Kyla Emory, a recent graduate of Homewood-Flossmoor High, spent eight weeks this summer working with students in Ford Heights, as well as being mentored on business and leadership strategies as a 2022 Bank of America intern.
Emory was one of 300 students participating in the internship program developing leadership experience and new skills while doing public service work. Bank of America partners with non-profits. Emory was one of several people at the Boys & Girls Club in Ford Heights who worked with 40 students ages 5 through 16 on recreational activities, arts projects, Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) work and supervised the students on field trips.
She also helped implement a summer reading program for 8- to 10-year-olds to help improve their reading skills before they return to school. Emory called it the “Book Nook,” and she had 20 kids read together through an online reading program.
Emory said the program “gave me an understanding on nonprofits and how they positively impact the lives of children and families.”
The internship also paired her with a Bank of America employee mentor. Emory had weekly meetings with her mentor who shared information on financial literacy “and gave some great advice on how to be a leader in the corporate world.”
Emory also took part in a weeklong virtual leadership summit speaking with leaders in government, civil and human rights organizations, and she had a chance to participate in the Stanford University Young Democracy at Home program.
Emory is the daughter of Dr. Lakshmi Emory and Rev. Keitric Emory. She graduated from H-F in May as an International Baccalaureate student.
At H-F, Emory was president of the Spanish National Honor Society, a founding member of the Agents of Change Social Justice organization, and a member of the National Honor Society, Mu Alpha Theta Math Honor Society, Student Government and Viking Dance Team. She was an active member of Viking Broadcasting and served as news anchor.
She has been a member of the South Suburban Chicago Chapter of Jack & Jill of America since 2014. This past year Emory was the president of the chapter’s teen group. She’s been a member of You Matter 2 since 2018 and was the youth council president this past year. She helped organize the Juneteenth celebration at H-F.
Emory will attend Spelman College as a Presidential Scholar where she will major in political science. After earning a bachelor’s degree, Emory plans to go to law school and will focus on business and corporate law.
She developed a love of broadcasting through her time with Viking TV and her long-range goal is to be a commentator on a TV news network.