MassSTAR

Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation

MassSTAR invites one sophomore from every Massachusetts-accredited public, private, charter, and vocational school to participate in an exciting, hands-on learning experience. Student delegates are nominated and chosen by their school principals, guidance counselors, teachers, and advisors, based on their demonstrated and potential leadership ability. Since its inception in 1974, MYL Foundation’s annual programs have reached more than 5,000 students.

The MassSTAR Citizenship Conference presents three days of intensive programming to challenge the student delegates, broaden their perspectives, and bring out their inner leaders. Through a series of panel speakers, group learning activities, and intensive small group discussions, we take these young people and demonstrate to them that they can be proactive leaders in their own communities. These students then take these skills and bring them back to their home school environments.

The 2025 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Joe C.

The 2024 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Kiera C.

The 2023 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Nirjara A.

The 2022 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Kevin N.

The 2021 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Lorelei L.

Due to COVID-19, the 2021 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation conference was held virtually.

Due to COVID-19, the 2020 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation conference was cancelled. Sameera M. was scheduled to represent from Walpole High School at MassSTAR.

The 2019 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Grace M.

"Before attending the MassStar conference, I was nervous to be thrown into a weekend living with 100 other people I had never met before, at a conference I knew virtually nothing about. I was sure that I wasn’t going to make any friends, and I went in with the game-plan of just keeping my head down and making it through the weekend as fast as possible. But immediately upon my arrival, I was met by some of those mysterious other delegates I had feared before, and I was stunned when I realized how much I liked them. Never before in my life had I been surrounded by such an overwhelmingly positive group of people. My small group amazed me with how intelligent, forward-thinking, and confident they were. People I had written off before even meeting them had become some of my biggest role models in less than 72 hours. I still reminisce on our conversations over every meal, ranging from extremely sophisticated and mature talks about abortion rights, gun control, and climate change, to some less sophisticated ones, such as what we would have to do to get our group facilitator to drink a bottle of hot sauce. All 11 of us remain close to this day, and I am certain that each and every one of them will do great things in the future. All of the facilitators did an excellent job of creating an environment where the delegates could discuss and learn from each other, challenging us to think about things we never had before. Our workshops were inspiring, eye-opening, emotional, and sometimes really fun. I am so thankful for the time I spent at the conference, and to all the people who helped make it possible. While I do believe I developed important leadership skills and a better understanding of leadership in our world, I think my biggest takeaway was the people I met, and the knowledge I now have that those amazing individuals are out there in the world. It gave me confidence that our future is bright, and I am sure it will forever be bright as long as MassStar exists. I hope it always does."

Grace M.

The 2018 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Jeni A.

"When I was nominated to participate in the MassSTAR leadership conference, I was ecstatic but also curious as I did not know much about the conference. I was told I would enjoy it, and I most definitely did. My assumption of MassSTAR as a positive and welcoming environment was reassured as my father and I drove into the Lasell campus, where we were greeted by the kindest and most enthusiastic staff members. I had heard that I would be rooming with a complete stranger, which made me a little nervous;however, my roommate and I were quick to establish an unbreakable bond that I know will last forever.

Over the course of three days, I grew very close to the eighty five delegates who only a couple of days ago where all strangers to me. Alongside making some of the most amazing friends at Massstar, I also learned many important life lessons about how to treat others, which I know I will be bringing back home. The schedule for the weekend was meticulously planned with influential speakers and engaging workshops that were surely designed to make each and everyone of us at the conference think hard. The many respectful individuals I met consisted of diplomats, poets, entrepreneurs, and activists, who all presented a wonderful message about leadership in our communities. The speakers also raised awareness to some issues regarding racism and social injustice that some of the delegates might not have been aware of.

The conference directors, Christian and Titsi, did a phenomenal job with the event planning because every workshop we completed was thought provoking and inspiring. The conference overall helped me find out what type of leader I was, based off of my strengths and weaknesses. I was able to grow into the leader that I had always strived to be in the matter of three days, which to me is unbelievable. On the first day of the conference, I noticed some students were shy and quiet;however, by the third day I was astonished to see the once quiet kids turn into social butterflies. Just like those students, I was able to build the confidence that I needed in order to be the best leader I can be.

I am very thankful for my facilitators who emphasized the importance of listening to other people’s opinions and being curious. They made me feel like it was okay to ask questions about little things such as “when is lunch” or the big questions about privilege in society. Thank you MassSTAR for allowing me to express myself and making each and every delegate feel welcome and I am grateful for my school for giving me this opportunity. Most of all thank you to the staff who volunteered their own time to give the delegates and myself the experience of a lifetime."

Jeni A.

The 2017 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Leah W.

"Going into the MassStar leadership conference I had no idea what to expect, all I knew was that I wouldn't know anyone there, and that no one could tell me much about it except that it would be a great experience for me. When I pulled up to the Lasell campus I was greeted by tons of enthusiastic volunteers, it was reassuring to see so many people excited to greet me and all the other candidates. I immediately met so many amazing people and quickly forgot about how nervous I was to spend a weekend with hundreds of perfect strangers!

