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Local Voices

West Hartford Teen Gives Back

Hall High School senior Michael Barzach is not new to creating community service opportunities. After all, his family is known for the creation of Jonathan's Dream - a playground constructed for children of all abilities after the tragic death of Michael's nine-month old brother Jonathan. 

Yet Michael marches to the beat of his own drum, and "dreaded giving up [his] first week of summer vacation to an "educational leadership" program." However his family values won out, and Michael spent the last week of June participating in Leadership Greater Hartford's Summer Nexus program , a week-long leadership program for urban and suburban youth, grades 10 to 12, that fosters connections and community involvement through interactive workshops and service learning activities. 

According to Michael, "Through the safe environment provided by Summer Nexus I have been able to grow, not only as a leader, but as an individual. I no longer think of Summer Nexus as an "educational leadership program," but as a learning experience that was life changing." 

Barzach's  Summer Nexus cohort planned and implemented a community service project that partnered with The Lisa Lane Farm of the Wintonberry Land Trust (link). The students received donations of shovels, spades, garbage bags, etc. totaling over $700 and spent the day helping to clear the land and give the farm a spring cleaning. They also participated in various leadership workshops, activities, and had the opportunity to meet prominent community leaders.

Michael credits the program with helping him "open my eyes to the community around me and has given me a better understanding of myself.  I can confidently say that I am not the same person I was when I started this program one week ago."
         
Summer Nexus 2014 Session Two is being offered August 4 to 10.  Only a few spots remain.  For more information visit www.leadershipgh.org or call 860-951-6161, x1100.

Leadership Greater Hartford (LGH) is the most comprehensive nonprofit community leadership organization in the country. It provides leadership training to individuals ranging from high school age to retirees, with community service projects featured in most  programs.  These projects and the program graduates continue to have lasting impact in the Hartford region.  For more information about how to be a participant or sponsor or to inquire about customized training with Leadership Greater Hartford, call 860-951-6161 (x1800), email info@leadershipgh.org, visit www.leadershipgh.org, or like LGH on Facebook.



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