Students in JCC’s Liberty Partnerships Program participated in the 15th annual Liberty Partnerships Program Empire Promise Youth Summit in Utica recently.
JCC’s representatives were joined by 46 other LPP programs from throughout New York state. LPP students, staff, and parents participated in interactive workshops, college tours, college and career fairs, and enrichment activities.
Each LPP group presented a vision board about the accomplishments and goals for their program.
Representing JCC’s LPP were students MacKenzie Watson and Eylessia Stilson from Jamestown High School and Mateo Janczylik and Alex Navarro from Dunkirk High School. Accompanying the group were parent Bianca Plascencia and LPP staff members Laurie Whitermore, Lindsey Rensel, and Katelyn Stahlman.
“I expected nothing but the best experience when asked to accompany LPP on this trip,” said Ms. Plascencia. “What I took from this summit was truly a time that I will not soon forget.”
JCC’s LPP, in its second year of a five-year grant cycle, serves 360 students in grades 5-12 in Jamestown, Dunkirk, and Salamanca. The program guides high school students toward graduation with a college and career ready mindset.
The Liberty Partnerships Program was established in 1988 through the New York State Education Department.