Rowan College Town Hall To Focus On Youth Leadership Amid Unrest

BURLINGTON COUNTY, NJ — Several non-profit, non-partisan community partners discuss how they are preparing and supporting young leaders in building a brighter future during Rowan College at Burlington County’s next Facebook Live Town Hall event.

It will take place at 1 p.m. Wednesday, college officials said Friday morning. Viewers can submit questions throughout the livestream and at rcbc.edu/coronavirus. The event will include the following participants:

• Rowan College at Burlington County Vice President of Workforce Development Anna Payanzo Cotton;
• Dr. Amy Dean of Faith in Action;
• Seigha Omuso of The Opportunity League and Rowan College at Burlington County basketball coach;
• Curtis Myers of Aspire Youth Development; and
• Rowan College at Burlington County alum Eric Miller, a member of the National Society for Black Engineers (NSBE).

After earning his engineering degree from Rowan University, Miller went to work for Leonardo Helicopters in Philadelphia, where he serves as a mechanical engineer. He designs and certifies systems for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).

Miller said he benefited from his time at The Opportunity League, an organization that builds communities and provides opportunities in education and sports, where he developed his leadership and communication skills.

“When I first started, I reached out and did fundraising, completed office work with organizational data, and I eventually worked my way up to the team leadership program where I worked as a teacher and was able to learn from my students,” Miller said.

Omuso founded The Opportunity League and serves as the director. For the last 12 years, he’s dedicated his life to helping students transition and advance through various life stages and grade levels.

“We develop students from start to finish. Our goal is to build leadership skills, encourage social development and assist with decision-making regarding career paths as they get older,” said Omuso, who is also the head coach of the men’s basketball team at Rowan College at Burlington County.

Omuso said that when he started the organization, he had no idea the impact it would have on young people. Now, during the current civil unrest, he realizes their work is more critical than ever.

“We see that young people want to be a part of that change,” Omuso said. “Young people are the leaders of our tomorrow.”

Dean is the executive director of Faith in Action, which she founded in 1994 to focus on performing arts, mentoring and leadership. Faith in Action partnered with Rowan College at Burlington County to run the summer performing arts camp in 1998.

“Faith in Action creates a platform for systemic, social change for the more pressing, present conversation we’re having now,” Cotton said. “Marginalized voices are being amplified more greatly now, and this organization helps young leaders reach this change. Our young leaders are going to heal us from ourselves.”

Dean said Faith in Action provides youth the support they need, including self-esteem and leadership development, so they can take action to bring about the change that’s needed.

“We take the time to understand their perspectives, and give them the tools they need to implement real change,” Dean said.

Myers, founder and president of Aspire Youth Development, focuses on empowering and encouraging young people.

His organization has successfully engaged thousands of participants in training programs on leadership, diversity, mentoring, social responsibility, civic engagement and career development, the college said. They partner with the college on workforce development training for young adults.

“I’m encouraged to see the amount of young people involved in this movement. Historically, that’s nothing new,” Myers said. “Every great movement has a lot of young voices. Our goal is to provide context and counsel while not trying to squelch their fire.”