s Leaders is part of the former Yankee’s Turn2 Foundation. According to the website, “Jeter’s Leaders is a leadership development program created to empower, recognize and enhance the skills of high school students who promote healthy lifestyles, free of alcohol and substance abuse; achieve academically; are committed to improving their community through social change activities; and serve as role models to younger students and to deliver positive messages to their peers.”

WOHS students Kaia Baker, Herva Kana, Senay Dani and Scott Moul represented the high school at the conference. Jeter’s Leaders developed several workshops for students to attend based on topics they felt affected teens today. Bi-annually, the leaders from New York and Kalamazoo host the conference for other youth leadership programs throughout the United States to inspire social change.

This year’s theme was “RE2PECT Our Voice!” Workshops covered topics such as: drugs and alcohol, eating habits, racism, sexism, current events, mental wellness, social media, and homelessness. In addition to the workshops, attendees had the opportunity to interact with other high school students from New York, New Jersey, Michigan and other parts of the country. They also participated in a community service project, citywide scavenger hunt and dinner-dance cruise.

“The students were able to meet and share new ideas to bring back to West Orange to improve and enrich the community,” WOHS Student Council adviser Catherine Connors said, “and they’re looking forward to the coming school year.”

  West Orange High School