An Online Event
June 25-27, 2022
The World's Premiere Alternative Education Conference
An event that brings together all who are interested in learner-centered, Learner directed alternatives. This three-day virtual event will features, keynotes, action-oriented workshops, mini-talks, pop-up sessions, networking, and more! It will be organized by youth and adults with an emphasis on youth.
We invite all who are interested in Learner - Centered, Learner - Directed Alternatives To Join Us!
2022
Keynote Speakers
Dayna Martin
Dayna Martin has been inspiring others for over two decades by sharing her experience through natural birth, and Radical Unschooling. She is the author of Radical Unschooling: A Revolution Has Begun & Raising Rebels: Parenting Advice from the Girl Your Parents Warned you About. Dayna is a speaker and worldview pioneer who travels the world helping families change their lives by changing their parenting paradigm. Her work has brought more peace, freedom and connection to thousands of families worldwide.
Peter Gray - "Hopeful Signs that Revolution is Accelerating"
Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook, now in its eighth edition, which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. Much of his research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Releasing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine.
Kate Robinson - On Completing her late Father Sir Ken Robinson's Manifesto "Imagine If"
Kate Robinson is an international consultant in creativity and innovation in education. She is Director of Nevergrey, which, amongst other activities, serves as the global head office of her father Sir Ken Robinson, and was the founding Editor in Chief of HundrED.org. Kate's expertise lies in raising the profile of inspiring initiatives, with a particular focus on start-ups, and building strong partnerships with purpose. Her passion lies in engaging youth voice, and through this work has been awarded a thought leadership award for Outstanding Contribution to Education Empowerment.
Mark Jacobs - "Ready Or Not Player One: Will Virtual Reality Improve or Destroy K-12 Education"
The pandemic caused a great shift from brick-and-mortar to virtual schooling. Some students were able to adapt, but far more floundered, and the truth is that it was rarely their fault. So what was the crux of the matter? Synchronous vs. asynchronous learning--in other words, to Zoom or not to Zoom. For students in synchronous, interactive, high-level Zoom classes, there was a likelihood of success. For those who were forced into asynchronous classes, being required to complete assignments with little direct teacher support, the results were disturbing. Now that the pandemic is waning, you might think this issue has become irrelevant, but this was just the preface and the first chapter is about to begin with the advent of virtual education. Whether we are ready or not, virtual schooling, using devices like Oculus Quest 2 headsets, is about to take off, and we are at a crossroads. Do we let companies like Meta and Microsoft monetize virtual education the way they have done for entertainment and games, or do we find ways to protect our children and optimize their education in the virtual world?
Longview School has been at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technology into education, from Minecraft to game programming, from desktop computer design to teaching history through Civilization V. This year, the school received a grant from the Vela Education Fund to integrate virtual reality [VR] into its program. Having now partnered with the VictoryXR Academy, the school is planning to launch its virtual education program this fall with 25% of in-person classes taking place in VR in preparation for a future completely VR school. In this keynote talk, you will learn what virtual education is all about, and how it could help create a more egalitarian future of education, if we work together to create that future and avoid the worrisome dystopian possibilities."
Mark Jacobs - is the co-founder and director of Longview School in Brewster, NY. For the past 21 years, he and the Longview team of teachers have been continuously adapting the model to optimize student-directed learning in a democratic school setting. The curriculum focuses on making learning authentic, inquiry-based, and hands-on, as well as integrating emergent technology in the classroom. In addition to directing the school, Mr. Jacobs is the middle and high school history teacher. He has been a speaker and workshop leader at many educational conferences including IDEC in Paris, as well as winning numerous public speaking awards with Toastmasters International. He ran for Congress in 2000, and has been a social and political activist working on issues such as the closing of the Indian Point nuclear power plant—which is now closed! He is a longtime resident of the lower Hudson Valley, having raised two children there with his wife, to whom he has been ecstatically married for 27 years.
Longview School has been at the forefront of implementing cutting-edge technology into education, from Minecraft to game programming, from desktop computer design to teaching history through Civilization V. This year, the school received a grant from the Vela Education Fund to integrate virtual reality [VR] into its program. Having now partnered with the VictoryXR Academy, the school is planning to launch its virtual education program this fall with 25% of in-person classes taking place in VR in preparation for a future completely VR school. In this keynote talk, you will learn what virtual education is all about, and how it could help create a more egalitarian future of education, if we work together to create that future and avoid the worrisome dystopian possibilities."
Mark Jacobs - is the co-founder and director of Longview School in Brewster, NY. For the past 21 years, he and the Longview team of teachers have been continuously adapting the model to optimize student-directed learning in a democratic school setting. The curriculum focuses on making learning authentic, inquiry-based, and hands-on, as well as integrating emergent technology in the classroom. In addition to directing the school, Mr. Jacobs is the middle and high school history teacher. He has been a speaker and workshop leader at many educational conferences including IDEC in Paris, as well as winning numerous public speaking awards with Toastmasters International. He ran for Congress in 2000, and has been a social and political activist working on issues such as the closing of the Indian Point nuclear power plant—which is now closed! He is a longtime resident of the lower Hudson Valley, having raised two children there with his wife, to whom he has been ecstatically married for 27 years.
