The 8th Annual D214 African American Teen Summit took place on April 21 at Forest View Educational Center. The theme was “Phenomenally Black,” with an emphasis on all aspects of self, such as self-love, self-esteem, and self-care. Around 100 students from around the district gathered for a day of empowerment, which included team-building exercises and breakout sessions led by keynote speaker VaLerie Humphrey and members of District 214’s African American Leadership Team.
District 219’s Black Teen Summit was established in 2021, at the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, to elevate and promote Black scholars in the local community while also exposing them to a wide variety of employment opportunities to help them focus on their futures. The event is open to all Niles North and Niles West students, with those who identify as Black being especially encouraged to participate.”We believe the D219 Black Teen Summit is an incredibly powerful opportunity that has the potential to change hearts and minds,” Niles North Principal James Edwards stated concerning the previous year’s conference. “We are confident that this event will reinforce quality learning and the building of a caring community.” The summit is a day-long, in-school field trip meant to interact with and empower Black kids in D219 schools.“The main objective of the Black Teen Summit is to uplift, encourage, and provide important information to our students who primarily identify as African American, African, and or Caribbean,” Stallworth said. “We expect this event will be one of joy, community, and uplifting”.
The Black Teen Summit is beneficial to students finishing high school who are trying to figure out what they want from life. The summit advises them on ways to get there.