The Jackson-Reed Model United Nations Club recently had a conference on Saturday, February 28. The conference was the first ever to be held in JR and had about 15 participants, most of whom were juniors and freshman. 

It ran from 9 am to 3 pm and was a World Health Organization simulation centered around the topic: the resurgence of the Bubonic Plague.

In Model UN, participants role-play as diplomats of a country and argue from the perspective of their country about a specific topic. On Saturday, the delegates debated many issues, such as public health strategies and cooperation.  After planning this event weeks in advance, the event became an important milestone as this was the first ever Model UN conference ever hosted at Jackson-Reed. Under junior Peyton Shum, acting as the conference’s secretary general, JR’s Model UN team worked hard to create an engaging environment that encouraged difficult conversation and stimulating debates. The team is also looking forward to hosting another event next November, which they hope will have increased participation and that the event can become an annual tradition at JR. Model UN is a great way for students to understand how diplomacy works, sharpen their public speaking and researching skills and discuss uncomfortable but important topics in the world. 

If you enjoy learning about current events outside the US, consider stopping by room 208 where the Model UN club meets every Tuesday during lunch. All grade levels are welcome to join, and congrats to the JR Model UN team for planning such a successful event!