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Two Creekside students chosen as delegates to U.S. Holocaust Museum

Shelita Franklin and Alecia Jefferson, juniors at Creekside High School, have been selected as delegates for the Anti-Defamation League's seventh annual Grosfeld Family National Youth Leadership Mission to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum in Washington, D.C., October 17 through October 20. They are part of a group of 10 ethnically, religiously and racially diverse high school students from throughout the Atlanta area who will participate in the Mission.

The students will convene in Washington to debate, question, and wrestle with the harmful issues of bigotry and intolerance in America.Ê The centerpiece of the Mission will be their visit to the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum.Ê "It's an honor to be selected for it," said Alecia Jefferson, "Fighting prejudice has always been important to me."

The museum will not only educate the delegates about the Holocaust, but will allow for exploration of current issues of extremism and bigotry.Ê The student delegations will also have the unique opportunity to hear the personal stories of ADL National Director Abraham Foxman, himself a Holocaust survivor, and civil rights legend Rep. John Lewis (D-GA).Ê Their testimonies will remind participants that they each possess the power -- through their actions and behavior -- to combat bigotry.

"I want to participate to be exposed to new experiences," commented Shelita Franklin when asked why she wants to go on the Mission.

ADL developed the National Youth Leadership Mission to help confront and overcome racial tensions.Ê The Mission uses historic and modern-day examples of moral courage to help motivate students to fight prejudice within their own lives and in their schools and communities.Ê The delegates become positive agents for change and help teach their peers the strength of diversity.

Shelley Rose, Associate Director, and the ADL Southeast Region office noted, "Our youth must learn the benefits of diversity and be given the tools to combat bigotry.Ê This Mission encourages open communication and frank discussion to do just that."

The National Youth Leadership Mission was initiated in 1996 by ADL's Greater Chicago/Upper Midwest Regional office.Ê This year's Mission is comprised of 110 students from Atlanta, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, Orange County, CA and Washington, D.C.Ê ÊÊ