Students in the Leadership Academy at Cherry Creek Schools recently presented to the Aurora branch of the NAACP on what they had learned from being part of the program. Savannah Johnson, Kalil Houston, Leana Gaafar, Brandon Cobb, Jr., and Laila Jozefkowicz shared some of the lessons learned and why the program matters.
The presentation was made possible by the NAACP’s Black Voices Pipeline Project, which provides a media literacy and youth journalism program featuring mentorship and instruction, publication of student projects, and a youth media showcase to celebrate youth achievements. Students received a stipend, certificate, and NAACP polo shirt for their participation.
Johnson, also known as Sassy Savannah,* is a senior at Smoky Hill High School and wrote her essay on prejudice and how the Leadership Academy has helped her find ways to combat racism and negativity.
“These biases can be passed down to the younger generation, perpetuating a cycle of prejudice and misunderstanding. To break this cycle, it's crucial to empower kids to use their own judgment and problem-solving skills,” Johnson wrote. “As recently shown the past ways used to address these issues have proven to be ineffective, as youth violence and incarceration rates continue to rise. It's clear that a new approach is needed.”
The Leadership Academy, which launched in 2022 with funding from the Cherry Creek Schools Foundation, was launched to create community among students and invite them to help find solutions to gun violence in the Denver and Aurora communities. Students were nominated to be part of the Academy by staff members based on their personal leadership qualities such as dedication, drive, and empathy. Many of the students in the program have faced challenges such as gang activity and financial barriers, and the program was designed to give students critical skills and give them a chance to shine.
“In the leadership academy, we focus on helping our community and bettering ourselves and each other,” wrote Leana Gaafar, also known as Lovely Leana. “When you hang around people who elevate your energy you do better than if you hang around people who don't do anything but bring you down you're just setting yourself up for failure.”
*Every member, student or adult, receives a nickname in the Academy as a way to build community.
