The Youth Leadership Council (YLC) is a program within the SLC, which assists 8 grade students to develop an understanding of themselves as leaders in the local community and the world. The students brainstorm a problem plaguing our society and then do a campaign using different outlets such as a collage, display board, mural, website or podcast promoting the issue and possible solutions. Ditmas collaborates with the city agency NYC service to host this program for our students. The YLC at Ditmas is one of many YLCs around the city engaging in community service projects and making their neighborhood and city better one fun activity at a time. The participants receive community service credits for their participation in the program. Deadline for student applications and teacher nominations for this program is Mid-October. See link for the afterschool projects that were completed by students enrolled in this program: https://sites.google.com/schools.nyc.gov/ylcatditmas-8thgradementors?usp=sharing 

The Student Leadership Council (SLC) is a program that assists 6, 7 and 8 grade students develop their self-esteem and leadership skills. Students can self-nominate and apply to the program or be nominated by their teacher. The overarching purpose of the Student Leadership Council initiative is to nurture and train middle school students who identified an interest in being a school community and world leader. This year the student leaders will meet with the school social worker and 7 grade school counselor for afterschool sessions for leadership training. The students serve as greeters when officials visit the school from the city, district or community and represent the school at Social Emotional Learning (SEL) themed student conferences. The student leaders collaborate with their school counselors to promote SEL programs at the school through the morning announcements, fundraising for the Positive Behavior Intervention Supports (PBIS) program and staffing the PBIS store on the days it is open and during Respect for ALL week in February. Deadline for student applications and teacher nominations for this program is Mid-October. See link for the afterschool project that was completed by students enrolled in this program: https://sites.google.com/schools.nyc.gov/jrambassadorsafterschool-club?usp=sharing 

The Inclusion for ALL is an “identity-based club” that serves as a brave space for students who identify as queer or an ally (friend) of the LGBTQ+ community. This club is a branch of the student leadership program, the club is open to ALL students and sessions held during the 6, 7 and 8 grade lunch periods. The student leaders sign up to attend meetings and facilitate activities of the club, the school social worker is the staff advisor for the club and is also present at all meetings. Participants use art, music, literature to explore their own identity and join with other to celebrate who they are or becoming. The activities are educational and empowering and all students are encouraged to be themselves while connecting with peers and increasing their self-esteem and self-worth. Dates and times of meetings will be shared with the school community. First club meeting of the school year scheduled for November 2024.