Willowbrook students participate in Leadership Training series

Keynote Speaker Ray Banks meets with Willowbrook students on Nov. 13 as part of the Leadership Training series. Banks presented about the core value of interdependence to Willowbrook upperclassmen who are members of the school’s MENTORS, Ladies Lunch Squad and Black Organization for Student Success (BOSS) groups.

On Nov. 13, Keynote Speaker Ray Banks met with Willowbrook students as part of a community-based Leadership Training series, which will take place throughout the school year at Willowbrook.

Those sessions will take place monthly and will feature trainers, who will speak with Willowbrook student leaders about the core value topics of accountability, balance, interdependence, leverage and empowerment.

Select Willowbrook upperclassmen who applied have the opportunity to be part of this program. Participants are members of the school’s MENTORS, Ladies Lunch Squad and Black Organization for Student Success (BOSS) groups. MENTORS is designed to train upperclassmen to guide underclassmen through being mentored by adult men. The group meets once a week during lunch, and community members provide motivational and educational presentations. Ladies Lunch Squad offers support and ongoing motivational clinics for female students in an effort to help members gain confidence and realize their true potential. The goal of BOSS is to promote peace and establish an understanding of black culture, and the group extends an open invitation to students, faculty and staff of all ethnic backgrounds to participate. Members of BOSS have the opportunity to grow academically and emotionally, while being presented with opportunities of enrichment to increase their leadership capacity.

During his presentation, Banks discussed the concept of interdependence and shared his personal story of overcoming challenges to help students develop leadership skills. Participants then reflected on the information and how they can apply it to their lives and help the younger students they mentor do so as well.