A group of OLHMS student leaders recently spent the day at the Illinois Holocaust Museum & Education Center for Student Leadership Day, an immersive program focused on empathy, civic responsibility, and moral courage.
Throughout the day, students engaged in small group dialogue, collaborated with peers from other schools, and reflected on how identity, bias, and perspective influence everyday decisions in their own hallways and classrooms. They also participated in a powerful social media presentation that explored rights, responsibility, and navigating today’s digital world.
This year’s keynote speaker, Harold Green III, used poetry and storytelling to inspire students to use their voices with purpose and lead with empathy.
Desiree Buentello, 7th grade Social Studies teacher, shared, “It’s important for students to understand their rights so that as they process the world around them, they can confidently stand up for what they believe in.”
Adrian O., 7th grader, reflected, “The social media presentation was phenomenal. It helped us understand our rights as people, even in a world where there is so much fear and conflict. We all have rights and freedoms that deserve to be protected.”
By the end of the experience, OLHMS students left with greater confidence and a clear understanding that leadership is not a title — it is a daily choice. They returned ready to model inclusion, respect, and courage within our school community.
