BOSTON, MA:
Project TEAMWORK's annual Human Rights Squad Forum provided once again that youth leadership is a powerful and influential force.

On Thursday, May 11, 2000, over 250 students from 19 middle and high schools from across Massaachusetts converged on Northeastern University�s campus for a day to celebrate the accomplishment of Project TEAMWORK's Human Rights Squads (HRS) and to promote youth Leadership. HRS are teams of volunteer student from middle and high schools who embrace the Project TEAMWORK's philosophy of tolerance, respect, and nonviolent problem solving.

The HRS are created and coordinated by student leaders themselves who work on community and school projects throughout the year. The annual forum is a chance for Project TEAMWORK to acknowledge their work and reward them with a day of celebration. This year�s event, the ninth-annual, was no exception.

The keynote speaker for the forum was motivational speaker Kathleen Hassan, Kathleen Hassan Communications. She addressed the responsive audience with her unique flair during her presentation entitled, �My Futures So Bright I Gotta Wear Shades.� She handed out pairs of sunglasses as she told her personal story of overcoming adversity, rising above it, and becoming a success story. She encouraged the students to pursue their goals - but not be afraid to ask to help along the way.

The Special guest student speaker was Kaitlin Shinney from Archbishop Williams High School. Shinney spoke to her peers encouraging them stay involved in their communities.

The forum also featured awards presentations to select individuals and schools. Two HRS Leadership Awards were presented to a student and an adult who exemplify the beliefs of Project TEAMWORK. HRS Leadership Awards went to Somphone Sayasit from Woonsocket High School (student category) and Trey Pope from Boston Renaissance School (adult category).

Project TEAMWORK's Darryl Williams presented the third-annual Darryl Williams Awards to two schools who epitomize the program's message. Williams was shot in a racially-motivated attack while playing in a high school football game in 1979 leaving him paralyzed. An honorary member Project TEAMWORK, he now serves as a motivational speaker. Archbishop Williams student accepted the award in the High School category, while students from the Bigelow school were honored in the Middle School category.

In between award presentations were student-organized entertainment per-formances. Always a crowd favorite, the entertainment this year featured stomp dancers from Ayer High School, breakdancers Woonsocket High School, and three singers from Archbishop Williams High School.

It was a day to celebrate, but it was also a day for action. As part of the forum, a mixed group of students for the various schools dispersed into 10 separate breakout workshops. The workshops sessions were coordinated by staff specially-trained by Project TEAMWORK to lead discussions on this forum's theme, Youth Leadership. Training Specialist included members of Sport in Society's Athletes in Service to America and Mentors in Violence Prevention (MVP) Programs. The conversations generated in the workshops showed just how much an impact youth leadership can have.

Prior to the breakout sessions, select individuals from all of the schools represented gathered on stage to read to the audience the highlights of their activities over the past year. Sport in Society Senior Associate Director Jose Masso opened the event by welcoming the schools to Northeastern University. Sport in Society Director Richard Lapchick was also in attendance to show his support for the young leaders of tomorrow.