Three Minneapolis residents selected as 2017 Bank of America Student Leaders

Roosevelt High School junior Adbifatah Abdi, Armstrong High School junior Jaelah Lymon and Southwest High School senior Ramsey Swain are three of five Minneapolis-area teens selected to be part of the 2017 Bank of America Student Leaders program this summer. The program awards the students a paid, eight-week summer internship at a local nonprofit and a trip to Washington, D.C. to participate in the Bank of America Student Leadership Summit.

Growing up in an Ethiopian refugee camp, Abdifatah showed strong leadership abilities as he cared for his siblings while his parents worked. Today, Abdifatah volunteers at Al Alif Islamic Center School, where he teaches and learns the Quran, mentors and tutors younger Muslim students. From these experiences, Abdifatah has strengthened his communication skills, which has allowed him to make a positive impact in his community.

Jaelah is currently involved with Explorers, a law enforcement exploration club, where she is able to volunteer her time and shadow law enforcement professionals within their industries. From her experience with Explorers, Jaelah has developed a passion for criminal justice. This passion turned into reality when she participated in a Civil Rights Research Experience, allowing her to learn even more about her own African-American history such as the steps that have and are being taken towards not only equality but equity. In school, Jaelah continues to encourage open-minded dialogues about her learning experiences and encourages others to share as well.

Through his high school’s extracurricular programs, Ramsey traveled to Guatemala, The Netherlands, Germany, Italy, Austria, Switzerland, France and the UK. Traveling abroad allowed Ramsey to observe first-hand the cultural differences between his community and several others. But the biggest takeaway Ramsey had is to be more opened minded to the perspectives of his peers; a leadership quality Ramsey implements at school every day.

As part of the Bank of America Student Leaders program, Adbifatah, Jaelah and Ramsey received a paid eight-week internship at Hennepin Theatre Trust (HTT). The internships provide students with valuable work experience while also supporting the nonprofits with extra help this summer.

To learn more about the Bank of America Student Leaders program, visit:

https://about.bankofamerica.com/en-us/what-guides-us/student-leaders.html#fbid=oXOJmc8tuBx

To learn more about Hennepin Theatre Trust (HTT), visit:

https://hennepintheatretrust.org/