Meeting with YouthNet Board of Directors
YouthNet has been serving our community for 17 years, with recent support from the Maplewood Foundation, South Mountain YMCA, and NJ American Water. Their work reminds us that building strong schools requires strong partnerships across our entire community.
Listening, Learning, and Leading with YouthNet
On Thursday, September 18, candidates Malini Nayar, Paul Stephan, and Meredith Higgins were invited to attend the YouthNet Board of Directors meeting. They were deeply grateful for the opportunity to connect with this vital community organization and hear firsthand about the ways YouthNet supports students in South Orange and Maplewood.
Listen
Malini and Meredith joined YouthNet leaders Diane Malloy (Executive Director), Camilla Finch-Teitelman (Board Co-Chair), township representatives Bill Haskins (South Orange) and Deb Engel (Maplewood), and other board members. Paul was unable to attend due to a prior commitment, but Malini and Meredith shared their takeaways with him afterward.
The candidates listened to concerns about the critical 3–6 p.m. hours after school, when research shows teens are most vulnerable. They heard how YouthNet provides essential programming to keep students safe, engaged, and connected during these hours, offering opportunities beyond what school-sponsored clubs alone can provide
Learn
The candidates learned that YouthNet fills a critical gap by keeping students safe and engaged during the vulnerable after-school hours. Board members emphasized that arts, leadership, and recreation programs provide belonging and enrichment beyond what school clubs alone can offer, and highlighted the need for renewed collaboration with the BOE, including presenting at a future meeting.
Meredith reflected that extracurriculars like choir, musicals, and dance once gave her the same sense of belonging YouthNet now provides for students, while Malini noted how, after COVID disruptions, YouthNet has helped her children and their peers rediscover interests and friendships. Both reflections reinforced what YouthNet leaders stressed: extracurricular opportunities can change the trajectory of a student’s life.
Lead
This meeting reinforced the heart of the campaign’s vision: Listen. Learn. Lead.
By listening to YouthNet, the candidates gained insight into the pressing needs of students outside regular school hours.
By learning from both personal experiences and YouthNet’s expertise, they deepened their understanding of how after-school programs transform lives and improve student learning during the school day.
By leading, they commit to strengthening ties between the Board of Education and community partners like YouthNet.
Action Items:
Advocate for YouthNet to present at an upcoming BOE meeting.
Restore a practice of regular BOE attendance at YouthNet meetings to build ongoing partnership.
Explore how the BOE can collaborate with YouthNet and similar organizations to expand after-school opportunities.
REGISTRATION IS OPEN until October 3rd! Clubs begin October 6th and end November 14th. Here are some helpful links:
