The LEAH Project is celebrating LEAH Youth Leader Genesis Gonzalez for being named the 2023 MassBioEd Student Champion and Henri A. Termeer Student Scholarship Recipient. The program annually recognizes one outstanding student statewide who plans to enroll in a life sciences undergraduate program. Genesis joined LEAH in the Summer of 2022 as part of the STEM Exploration internship program and completed her second-year internship doing cancer research at UMass Boston. Genesis is not only a bright and curious young scientist but a warm and engaged member of the famiLEAH as well. Congrats Genesis!

LEAH's Summer Internships

On May 24th, The LEAH Project hosted its annual End of Year Celebration at Hibernian Hall in Roxbury. Families, alumni, funders, and supporters were invited for a great night celebrating LEAH’s Youth Leaders and recognizing our graduating seniors. Youth Leaders facilitated the event as emcees and featured speakers. Overall, it was a spectacular evening with the LEAH youth, alumni, staff, funders, family, and supporters!

LEAH's Overnight Spring Retreat

Article by: Louisa Crenshaw, Youth Leader

From facing my fear of rock climbing to doing something nostalgic from my childhood like making s'mores by a fireside under the stars, LEAH's Spring 2023 Retreat left me yearning for more camping trips. It was my very first time going on a "camping trip". I had always thought that to go camping meant that a group of people go out into the wild to battle bugs and the elements. But really, it's the experience of having fun and enjoying your time with your close friends and loved ones surrounded by nature and lack of modern life that is filled with screens and carbon dioxide.

My favorite activities included stargazing and learning more about astrology from the one and only Katie C.; making smores and listening to horror stories with Paul G.; and listening to Waylon scream "left!" and "right!" as he led his group of youth leaders to victory during the plank walk game. I had such a wonderful time bonding with both the LEAH staff and youth leaders and will surely beg to come along on future trips. The spring retreat not only facilitated enjoyment for other youth leaders and I, but it allowed us to learn about teamwork, life skills in nature, compassion and responsibility. Thank you, LEAH, for making the trip happen!