Florida teen helps weed Clifton Park farm as part of National Urban League youth summit

Jamario Cantrell knelt under the blazing sun Saturday, carefully wrapping his fingers around tall weeds that had popped up alongside young asparagus plants at the Real Food Farm in Baltimore.

The 18-year-old from West Palm Beach, Fla., was one of about 260 teens who traveled from around the country to Baltimore this week to participate in the National Urban League’s 27th annual Youth Leadership Summit. The century-old civil rights organization will hold its annual convention Aug. 3-6 at the Baltimore Convention Center.

On Saturday, the teens were dispersed to different improvement projects as part of the summit’s “Day of Service,” culminating a week of events intended to help build confidence, leadership skills and prepare participants for life after high school.

“We believe that it’s important for people to engage in service learning, learning to give back to the community,” said Robyn Ince, vice president of education policy and advocacy at the National Urban League.

“We believe it is not only important to be academically successful, but civically engaged,” she said.

Cantrell and about 40 other teens were stationed at the Real Food Farm in Clifton Park, where they helped weed crops.

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