Coalition for a Safe Community’s Annual Teen Summit Brings High School Students Seeking Successful Solutions to Atlantic Cape

MAYS LANDING — Seeking ways to collaboratively create new and successful solutions to today’s important issues, nearly 200 students from 12 local high schools gathered for this year’s Annual Atlantic County Coalition for a Safe Community’s Teen Summit on March 21 at Atlantic Cape Community College’s Mays Landing campus.

“We are so excited to have you here today – students, educators and community partners – to learn, connect and breathe. This summit is all about empowerment, giving you the tools, voice and inspiration to take charge in your future,” said Tasha Rivera, director, One-Stop Enrollment and Recruitment. “This is your space to ask questions, share ideas and think big. You are future leader, innovators, change makers and our community needs you.”

Pleasantville Public Schools Superintendent Dr. Marilyn Martinez provided the keynote address where she implored the students in attendance to unleash the leadership potential within themselves. And to do so, Dr. Martinez stated that it takes care, connecting, code and courage.

“I believe that leaders are made. There are some that may have innate traits and abilities, but there are tasks that leaders perform and we recognize them by their fruit, which means they produce effective leadership,” said Dr. Martinez. “There are many kinds of leaders and there are many styles of leadership. I want to encourage you to move towards a leadership style that is right for you.

“In leadership, you have to learn to care for yourself and for others. You also have to know who to connect with and make sure that those you hang with will impact you in a positive way and not drain you,” advised Dr. Martinez. “Now, you all have a code that is created by your ethics and moral values. Your attitude is an expression of your values, beliefs, expectations and will help shape you. Lastly, leadership requires courage. It takes courage to stand even if you have to stand alone to do what is right for the right reasons.”

Following the opening remarks, three student-curated and student-led breakout sessions touched on important topics of the utmost concern to the students themselves. In the Walter E. Edge Theater, students discussed and learned the keys to bringing about resolutions to conflicts that arise. In two culinary classrooms in the M-Building, students discussed how to lower their respective stress levels and manage expectations that they, their parents, friends, teachers and society impose upon them. Another discussion focused on promoting self-improvement and how properly take care of yourself both mentally and physically day-in and day-out.

Since October, representatives of the Teen Summit youth planning committee, comprised of four to five students from 10 local high schools, have met each month to create a platform for this year’s summit. During these meetings, the students discuss topics that they are concerned with in their communities, issues that they face and answers they are seeking.

“We have a platform where students have a voice. This year’s Teen Summit is about successful solutions and under this umbrella are three breakout sessions that they came up with: conflict resolution, promoting self-improvement and managing expectations,” said Crystal Holt, member, Atlantic County Coalition for a Safe Community and staff member at Pleasantville High School. “This is also a platform for them to meet new people. This is the only way where all students from Atlantic County can get together and meet each other, sometimes making friends for life.”

The students in attendance represented Absegami, Atlantic City, Atlantic County Institute of Technology, Buena, Cedar Creek, Egg Harbor Township, Hammonton, Mainland, Oakcrest and Pleasantville high schools, as well as Ideal Institute of Technology (Pleasantville) and Gloucester County Institute of Technology (Sewell).

Officers for this year’s Teen Summit included Chair Adrienna Foo, a senior from Oakcrest High School; Secretary Jaidah Garrett, a senior from Absegami High School; Co-Chair Jamya Johnson from Pleasantville High School; Co-Chair Krish Patel, a senior at Absegami High School; and Secretary Sky Simmerman from Mainland Regional High School.

The Atlantic County Coalition for a Safe Community believes in giving students a voice. The Teen Summit, itself, is student-driven, which affords them the opportunity to meet and work together with their peers throughout the country.

Vendors, including Acenda Integrated Health, Atlantic Cape, AtlantiCare, Coastal Preparatory High School, National Alliance of Mental Illness and New Day Family Success Center provided free information, literature and free giveaway items for the students.

This year’s summit was sponsored by the Atlantic County Coalition for a Safe Community in collaboration with Atlantic Cape Community College, AtlantiCare Healthy Schools, Ideal Institute of Technology and New Jersey Statewide Student Support Services (NJ4S).

Click here to view a photo gallery of this year’s Teen Summit.

Visit cscatlantic.org for more information about Atlantic County’s Coalition for a Safe Community. Visit atlanticcape.edu to learn more how Atlantic Cape can propel you to a successful academic experience and professional career.

About Atlantic Cape Community College

Atlantic Cape Community College is a Middle States accredited, 2022 Achieving the Dream Leader College and Hispanic Serving Institution proudly serving the residents of Atlantic and Cape May counties. As a comprehensive, two-year community college, Atlantic Cape offers 47 undergraduate degree programs, and 33 certificate and workforce development professional series programs at its Mays Landing, Atlantic City and Cape May campuses. Atlantic Cape is home to the renowned Academy of Culinary Arts, rated the top culinary school in New Jersey, and for more than 50 years, our highly-acclaimed Nursing program. Atlantic Cape also partners with several four-year universities to offer students the opportunity to earn a bachelor’s degree without having to leave home.