Fort Lee Youth Leaders Organize Successful Community Talent Show

On August 22, 2026, the One World Anchor (OWA) New Jersey Team hosted a youth talent show at the Fort Lee Recreation Center. The event brought together young people from across Bergen County with one shared goal: to share their talents, enrich the local community, and inspire others.

The success of the event was driven by the dedication and leadership of OWA’s Fort Lee youth leaders, Claire Jiang, a tenth-grade student at Bergen County Academies, and Ann Yang, a twelfth-grade student at Fort Lee High School. They were supported by Kerry Ding, a ninth-grade student at Dwight-Englewood School, and other members of the OWA Fort Lee Team.

During the weeks leading up to the talent show, the youth leaders took responsibility for nearly every stage of preparation. They recruited performers, contacted participating students and their families, collected performance information and music, created the program schedule, communicated important details, and coordinated the many moving parts of the event.

The team also reached out to local businesses and community organizations. Through their efforts, the event received generous sponsorship and support from local art studios, dance studios, and music schools. This strong response demonstrated the community’s shared commitment to encouraging young people to develop their abilities and use their talents to benefit others.

More than 30 performances featured piano, keyboard, flute, violin, singing, dance, speed-cubing, visual art, and original poetry. Rather than performing for competition or personal recognition, the participants came together to share what they loved with the community. Their contributions brought together children, parents, volunteers, educators, and local organizations in a joyful celebration of creativity.

The outstanding outcome of the event reflected the Fort Lee team’s hard work. The youth leaders successfully brought together talented young people from across Bergen County, secured strong support from local arts organizations, coordinated a varied and engaging program, and created a positive experience for performers and families. The enthusiastic response from the audience showed how deeply the community appreciated the young participants’ courage, creativity, and generosity.

The talent show demonstrated what young leaders can accomplish when they are trusted with meaningful responsibilities. Through weeks of outreach, fundraising, coordination, and teamwork, Claire, Ann, Kerry, and the OWA Fort Lee Team transformed an idea into a successful community event.

One World Anchor is proud of the initiative, perseverance, and leadership demonstrated by its New Jersey youth team. The organization looks forward to creating more opportunities for young people to share their talents, serve their communities, and make a positive difference through their own actions.