Sussex Academy junior interns with SOAH

Sussex Academy junior Biloxi Buffington has been selected to the inaugural class of interns for local nonprofit Speak Out Against Hate.

As a SOAH Youth Ambassador Leadership intern, Biloxi is assisting with the creation of a goal-driven advisory board with outreach objectives.

“Our overall goal is to bring awareness about being kind and empathetic, and conscious about the things you say,” Biloxi said. “It’s important to think about the words you say and their effect on others.”

Due to her leadership roles and social justice activities, Biloxi was encouraged to apply for the internship by school counselor Channel Chaplin.

In her position, Biloxi helped plan a November dance party fundraiser and a January film festival at the Cinema Art Theater in Lewes. She will also develop her own personal goals and work with a mentor throughout the year.

“It’s been really fun working with the mentors,” Biloxi said.

Steven Band, SOAH internship coordinator, said interns help design programs to counter hate, and develop activities and events that foster kindness, compassion and community for peers, other students and the wider community.

“An emphasis of the internship is on leadership development, and interns focus on those skills as they work with other students and school-based programs,” Band said. “Biloxi is an important member of SOAH, and she is invaluable in SOAH's mission to develop social justice and compassion-focused programming in schools and with local youth.”

Sussex Academy is a tuition-free, public charter school in Georgetown.