by Julia Moss
Mayor Setti Warren ’88 discovered his passion for local community leadership when he served as class president at this school for all four years.
In fact, Warren said, “My experience in high school serving as class president had a great influence on my decision to go into public service. I carry that experience to this day.”
Warren said one incident in particular that he helped to resolve as class president greatly impacted his future career path. According to the Newtonite at the time, groups of black and white students came into a drug-related conflict in which 30 white students attacked a METCO bus.
“Mayor Theodore Mann asked me to do something about this,” Warren said.
In the aftermath of the incident, Warren said he created orange ribbons “that students wore in solidarity” and played a large role in an anti-prejudice program, Ethos for Equality.
“The most rewarding aspect of serving as class president at North was providing leadership and communication at a difficult time,” Warren said. “That translates into what you have to do as mayor. You bring people together to solve problems.”
Today as mayor, Warren continues to give back to this school, the place where he learned to love public service and discovered his talent for it.
Recently, he met with members of the design and visual communications classes to discuss their project—designing a Pedestrian Alert System for Ethiopia.
In addition, Warren has mentored his student interns, who have simliar interests in local government that he displayed at their age.
“Working  in mayor Warren’s office was an amazing experience,” said junior Riley Heiman. “He taught me that public service is truly about helping the public. If someone is having difficulties, then it’s up to the City to help solve it.”
In the end, Warren said, “Being mayor is an incredible way to serve the community in my hometown. It’s an amazing job and a fantastic city.”