Kicking off a Special Year

By Hailey Dalby, Jewish Youth & Family Programs Manager

BBYO is the preeminent pluralistic Jewish teen organization for grades 8-12. With chapters across North America, BBYO brings together young people from around the world to connect with their heritage, develop leadership skills, and build lifelong friendships.

Each of the next 5 months, we will be introducing one of our BBYO Board Members. These teens work together to plan BBYO events, and work to grow the chapter in both numbers and quality. This month, we meet Margot Solomon.

“My name is Margot Solomon, and I am a Junior at Naples High School. I have been a part of the Naples BBYO chapter board for three years. I first joined BBYO because I wanted to make new connections with other Jewish Teens, as I have learned the importance of this from attending religious school at Temple Shalom, and going to a Jewish sleep away camp. I am grateful for BBYO for teaching me leadership skills and for inspiring me to continue to embrace my Jewish identity.”

This September, the BBYO teens had their Kickoff event at Spinz. There was roller skating and plenty of laughter. The kickoff event is a BBYO calendar hallmark ushering in the new school opening the year of fun and camaraderie. Now that the season has ‘officially’ begun, BBYO will be participating in various community events this year, showing a commitment to being part of something bigger.

In November, the teens will be participating in the Beach Clean Up, a communal effort between PJ Library, Jewel Society, Men’s Cultural Alliance and Women’s Cultural Alliance. Additionally, they will join PJ Our Way for a hang out and movie day. Later in the month, select teens have been invited to participate in the Jewish Catholic Dialogue Kristallnacht program.

Naples BBYO invites teens currently in grades 8-12 to find yourself here From community service to holiday celebrations, and social events, BBYO offers opportunities for everyone. If this sounds like the place for you, please reach out to Hailey Dalby at hdalby@jewishnaples.org to begin your BBYO Journey. Scholarships to attend BBYO conventions and summer programs are also available through both the Jewish Federation of Greater Naples, and the Temple Shalom Men’s Club.