Vineyard high school seniors Isabella El-Deiry and Jacob Lawrence recently traveled to Boston to discover how Massachusetts leaders support young people. The trip was part of the Martha’s Vineyard Youth Leadership Initiative. Bella and Jacob met with Sen. John Kerry’s education policy advisor, Nicole Caravalla. Senator Kerry is chairman of the U.S. Senate Committee on Foreign Affairs. They also met with Gov. Deval Patrick’s director of community affairs and heard about the governor’s plan for a statewide youth council.

Bella is president of the Young Sisters mentoring group, and Jacob is active in the Young Brothers to Men program. They have helped organize a Thanksgiving food drive and a winter coat drive. Jacob is also an athlete who plays on the high school soccer team.