BBYO New England celebrates year of success

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As the programming year comes to an end, BBYO New England Region (NER) reports that the year has been one with many high points. BBYO NER teens, parents, community supporters in the Friends and Alumni Network (FAN), advisors and staff are celebrating monumental growth, outstanding programs and prestigious awards.

Over the course of the 2016-2017 programming year, BBYO NER experienced significant growth, increasing in membership by 15 percent. The region held several noteworthy programs, including our largest Kickoff: Neon Night Club with DJ and games like ping pong, foosball, and arcade games.

Winter Kallah 2017: Free to be You and Me, a weekend-long convention with BBYO Connecticut Valley Region featured special guest speakers, Joshua Nelson and the Kosher Gospel Singers, Dawn Ennis, award-winning journalist and transgender advocate, and Pamela Schuller, Inclusion Advocate and Stand-Up Comic. Aaron Cooper, 92nd international president, spoke to teens about leadership and diversity. Saturday evening teens participated in Stomp It Out! A night to end the stigma of mental health, sponsored by several organizations including USY and organizations that work with mental health issues to host an interactive mental health fair and dance with DJ Earworm.

J-Serve 2017 was planned by various chapters around the region, including Rhode Island and Eastern Massachusetts. Teens from Rhode Island participated in a local project, creating birthday boxes for Birthday Wishes that helped 14 teens celebrate their birthdays.

One final highlight was Spring Convention 2017 where half of BBYO NER members came to elect the 2017-2018 regional board, participate in Senior Traditions, various sports activities and creative Shabbat services.

BBYO NER congratulates the region’s graduating seniors! Congratulations also go to the outgoing regional board members: Andrew Bikash, Will Cummins, Julia Keizler, Reuben Kittrell, Jenna Rachman, Lauren Robinson, Maddy Selsberg, Melissa Starr and Isaac Wolfson.

To learn more about BBYO in New England Region, please contact Samantha Walsh, LCSW, regional director at swalsh@bbyo.org or 401-490-1030.

                Submitted by BBYO