LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS

Superintendent’s Student Leadership Team joins statewide movement inside Newark’s towering cathedral of hope and healing.

LINDEN PUBLIC SCHOOLS, NJ — On Tuesday morning (Nov.18), a quiet sense of purpose filled the yellow school bus leaving Soehl Middle School. Inside sat 23 students--curious, courageous, and ready to learn--each part of the newly assembled Superintendent’s Student Leadership Team (SSLT). They weren’t just on their way to an event. They were stepping into a powerful moment of leadership and discovery.

Their destination: Newark’s towering Cathedral Basilica of the Sacred Heart, a breathtaking Gothic landmark whose soaring arches, radiant stained-glass windows, and echoing stone corridors make it one of the most awe-inspiring cathedrals in the nation. It was here, within this vast sanctuary of hope and reflection, that clergy, educators, law enforcement, community advocates, elected officials, and nearly a hundred students gathered for the One Nation, One Peace – New Jersey interfaith service, a unified stand against violence.

Riding alongside Superintendent Dr. Atiya Y. Perkins, the students spent the journey in thoughtful conversation about leadership, school climate, and the power of student voice in shaping safer, more inclusive communities.

“Our students are not the leaders of tomorrow—they are leaders right now,” Superintendent Perkins emphasized. “The SSLT gives them a platform to influence real change, to speak boldly, and to stand for peace when their voices are needed most.”

Even before reaching the cathedral, students were already practicing what the SSLT stands for: listening deeply, thinking critically, and approaching leadership through service and empathy.

A New Era of Student Leadership in Linden

Launched this fall, the Superintendent’s Student Leadership Team brings together 24 students in grades 6–12 from Soehl Middle School, McManus Middle School, and Linden High School. The initiative focuses on developing emotional intelligence, communication, advocacy, and service-driven leadership.

Through monthly lunch-and-learn sessions, district visits, and field experiences like Tuesday’s gathering, the SSLT aims to equips students with the tools and confidence to shape school culture from the inside out. Their work will be guided by seven core actions: Listen, Empower, Advocate, Demonstrate, Elevate, Relate, and Serve -- a blueprint for authentic, student-centered leadership across Linden Public Schools.

The interfaith service in Newark marked the team’s first major outing and a defining introduction to leadership at a statewide level.

Inside One Nation, One Peace – New Jersey

Stepping into the Cathedral Basilica, the students felt the weight and wonder of the moment.

Sunlight filtered through stained-glass windows in waves of blue, gold, and red. Voices hushed as attendees filled the long wooden pews. The air carried a blend of solemnity and hope.

Hosted by the International Stop the Violence Alliance (ISTVA) and the Torch for Peace Foundation, the service brought together a diverse coalition of faith leaders, law enforcement officers, community advocates, and youth in a collective call to end violence and rebuild community trust.

The program opened with a solemn Torch Procession, led by the New Jersey State Police Pipes and Drums of the Blue and Gold and the State Police Honor Guard. Patriotic hymns rose into the vaulted ceilings, followed by prayers and reflections from Christian, Muslim, Caribbean-American, and African faith leaders. Each voice contributed a unique thread of solidarity.

ISTVA President Dr. Stephné R. Coney delivered a powerful “Call to Peace, Purpose, and Unity,” urging all young people in attendance to become advocates for nonviolence in their schools and neighborhoods.

Throughout the service, litanies honored first responders, police and firefighters, community organizations, educators, and those who serve and protect. The recurring message was unmistakable: violence must not steal our children, our classrooms, or our communities.

The theme “No More Empty Desks” pierced the cathedral with emotional force, reminding attendees that every empty seat represents a life cut short. Students watched as the Torch for Peace glowed at the altar—symbolizing hope, unity, and the unwavering belief that every child deserves to come home safely.

The students also witnessed an uplifting musical performance by the Newark Arts High School Choir, whose harmonies filled the cathedral with messages of unity, resilience, and love.

But perhaps the most moving moment was the Passing of the Torch and Candlelight Ceremony. As students joined hands across the cathedral, the symbolic light of peace traveled from person to person—a vivid reminder that peace is passed, protected, and carried by individuals and communities together.

A Defining Moment for Linden’s Young Leaders

For Linden’s SSLT students, the interfaith service was not just an event—it was a profound lesson in leadership, empathy, and responsibility. They watched adults confronting difficult truths about violence, but also insisting on hope, partnership, and the power of youth.

As Superintendent Perkins reflected:

“Today, our students saw what leadership looks like—not in titles, but in service. They saw how their voices matter. And they saw that peace begins with people brave enough to choose it.”

With their first field experience complete, the SSLT returns home inspired, informed, and ready to amplify their impact in Linden’s schools and neighborhoods.