SOMA Living December 2025

COLUMBIA’S LIFE BEYOND

FUTURE STUDENT REMARKS, OBLIGATIONS, AND SNAP CUTS

If I could speak for every high school student in the world, I would begin by sharing the intense pressure we feel to achieve “success”—a concept increasingly measured by numbers: grades, test scores, and résumés. Whether or not college is the path we envision, most of us are immersed in a curriculum that equates future success with academic performance and extracurricular involvement. In this environment, volunteer work becomes not only a requirement but a reflection of leadership and personal growth. At Columbia High School, the National Honor Society (NHS) is the cornerstone of student-led service. It promotes activities ranging from writing kind notes to middle schoolers and playing games in the Step-Up program, to tutoring through Achieve. NHS fosters academic excellence and integrity, encouraging students to give back to the MAPSO community and embrace service as a

vital part of education. For many, these experiences blend classroom lessons with real-world impact. However, once students venture beyond school grounds, volunteering can feel daunting. Programs like MEND and the Our Lady of Sorrows Food Pantry offer abundant opportunities to serve, extending the values NHS instills. Yet recent cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP) under the Trump Administration have made it harder for these organizations to meet growing needs. Students eager to help often face financial barriers when asked to donate supermarket goods. Still, service work outside of school remains deeply relevant and impactful in the SOMA community. Columbia students learn that success is not solely defined by academic rigor or activity logs, but by adaptability and action—turning obligations into relationships and making a meaningful difference in the lives of others

Hatcher Niles is a junior at Columbia High School and a proud member of the class of 2027. This school year, he’s excited about the new FinTech club he is a co-founder of, is finding more ways to volunteer in our community, and is gearing up for college application season.

COALITION ON RACE

25TH ANNUAL DR. MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. OBSERVANCE & LUMINARY LIGHTING

& Garden’s exhibit on the history of enslaved people in New Jersey, from 17th century Dutch settlement through the Civil War. To close this important day, we ask all to participate in the Luminary Lighting Project outside of homes across SOMA as a sign of peace, hope and solidarity. Interested in being a neighborhood leader or purchasing kits for a large group? Email MLKLuminaryProject@

The South Orange/Maplewood Community Coalition on Race invites the community to gather for our annual Dr. King Observance, Monday, Jan. 19, 2026, 2 p.m. at Columbia High School, as we honor his legacy and renew our shared commitment to equity and inclusion. This year’s theme, “Do Not Erase Our History,” calls us to remember that truth, memory and historical understanding are essential to building the Beloved Community.

gmail.com! Plus, the Luminary Decorating Party – an afternoon of fun where kids learn about Dr. King while designing luminary bags – will be held in early January. Visit communitycoalitiononrace.org for details.

The event will feature keynote speaker Dr. Khalil Gibran Muhammad, the inaugural Professor of African American Studies and Public Affairs at Princeton University and director of the Institutional Antiracism and Accountability Project. There will also be readings from Dr. King’s writings, performances from Columbia High School Chorus and Special Dance, and reflections from local clergy. Following the observance, visit Durand-Hedden House

Nancy Gagnier, Executive Director of the South Orange/ Maplewood Community Coalition on Race, develops pro-integrative strategies to support racial equity and inclusion.

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