I can honestly say that I learned a lot during the short weekend from games, guest speakers, and my peers. Each person came from a different background and it was really eye opening to see so many perspectives in one room. The program and people had so much more to offer than I could ever have expected! The conference was an experience like no other, each activity challenges you to work with others, think outside the box, and really challenge yourself. It’s hard to express the atmosphere of empowerment and friendship MassStar provides, except to say that it is a one of a kind experience. During the weekend my eyes were opened to all the potential that I, and all young people have, and I left the conference, sad to leave the friendships I had made behind, but confident that I had a voice that mattered. The MassStar experience genuinely changed me for the better and I am so thankful for this opportunity to learn and grow and for all of the friendships I made! MassStar 2017 is a weekend I will never forget!"

Leah W.

The 2016 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Lindsey S.

"When I attended the 2016 MassSTAR conference, I had no idea what to expect. All that I knew was that living with a random roommate and spending three days without anyone from my school seemed a little intimidating. However, the daunting aspect of going alone ended up being the best part because when everyone arrives from their respective schools, they feel the same way as you do: a little nervous, a little excited, not knowing what would go on during the weekend. Because everyone comes into MassSTAR not knowing one another, everyone is quick to bond. I am still very close to the friends I made during those three days (and that random roommate I feared ended up being one of the coolest girls I know!).

Aside from the lasting friendships, I left MassSTAR with many messages resonating in my mind. The activities I participated in were nothing like the typical teamwork or leadership games I had played in the past. Surrounded by kids who had come from many different backgrounds and places than me, each person brought a unique perspective to all of the topics we talked about—whether it be as simple communicating with other or as large as equality. The lessons I learned at MassSTAR really opened my eyes to things I could incorporate in the way I live my life. The atmosphere facilitates this growth and learning, which makes the conference really special. The change that occurred in each delegates thinking over just three days is unmatched by any other program I have attended.

Overall, I can strongly say that being chosen to go to MassSTAR was an opportunity I will be forever grateful for. It is a wonderful program run by wonderful people, and so much is accomplished in just three days. From the moment you arrive to the reflection at the end of the weekend, you are constantly thinking, discovering, and developing as an individual. MassSTAR will always be an important place to me!"

Lindsey S.

The 2015 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative

Karishma P.

"As soon as I stepped out of the car on the cool Friday morning of May 29th, the first day of the conference, I knew I was in for an experience unlike anything I had ever seen. Before my mom had even stopped pulling into the small Lassell parking lot where nervous delegates left their parents for the last time before they blossomed into globally aware, empowered, and inspired young adults, there were people greeting me with excitement, and even reaching through the car window to shake my hand. I smiled apprehensively, not knowing what else to do, and stepped out of the car, braced for whatever insanity I was sure awaited me. I had no idea what I was in for.

Words alone cannot fully describe the true MassSTAR experience: the sense of purpose and accomplishment and vitality brought simply being in the presence of so many other capable young people; the sense of trust and camaraderie built by the innumerable ridiculous chants and dances we all took part in together; the shared rush of unlocking our own potentials together, knowing that each one of us is powerful enough to send shockwaves of change, and the dizzying, unfathomable scale of the force that our combined efforts could produce. Arriving as strangers, each one of us from a different school, it seems completely absurd that a group so large could become so close in a matter of days—which is exactly what happened. Each delegate belonged to a smaller family, a group, within the larger conference. The members of your group (the Wild Things, in my case) are the first people you see in the morning, and the last people you see at night, exempting your roommate. You dine with your group, you share and discuss with your group, you even cry with your group on the last day when the whole whirlwind of an experience draws to a painful close. We even lovingly dubbed our group’s senior facilitator, Brian, “mom.” The sense of family and support has yet to fade away, and my group (mom included) keeps in touch via text to this day. The same sense of family extended from each individual to his or her fellow delegates.

Late Saturday night, a mere 48 hours after meeting each other, the true strength of the 2015 MassStar Family dawned on me. The lights in a large auditorium were shut off, and the students silently seated themselves around the perimeter. At one end of the auditorium, the heads of the conference instructed a group of students to rub their hands together. Slowly they went around the room in a sweeping motion and students along the perimeters followed suit when they were pointed to. As the heads came back around to the beginning of the circle, the rubbing changed to snapping...then to patting the ground...then to stomping feet. All around me, a giant storm rose and swirled around me in the electrically charged air, as I felt myself become part of a greater sweeping movement, a unit, one MassStar body. The thunderous stomping continued for a while longer, soon fading back into patting...then snapping...then rubbing...and slowly to nothing. As one, united force, we rose, joined hands, and walked silently back to our dorms for the last time, truly appreciating the strength and meaning of our group. Not a breath of sound from over 80 young, teenage students, linked physically and mentally in unanimous solidarity for positive change is something truly powerful to be appreciated. As I arrived at the conference, I nervously joked with my mother to feel free to turn the car around and go back home; as we drove away on Sunday, I had the same request to turn around and go back to this newest home."

Karishma P.

The 2014 Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation representative at the MassSTAR Citizenship Conference from Walpole High School was Mary R.

The STAR in MassSTAR refers to STudents Accepting Responsibility and our organization follows the five pillars of our organization, the Five-Points of the Star: Respect, Responsibility, Collaboration, Initiative, and Intentionality.

To learn more about the MassSTAR curriculum please visit: http://www.massyouthleadership.org/curriculum.html.

For more information about the Massachusetts Youth Leadership Foundation visit: http://www.massyouthleadership.org/.

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