Max Alter, from Beachwood High School, and Marni Cantor, from Solon High School, were elected presidents at the Ohio Northern Region BBYO regional conference May 18-22 at Bertram Inn and Conference Center in Aurora.
“As teenagers, most of them are not old enough to vote in any elections local or national,” said Lindsey Rosenberg, BBYO senior regional director about the 150 teenagers who voted in the 32nd regional board election. “Some of them feel like they don’t have a voice and I would say this gives them a voice and decision making in what kind of things they want to see in their organization or Jewish community.”
Teens from Cleveland, Akron, Canton, Toledo and Youngstown comprise the 17 chapters of ONR BBYO who were eligible to vote for the 12 regional board positions.
Others elected were: Jacob Schuman, from Solon High School, vice president of programming, or s’gan; Cyrus Young, from Solon High School, vice president of membership, or moreh; Ryan Muencz, from Beachwood High School, vice president of Jewish heritage, community service and social action, or shaliach; Spencer Hendlin, from Beachwood High School, vice president of communication, or mazkir; and Jonah Rubanenko, from Orange High School in Pepper Pike, treasurer, or gizbor; Jocelyn Trostler, from Orange High School, vice president of programming, or s’ganit; Shira Ophir, from Laurel High School in Shaker Heights, vice president of membership, or aym ha chaverot; Alex Goldman, from Hoover High School in Canton, vice president of Jewish heritage, community service and social action, or sh’licha; Lexi Sussman, from Solon High School, treasurer, or gizborit; and Abigail Berk, from Twinsburg High School, vice president of communication, or mazkirah.
“We’re a teen-led organization so our teens actually choose the program topics and the theme,” Rosenberg said. “They wanted to have a well-rounded weekend in terms of the types of topics and programs.
“They can understand the connection between Jews all over the world. It’s bigger than just their local community here,” Rosenberg said. “It allows them to be more understanding of other teens in other Jewish communities.”
