Leadership Symposium kickoff slated for tonight

SWAMPSCOTT-The Swampscott Leadership Symposium is a new initiative that organizers hope will help build self-confidence and leadership abilities in teens.Superintendent Matthew Malone said the initiative is a community coalition to address issues of leadership through the building of confidence and effective decision-making.The program was the brainchild of resident Alice Goldsmith, who met with Malone last spring to discuss youth in town and the need for community involvement in the lives of teens.?One of the things I kept hearing from people is there really needs to be more community involvement,” she said. “Our kids are so much at risk today. In the 40 years since I was a teenager, the risks our youth face have increased dramatically.”Goldsmith said youth need an opportunity to interact with adults in ways that would help build confidence.?Our kids are highly educated,” she said. “But too many times we talk at kids and we need to talk with them. This program would put kids in small groups with an accomplished adult. Through creating dialog we want to help our young people build confidence. You can’t be a leader if you’re not confident.”Principal Larry Murphy said approximately 130 students and 20 adults are involved in the Leadership Symposium program.?We’re very excited about it,” he said.The kickoff event for the Swampscott Leadership Symposium will be held tonight at Swampscott High School. The keynote speaker for evening is Peter Roby, who is the Athletic Director at Northeastern University. Roby is the former Harvard University head basketball coach and former marketing vice president at Reebok.Goldsmith said after Roby speaks, the students would be broken down into small groups with one adult serving as group leader.?Kids will be able to use their group leader as a resource,” she said. “It is a wonderful opportunity for students to be able to interact with adults in a very different way. We have a great group of people willing to go forward with this program. We’re really excited about it. I think it’s going to be wonderful for Swampscott.”