The Leadership Academy for Social Justice (LASJ)
The LASJ program at Walt Whitman High School is rooted in the core principles of identity, diversity, justice, and action.
What is LASJ?
The Leadership Academy for Social Justice at Walt Whitman High school is a comprehensive, cross-curricular program that seeks to create a learning environment in which students become active and socially responsible leaders, committed to advancing social justice in their local community. The LASJ program is rooted in personal development and intercultural skills while building on students' communication and critical thinking skills.
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LASJ Student Accolades and Achievements
Austin Mboijana (Class of 2022) earned the Chancellor's Scholarship (full academic scholarship) to Vanderbilt University’s Social Justice Program
Gabrielle del Rio (Class of 2023) was honored by MoCo360 as one of 10 Extraordinary Teens in Montgomery County for her social justice work
Bronwyn McNulty (Class of 2023) hosted the first ever Pride Night for the Bethesda Big Train baseball organization
Sol Cristia (Class of 2024) and Malena Stancanelli Sorzana (Class of 2025) moderated a discussion at Politics and Prose with nationally known author Heather McGhee about her recent book The Sum of Us: How Racism Hurts Everyone.
Seven LASJ students volunteered at the March Action Event for Action in Montgomery, advocating for universal PreK, affordable dental care for low-income residents, safety measures, tenant’s rights, and environmental justice.
LASJ students presented to feeder schools Wood Acres Elementary and Bannockburn Elementary about discriminatory housing policies such as Redlining and the experience of Black students at Whitman to encourage teachers to reflect on bias and discrimination that exists at the elementary level.
Kyla Ngeno (Class of 2024) introduced esteemed author and activist, Dr. Bettina Love, at Politics and Prose for her tour to promote her book Punished for Dreaming: How School Reform Harms Black Children and How We Heal.
