Montgomery County has many ways to get student service learning hours (SSL) and get involved in advocacy. Montgomery County Regional Student Government Association (MCR-SGA’s) Leadership Academy is a prime example of an organization providing students with benefits, training, conferences, and information that the average Montgomery County Public School (MCPS) student can use to become a student activist.
As a whole, MCR provides the student body of MCPS with numerous opportunities. The MCR-SGA released dates for school visits from Dec. 4 to 8. A lawmaking lab for students to get involved with public policy, including over 10 Maryland legislators in attendance on Dec. 11. An MCR/MCJC (Montgomery County Junior Council) general assembly was open to all middle and high school students on Dec. 13 at Richard Montgomery HS. And even a Save A Student Summit for students to learn more about the impact of drugs, training in Narcan use, and get 3 SSL hours on the 16th. In particular, the MCR leadership academy offers online training and SSL hours to those registered. These trainings aim to help students learn and lead in their local communities.
An MCR Leadership Academy session is from Nov. 20 to Dec. 18. However, during this time window, MCR offered coaching on topics like “What Does it Mean to be a Leader” (11/20), “Pathways to Effective Planning” (11/27), “Public Speaking 101” (12/4), and “Getting Involved in Advocacy” (12/18). All of these hope to encourage students to take up a leadership role in their community with the knowledge they need to succeed.
Hali Duong, a Richard Montgomery sophomore and an MCR-SGA Workshops Director, is an integral part of the program; Duong discussed how the program “strives to empower young leaders to voice their personal experiences.” Through teaching their students “newly acquired public speaking, leadership, and organization skills,” Duong stated she hopes each attendee emerges with the drive and know-how to create tangible change in their community.
Empowering young leaders is held to an important pedestal within the program. Students go on to work with MCR to organize fundraisers, food drives, and other types of community projects. These leaders have both people and sources available to get a kickstart on their passion projects as well. But to create change in the first place, each leader needs the tools and ability to succeed, and that is exactly what MCR Academy provides to their students.
John F. Kennedy High School senior and a School Communications Director for MCR Suhani Aryal spoke about the academy’s overarching goal of helping “students learn how to navigate through the advocacy realm,” emphasizing the “critical skills needed in leadership.” These garnered skills to aid students in organizing and planning their events. For example, An AP/IB book drive was held on December 13th during an MCR/MCJC general assembly. Similarly, a candy gram sale was also put in place to gather money for organization costs and charity on the same day. The organizers of these events understand these skills firsthand through their connection with MCR, but any students who want to be capable of this can learn the proper steps.
Overall, empowering student voices and giving them the support they need to be influential members of their community can all be gathered via the MCR Leadership Academy.
Written by Max Ekstein of Walter Johnson High School
Photo Courtesy of MCR-SGA