L-R, Kyra Englander and Shosana Marder
Yachad Youth Leadership Council: Educational Advocacy Track
Kyra Englander, YYLC President
The educational advocacy track of the Yachad Youth Leadership Council (YYLC) is made up of twenty-four extremely creative, insightful, and passionate high school students who want to make a difference. Through many discussions and meetings, we choose a plan of activities that will spread the message of the importance of inclusion and how to create a more sensitive and cognizant society.
One major effort that YYLC undertakes every year is a social media campaign for February in honor of North American Inclusion Month (NAIM). This year’s initiative is the #BeHuman campaign. Every day Yachad posts a video clip of someone expressing their DiffAbility (Different Ability) and emphasizes the fact that they don’t let it confine them. It is important to show that everyone has a DiffAbility and no one is perfect — that is what makes us human. We encourage everyone who sees our videos to express their DiffAbilities and to nominate their friends to do the same. Our goal is to show that we do not let our different capabilities limit us, because we are so much more than the things we can and can’t do.
On March 10th, along with the Yachad DayHab program, we lobbied in Albany on behalf of the Workers with Disabilities Tax Credit Act. This bill aims to increase the tax credit that businesses receive when they hire individuals with disabilities. The larger the tax credit the greater the incentive for businesses to hire these individuals. Beforehand, we were professionally trained on how to lobby, and educated regarding what to discuss in the meetings. We are so lucky to have been given this opportunity to speak out for what we believe in!
In the longer term, we hope to create a children’s book that teaches valuable lessons about inclusion and self worth embedded in a heartwarming story. Each member of YYLC has, and continues to, put in so much time, effort, and dedication into all that they work on and the outcome is truly worthwhile!
Kyra Englander of Woodmere, NY is a senior at SKA Yeshiva High School for Girls.
YYLC Inclusive Programming
Shoshana Marder, YYLC President
Did you ever wonder what busy high school students do during their limited free time? Well, for the members of the Yachad Youth Leadership Committee (YYLC) Inclusive Programming Board, the answer is Yachad! This board consists of 36 dedicated and motivated high school juniors and seniors. Though the members come from many different schools in the New York tri-state area, they all share one thing in common — their uncompromising love for Yachad!
These high school students work tirelessly to create inclusive events, fundraisers, and apparel for Yachad. Though the brainstorming and discussions begin at our monthly board meetings, the YYLC members spend their free time, month after month, working to implement the different ideas discussed. This year, the Inclusive Programming Board of YYLC has had a great start, creating a successful inclusive Super Bowl Party as well as raising money (and awareness!) through our Super Bowl Boxes.
YYLC also created an Inclusion Day to help spread the concept of inclusion in all of our high schools. Members of the board have also been hard at work designing new Yachad apparel and accessories, such as headphone splitters, suspenders, and sweatpants. We have many more events and campaigns planned for the near future, and we look forward to spreading the word about Yachad and inclusion throughout all high schools!
Shoshana Marder of White Plains, NY is a senior at Ma’ayanot Yeshiva High School.
This article is from the 2015 issue of Belong Magazine. If you would like to receive a hard copy please email belong@ou.org.