Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth and MIAA Co-Host Over 150 Students for 2025 ‘Becoming a Leader’ Conference at Essex Tech

WAKEFIELD — Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth (MPY) Executive Director Margie Daniels is proud to announce an exciting collaboration with the Massachusetts Interscholastic Athletic Association (MIAA), after the two organizations welcomed 150 middle school students from across Massachusetts and 20 of their advisors to the 2025 “Becoming a Leader” Conference held at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School on Friday, March 21, 2025.

The “Becoming a Leader” Conference featured three engaging speakers who addressed future leaders from the public schools of Arlington, Lincoln, Milton, Haverhill, Belmont, Medford, Newburyport, New Bedford, Hamilton-Wenham, Lowell, Medford, and Wilmington. In addition, middle school students from Andover-CREST Collaborative and Salem Academy Charter School attended the conference.

Robert Hackenson Jr., a certified hypnotist and magician, inspired students to lead with purpose, build strong relationships, and make a lasting impact. Hackenson’s presentation, titled “Leading Together: Building Community and Driving Change at School,” encouraged students to set goals and follow through with them.

Resource Officer Michael Chase, from Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School in Danvers, inspired students with his powerful story of survival from the Boston Marathon bombing in 2013 at the finish line near Copley Square.

Officer Chase concluded his speech with a statement to remember: “Leadership isn’t just about being strong,” he said. “It’s about recognizing when you need help and when others do, too.”

Ivy Watts, a former All-American student athlete and founder of Ivy Watts Speaks, shared the personal journey that led her to confront her mental health challenges. Watts provided the students with practical tools for self-care that will help increase their mental wellness, deepen their self-love, renew their confidence, and build up resiliency.

For more than two decades, MPY has partnered with the MIAA in presenting outstanding conferences aimed at fostering student leadership and positive decision-making in an ever complex and changing world. The middle school students at this conference learned a variety of positive steps that they can take to continue to make personal growth along their journey of student leadership.

“We’re proud to partner with the MIAA to offer this programming as a way to help build skills and confidence for our young leaders of the future,” said MPY Executive Director Margie Daniels. “The purpose of the conference, which is held each year, is to empower our young people to become leaders, focusing on ways for them to increase mental wellness, embrace healthy life choices and build up confidence and resiliency. Thank you to all of our featured speakers who helped make this such an impactful day.”

About the Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth, Inc. is a nonprofit 501(c)(3) organization that provides training, fosters collaboration and develops programming to increase the health and safety of students. MPY is committed to bringing cutting-edge information and high-quality trainings to constituents and endeavors to provide solution-oriented, community-based, multi-disciplinary approaches to reducing and ideally eliminating risky behaviors for youth. MPY programming reaches nearly 6,000 educators per year in Massachusetts, spread across approximately 300 districts, with more than 150 webinars and over a dozen conferences.

Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth is governed by a Board of Directors made up of school superintendents, police and fire chiefs, and other community leaders who work closely with MPY staff to deliver this mission. To learn more, visit: massachusettspartnershipsforyouth.com.

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Robert Hackenson Jr., a certified hypnotist and magician, engaged with students during his presentation, “Leading Together: Building Community and Driving Change at School,” at the 2025 “Becoming a Leader” Conference. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School Resource Officer Michael Chase shared his powerful story of survival from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, inspiring students with a message of resilience and leadership. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Mental health advocate and former All-American student-athlete Ivy Watts spoke to students about the importance of self-care, confidence, and mental wellness at the “Becoming a Leader” Conference. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Peter Smith, associate director on the MIAA Executive Staff, introduces guest speaker Ivy Watts, a mental health advocate and former All-American student-athlete. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Robert Hackenson Jr. interacted with students during his dynamic presentation, teaching them to lead with purpose and build strong relationships. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Robert Hackenson Jr. interacted with a student on stage during his dynamic presentation. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School Resource Officer Michael Chase told his story of surviving the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, inspiring students with a message of resilience and leadership. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Ivy Watts, the founder of Ivy Watts Speaks, shared her story about the mental health challenges she faced as a student-athlete to about 150 students at the 2025 “Becoming a Leader” Conference at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

About 150 middle school students and 20 of their advisors from across Massachusetts attended the 2025 “Becoming a Leader” Conference at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School Resource Officer Michael Chase shared his powerful story of survival from the 2013 Boston Marathon bombing, inspiring students with a message of resilience and leadership. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)

Students came from across Massachusetts to attend the 2025 “Becoming a Leader” Conference at Essex North Shore Agricultural and Technical High School. (Photo courtesy Massachusetts Partnerships for Youth)