Building Hope on Hope Street: Wheeler Model UN Hosts Annual Conference

Wheeler Upper School’s Model United Nations (WMUN) hosted its annual conference simulation last Sunday, welcoming more than 100 participants from schools across Rhode Island and Massachusetts, as well as a few special guests.

The opening ceremony featured Congressman Gabe Amo, who spoke on this year’s theme, “Building Hope on Hope Street.” He shared insights from his career in public service and emphasized the importance of staying politically and socially engaged — even (and especially) amid challenging times. During a Q&A session, Congressman Amo advised students to find one thing they are passionate about and to explore it, noting that they won’t always have the answer to everything.

Wheeler alumna and conference keynote speaker Naomi Shimberg ’18 spoke with students about her journey from Wheeler to Yale University, then White House, and now to her work as an economist at MIT. “Naomi shared some of her research on the economics of climate change, which was fascinating!” said WMUN Advisor Britt Page P’25, P’27. Ms. Page added that Naomi urged students to let go of the pressure to follow expected paths and instead focus on building meaningful relationships and following their genuine interests.

“It was wonderful to be back on Wheeler’s campus and to see teachers who have made such a big impact on my life trajectory,” Naomi said of her visit. “What an honor to be invited to WMUNC! I loved interacting with the students, especially Julia [Y. ’26] and Chichi [M. ’26], who are exceptional student leaders. As a young alum, my hope for the talk was that students would see how they are just a few years away from being able to make meaningful contributions to their chosen field. They are learning the skills they will use for the rest of their careers at conferences such as this one.”

Wheeler’s own students made an impressive showing throughout the day. In addition to the Upper Schoolers, nine Middle Schoolers also participated as committee members or “pages,” assisting chairs and backroom staff behind the scenes. Several Wheeler delegates were also recognized for their outstanding work: Carston F. ’30 for Best Delegate (ECOSOC Committee), Isabella W. ’28 for Honorable Delegate (ECOSOC Committee), and Sia R. ’29 for Best Position Paper (Jurassic Park Crisis Committee).

As WMUN co-presidents, Julia and Chichi reflected on what made this year’s conference so meaningful.

“We were thrilled to welcome Congressman Gabe Amo and alumna Naomi Shimberg to open our conference,” said Julia. “Their insights connected perfectly to our theme of building hope, and inspired delegates to think about how local action can lead to global change. We received excellent feedback on our opening ceremonies, with many attendees sharing that it was the most memorable part of the day. We’re so grateful to everyone — especially Wheeler’s Alumni Engagement Office and Congressman Amo’s team — who made it possible.”

Chichi added, “Getting to hear from two accomplished people who’ve worked in the White House and have ties to Providence was truly special. It was incredible to see students from all over New England come together for a fully student-run event like this. As someone whose first Model UN conference made a lasting impact, it was especially meaningful to help create that experience for others. We’re thankful to our advisors, Ms. Page and Mr. (Brad) Johnson, and to Naomi and Congressman Amo for making the day such a success.”

From thoughtful debates to inspiring keynotes, this year’s WMUNC embodied what it means to build hope (and policymaking skills) on Hope Street — and beyond.