Our Experiences
A blog written by our members about their experiences at community events.
This past Wednesday, we were invited to speak at the World Affairs Council's Meridian Young Professionals holiday event! This year, the social was specifically a fundraiser for the Global Young Leaders Program, which the NSHS Human Rights Forum is a part of through the Junior World Affairs Council. You can learn more about the Global Young Leaders Program here: http://education.dfwworld.org/ Kathy, Morgen, Steve, and Lamisa were tasked with presenting a few meaningful words about the value of JWAC. We shared our experiences to show the Young Professionals how much we appreciate their support. Read our reflections about JWAC and the event here: "As a student who attends a Title 1 public school, the value of the opportunities that are so readily offered to me doesn't go over my head. I know how unique and once-in-a-lifetime these are. If not for JWAC, my classmates and I would not have met influential and powerful world leaders who have ultimately inspired us and made us reflect on the lives we wish to lead. Because of events like International Career Day, we want to have meaningful careers and help improve the lives of all people regardless of our job titles. I am proud to be involved in an organization that engages students with the world around them and makes them more aware of social affairs. It's so important for us to always be open-minded, especially as bigotry and xenophobia persist. JWAC is a constant reminder to me that good people exist. Amy Miller, the WAC Director of Education, was nice enough to invite my parents to come up with us! They were so inspired by our presentations that they donated to JWAC!" -Lamisa Mustafa "The Meridian Fundraiser event was a great opportunity for my fellow activists and I to voice our gratitude towards JWAC. The special event also allowed us to befriend other activists in our community which help to make us stronger. I'm super grateful that we were invited to this special event, not to mention, the food was delicious!" -Steve Barboza "The Meridian fundraiser truly highlighted the endless opportunities offered to students like myself from the World Affairs Council. Without the unwavering support from the faces I saw, hands I shook, and stories I was told, the Human Rights Forum at Newman Smith wouldn't have been able to be where it is today. I am beyond grateful to have presented to young professionals why the Junior World Affairs Council matters to me." -Kathy Pham Morgen Amalbert composed this poem about what being involved in JWAC means to her: "Play I know the back of my hand. I know my neighborhood street. I'm familiar with myself. Me, myself, and I. My mind is empty Pause I listen to April Bowman, a first generation college graduate, She tells us her life journey, her walls and what she did to overcome them. Play I now know the back of my neighbor's hand. I now know the street that my neighbor grew up on. I even know neighborhood dog that would chase them to school every morning. His name was Scrapper You see, I'm now familiar with both of our lives. My mind is half-full Pause I shake hands with Peter Szijjarto, the Hungarian Minister of Foreign Affairs. Play I now know and walk the steps of a stranger on the other side of the planet. I can feel pain as they feel pain I can take off my glasses and see the world through their eyes I'm aware of the street that they grew up on. And I was emotionally with them and their families when they had to flee it. My mind is full. Pause I attend a Junior World Affair's Council International Career Day Play My mind is overflowing I'm now a citizen of the world, aware of my history, present, and future, seeping through the cracks of my glass are ounces, gallons of culture and human emotion And thanks to the Junior World Affair's Council, I will never stop refilling it" A very nice photographer at the event recorded Morgen's performance of her poem! Watch it below and be inspired! In this season of giving, please consider donating to continue making these amazing opportunities available to us! Your generous donation could help us bring an esteemed guest speaker to our school, attend a book signing of a Nobel Peace Prize winner, and so much more. The link is here: https://www.dfwworld.org/give/champagnesocial Below you can find pictures of us with Andres Perez, a fellow presenter from Lassiter Early College High School, and Ms. Ledwon who came to support us (we love you Ledwon!!!)
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AuthorHuman Rights Forum members |