On April 24^th, three Lewis High School students were featured speakers at the National Museum and Center for Service’s 2026 Service Symposium 250 & Beyond: Our American Story. Jackie Acuna-Velasco, Giselle Fox, and Aleyah Olarinde ‍spoke about their growth and impact as leaders of the Lewis Leadership Program Museum of Service. You can watch their speeches at this link: https://youtu.be/BIohz9mY_PA

Lewis High School students worked with a team of sixth grade student leaders from Lynbrook Elementary School to plan two full days of service museum events that impacted more than 200 Lynbrook students, with support and guidance from Lynbrook teacher Christine Patafio. Lewis and Lynbrook student leaders built meaningful connections as they worked side by side to set up the museum, plan and lead interactive stations, and welcome each new group of visitors. Along the way, they showed leadership in action: communicating clearly, solving problems together, and stepping outside their comfort zones as collaborators and mentors.

Labor activist and civil rights leader Dolores Huerta visited the Lewis Leadership Program Museum of Service as part of her full-day visit to the school as the keynote speaker for our celebration of John Lewis’s birthday. She participated in a community circle, listened to students’ hopes for the future, and advised the next generation of change-makers.

“As we walked the 5th and 6th graders through the museum, I kept thinking about how not long ago, I was once a kid sitting in assemblies and listening to older students speak. Now, I was the one sharing what service looks like in action…”

This blog post was written by Lewis Leadership Program student Fazl (11th grade).

Fairfax County Public Schools leaders from Instructional Services Department and the Department of Special Services visited the Lewis Leadership Program Museum of Service. They explored students’ ideas, shared personal connections, and offered resources to support the students’ efforts.

Students from Key Center School were the first students outside of Lewis High School to contribute an exhibit to the Lewis Leadership Program Museum of Service. They designed an informative display about disability justice activist Judy Heumann. Key Center students and staff visited the museum in Key Middle School library in January 2026.

For two inspiring weeks in January 2026, the Lewis Leadership Program Community Museum of Service created space for school-wide conversations about young people’s power to create positive change. Key Middle School students contributed insights, ideas, writing, and art that will be added to the museum as it travels.