Learning to be a Leader

For the latter half of the summer, we hosted some teenagers dedicated to the task of learning more about community outreach. Several of our high school Ambassadors program members interned with us and worked on special projects.

Their first assignment was a data entry project for a report on the impact of school environment on students. Our kids keyed in 4000 survey responses from middle school students all over Jackson Public Schools. This exercise opened their eyes to what it means to listen to youth voice and allowed them to reflect on their own school experiences.

With extensive facilitation training, the Ambassadors are always prepped to lead other youth in the community. To this end, they were asked to participate as facilitators at the Better Together Commission Youth Summit, an event designed to gather insight and inspiration form youth about solutions to the issues facing JPS. Joseph Jiles, Khai Thompson, Chamara Fray, Michaela Dennis and Zaria Lofton all rose to the occasion offering very well-articulated, provocative and thoughtful feedback.

In an effort to develop their leadership skills further, our students also worked on a communication strategy to disseminate information about the JPS bond referendum to voters all over the city. They brainstormed and executed their strategies. This included writing op-eds, press releases, and passing out push cards at local churches. Jada and Kaitlyn also made radio appearances.

And their hard work paid off. The bond referendum passed by an overwhelming 86% majority!

A summer internship is an invaluable experience for high schoolers. Millennial Branding, a Gen Y research and consulting firm, reports 70% of companies they surveyed believe high school students who complete their programs are either very or completely likely to eventually land a college internship within their company.

As an organization seeking to build an ecosystem of high-quality learners, Operation Shoestring seeks to host opportunities – like this one – for youth to develop and practice their leadership, critical thinking, and creative problem-solving skills. The experiences gained here will be beneficial to their success.