Brian Dennert, the head of our school’s Brown Bag Lunch program, is dedicated to creating a generation of informed and proactive citizens. “Our main goal is to equip students with a deep understanding of community issues and encourage them to engage actively,” Dennert explained. “We want them to be inspired to take on leadership roles.” The program achieves this by inviting a diverse range of local leaders and political candidates to speak, allowing students to hear different viewpoints and make informed decisions. Additionally, student speaker suggestions are welcomed, keeping the program aligned with student interests.
Each year the program centers around a specific theme that guides the selection of topics and presenters. This year’s theme, “Courage,” is inspired by JFK’s Profiles in Courage and encourages speakers to connect their speeches to their roles or political aspirations. This combination with students’ education goals and development is achieved through assignments like creating art-based insights from speakers and everyday classroom learning.
Upcoming highlights include a presentation session with Josh Gray from the park board, who will share his personal experiences working for former President Barack Obama including Obama’s recognition in Profiles in Courage.
