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Friday, July 25, 2003

By Michelle K. Massie, Post-Gazette Staff Writer

For six months, a steering committee of 12 Pittsburgh-area high school students has been working tirelessly, preparing for the National Urban League Conference.

The students, members of the National Urban League Incentives to Excel and Succeed --- or NULITES --- program, planned the group's Youth Summit that began yesterday and runs through Sunday as a precursor to the Urban League's annual conference in Downtown Pittsburgh.

With six months of hard work preparing for the National Urban League Conference behind them, members of the NULITES Youth Leadership Summit steering committee were able to share a laugh yesterday at Carnegie Mellon University. From left are Shawntez Bryant, Teona Wakefield, Shinora Grayson and John Tillar. Nearly 400 youths will attend the summit planned by Pittsburgh-area high school students. Click here to read how some of the participants answered the question "What can urban schools do to better prepare African American students for college?" (Steve Mellon, Post-Gazette)

"NULITES brings young black people together to help them prepare for their future," said Shinora Grayson, 16, a senior at Schenley High School who served on the steering committee.

The summit will host 394 student delegates from NULITES chapters across the country, including 55 students from the Pittsburgh chapter, and will feature events that highlight youth leadership and achievement.

Events include a panel discussion focusing on the 50th anniversary of the landmark Supreme Court decision, Brown v. Board of Education, which ruled that segregation in public schools is unconstitutional; workshops on college and career preparation, professional development and independent living skills; and motivational seminars featuring speakers from across the country, including current Urban League President Marc Morial.

NULITES participants become role models for their peers.

"NULITES is so important to me because it allows me to be able to inspire, encourage and motivate other students from around the city and country to get involved with their communities and make academics vitally important to their lives," said John Tillar, 17, a senior at South Fayette High School.

Through monthly meetings and activities, students learn lessons in mental, physical and emotional preparation for college and professional lives.

"I can learn as much from a student as he can learn from me," said Aaron Thomas, director of education for the National Urban League. "We have a model built around peer-to-peer development where we get young people to realize they are at the center of their own growth and development. The key is to get them to see themselves as excellent, as great."

Thomas said that while students are encouraged to be ambitious and set high standards for themselves, NULITES also recognizes that young people have to be in a position to grow through opportunities.

"We know these students need opportunities," Thomas said. "The goals for these students is college, home ownership and to develop them into community leaders to inspire and motivate others. But they need the opportunity to do so."

NULITES offers its students opportunities through what Thomas called "assets and access." These assets and access are achieved through exposing students to national speakers, business tours, college preparation and leadership development, which they exercised by planning the national summit.

Grayson, who has been in NULITES for four years, said she has learned a lot about personal growth through her experience in the program. She said the committee chose the theme for the summit, "Don't Waste Your Time: Define Your Shine!" based on the notion of personal growth and creating opportunities.

"It means stop standing around and waiting for things to happen and do it yourself," she said.

All but two of the NULITES events are closed to the public. The public is invited to the National Urban League Family Day session scheduled for Sunday at 9 a.m. at the David L. Lawrence Convention Center, and the NULITES Achievement Matters! Rally, scheduled for Sunday at 11:30 a.m. in the center.

The Pittsburgh NULITES also invites all young adults, ages 14-19, to join. Participation is free. For more information, call Chris Hughes at (412) 227-4167.