Two representatives from Kagman High School brought the CNMI’s history and perspective to a national stage in Philadelphia, joining students and teachers from across the country for the Young People’s Continental Congress summer institute.
Kagman High School teacher Elizabeth Basa and student delegate Cyrena Ada were among 27 student‑teacher teams selected for the weeklong civic education program, held July 19–25 at Carpenters’ Hall, the site of the First Continental Congress. Delegates represented communities across the United States, including American Samoa, the CNMI, and Department of Defense Education Activity (DoDEA) schools serving U.S. military families in the Netherlands and Puerto Rico.
For Basa, the closing dinner at Carpenters’ Hall was the highlight of the program. “It was incredibly meaningful to gather and celebrate our time together in a place so important to U.S. history,” she said. Ada said her most memorable moment was seeing the CNMI flag displayed at the National Constitution Center. “I had so much pride in that moment for our home,” she said.
Throughout the week, delegates visited Independence Hall, the Liberty Bell, the Museum of the American Revolution, and the Historical Society of Pennsylvania. They also participated in discussions with historians on how founding‑era ideals have evolved over 250 years.
Basa said meeting students and educators from across the country reinforced the value of learning from different perspectives. Ada said those conversations showed her how closely current events connect to historical patterns.
Both delegates introduced the CNMI to peers unfamiliar with the islands. Basa said World War II history drew the most interest, while Ada found that showing the CNMI’s location on Google Maps helped others understand its geography and colonial past.
Representing the CNMI carried a sense of responsibility, Basa said. Ada added that she wanted to prove she could represent her community well. “Like my people, I remained resilient,” she said.
Basa said she plans to bring back the message that “our perspectives and our voices matter.” Ada said the program inspired her to encourage other CNMI students to pursue similar opportunities.
The institute concluded with delegates co‑creating and signing a Declaration of Aspirations, reflecting their hopes for the future of American democracy. National History Day Executive Director Cathy Gorn said programs like YPCC foster “much‑needed discussions of democratic aspirations from diverse perspectives.”
Ada said the experience showed her that “the only way to understand something is to experience it for yourself,” while Basa said seeing the CNMI represented at the National Constitution Center is a story she is eager to share back home.
