HOBY Youth Leadership

I had the privilege to speak in front of 300 young people at the HOBY Youth Leadership conference in Chicago this week, talking through misinformation, fact-checking and social media. Sitting with the brilliant elections expert Katie Harbath on the panel, we took questions about the role misinfo plays in elections, how free speech complicates policy development, and how young people can better equip themselves to push back against misinfo they come across. These kids are smart! And it was also nice just being at a conference where there was singing and dancing, and the audience isn't zoinked out at 4pm! 🚨 The one BIG thing I tried to drive home about the misinfo fight: We have an entire industry who’s literal job it is to tell us what’s authentic, and what’s not — the news media. Of course the US news media in recent decades has really faced its own challenges, BUT journalists are at the forefront of identifying what is real and what is not ... it’s their job, and they’re very good at it. Young people need to continue to lean into news — and push journalists — to get accurate, authoritative content. And we all need to work to build a stable, strong and empowered news media. #electionintegrity #socialmedia #misinformation #newsmedia

This past weekend I attended my 7th Wisconsin #HOBY #Leadership Seminar! I'm sure I say this every year but it was truly the best one yet! 😁 For those in my network who haven't heard of HOBY Youth Leadership, I encourage you to look into it! It is an impactful weekend long leadership seminar for high school sophomores. I attended myself as an ambassador and have volunteered ever since! This year I served as the Director of Recruitment prior to the event, and as a Facilitator and Speaker during! One theme from the weekend was that "leaders go where they are needed". I have always felt a strong pull to continue my work with this group, and I leave reinspired each year. I hope everyone has the chance to find something they are equally as passionate about ❤️ Any HOBY Alum in my network??

HOBY Youth Leadership is an organization that had a significant impact on my life as a young person and continues to create ripples throughout my life to this day. At HOBY, we walk young people through the social change model of transformational leadership: 🙋 Personal leadership Who am I? What is my leadership style, personality, talents, values, identities, and experiences? What am I committed to? How do I leverage these as a leader? 👭👬 Group leadership How do I work well with others, motivate others, understand their needs, listen, practice empathy, and empower a team with a vision and the resources to accomplish a common goal? 🏘️ Societal leadership or Inclusive leadership How do we embrace diversity within our communities, discuss the needs of our communities and society at large, and bring awareness to the issues we are passionate about? 🤲 Leadership for Service or Leadership in Action How can I leverage all of these learnings to take meaningful action to enact positive social change in my communty, school, or within my sphere of influence? At HOBY, we teach young people how to think not what to think. After their transformative weekend, we challenge them to consider, “What I am going to do with this?” It was a true delight to volunteer with HOBY Missouri last weekend. Check out these amazing young people below! If you ever have the inclination to think, “Young people these days… (smh….)”, I challenge you to go spend time with young people (without their phones). Make them feel seen, encourage them, listen to them, create a safe environment to be themselves and to think deeply. Ask them what they care about, what they think should/could be, and what they’d like to do about it. What you will likely find just may inspire you and reinvigorate your hope for the future.

Landon leaders! A group of rising juniors are selected by Upper School faculty to attend the HOBY Youth Leadership annual seminar. Thank you to Zach, DP, Tiller, and Asher for representing us as ambassadors and to Deji ’24 who returned as an alumnus while his father served as a guest speaker. Go Bears!

Very exciting morning today as my son is attending the HOBY Youth Leadership Minnesota Conference. HOBY is the nation’s premier youth leadership development organization. He was selected as one of two sophomores by his school’s faculty and staff in recognition of his leadership and academic acheivement. So proud of you kid! #leadership #leadershipdevelopment

Thank you HOBY Youth Leadership for allowing my the opportunity to spend time with you this afternoon. The energy in the room was AMAZING and I’m in awe of the talent, power and leadership you each have. May your time this weekend expand your toolkit to be even more brazen! We each have a story to tell and chapters yet to write. This one was truly special! Thank you Emiliann Palermo for allowing me to be part of this amazing program and showing my two daughters the importance of leading with something you love!