Ulcaa Joshi Hansen - "Building the Future of Smart"
As we emerge from the disruptions of COVID there is a moment in which we can help build a new educational infrastructure that supports human-centered approaches that promote healthy development, learner agency, relevant and contextualized learning, and true educational equity. Join us for a provocative and illuminating conversation with Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen, best-selling author of The Future of Smart. She will share her framework for understanding the current educational landscape, one that that helps us recognize our allies in the work of promoting educational alternatives, and seeing how we can be part of a global movement within our spheres of influence.
"
Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen is currently Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, a member organization that serves as a trusted partner for education philanthropists as they adapt to the changes impacting our world. She brings to the role more than twenty years as an educator and advocate working to shift the foundational values and approaches that undergird America’s education system. Ulcca is a first-generation American who began school as an English-language learner; she was the first in her family to complete college and graduate school. Along the way, she lived and studied in other countries, experiencing how different systems approach learning and define achievement. Her own experiences have fueled her desire to interrogate and advocate for an expanded vision of what it means to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education in America.
Ulcca began her career as an elementary school teacher in Newark Public Schools. She then spent two years as a Program Fellow at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where she had her first experience of the power of philanthropy to convene thought leaders, support community-based organizations and influence policy systems. Over the last twenty years she has gained experience across the non-profit, public, and philanthropic sectors, in the US and abroad, leading programs, conducting research and crafting policy. She has worked with educators, students, communities, business and civic leaders to support developmentally-aligned, human-centered learning experiences that unlock the unique potential of individual learners regardless of their background, circumstances, cognitive or physical differences. She is especially committed to bringing a racial justice and equity lens to the expansion of this educational approach.
In her most recent roles as Chief Strategy Officer at Boundless and Vice President at Education Reimagined, she built partnerships between schools, districts, non-profits and higher education institutions committed to expanding access to relationship-based, relevant and real-world learning experiences in the PK-12 and post-secondary spaces. As Vice President of the Public Education and Business Coalition she expanded the Colorado Teacher Residency to become the first residency-based preparation program in the country to serve both urban and rural districts. She also redesigned the residency curriculum, grounding new teachers in the fields of learning science, human development and human well-being.
An internationally-recognized expert on educational transformation at the level of instruction, assessment, organizational design and policy systems, Ulcca has addressed audiences at conferences including World EduLead, SxSW Education and Aurora Institute’s annual forum, and is a two-time TEDx speaker. Her new book, The Future of Smart, was released in September 2021. The book traces the deep roots of America’s dominant approach to education, illuminates why so many reform and innovation efforts over the last three decades have fallen short of our aspirations for children and proposes a path forward.
Ulcca holds a BA in Philosophy and German from Drew University where she was also licensed as an early childhood/elementary teacher with a focus on special education. She earned her Ph.D. in Education and Philosophy from Oxford University and a JD from Harvard Law School. She has been recognized nationally for her work in education as a Harry S. Truman Scholar; a British Marshall Scholar; and a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. Ulcca and her family are based in Denver, CO where her two sons attend Denver Public Schools.
"
Dr. Ulcca Joshi Hansen is currently Chief Program Officer at Grantmakers for Education, a member organization that serves as a trusted partner for education philanthropists as they adapt to the changes impacting our world. She brings to the role more than twenty years as an educator and advocate working to shift the foundational values and approaches that undergird America’s education system. Ulcca is a first-generation American who began school as an English-language learner; she was the first in her family to complete college and graduate school. Along the way, she lived and studied in other countries, experiencing how different systems approach learning and define achievement. Her own experiences have fueled her desire to interrogate and advocate for an expanded vision of what it means to ensure every child has access to a high-quality education in America.
Ulcca began her career as an elementary school teacher in Newark Public Schools. She then spent two years as a Program Fellow at the Geraldine R. Dodge Foundation, where she had her first experience of the power of philanthropy to convene thought leaders, support community-based organizations and influence policy systems. Over the last twenty years she has gained experience across the non-profit, public, and philanthropic sectors, in the US and abroad, leading programs, conducting research and crafting policy. She has worked with educators, students, communities, business and civic leaders to support developmentally-aligned, human-centered learning experiences that unlock the unique potential of individual learners regardless of their background, circumstances, cognitive or physical differences. She is especially committed to bringing a racial justice and equity lens to the expansion of this educational approach.
In her most recent roles as Chief Strategy Officer at Boundless and Vice President at Education Reimagined, she built partnerships between schools, districts, non-profits and higher education institutions committed to expanding access to relationship-based, relevant and real-world learning experiences in the PK-12 and post-secondary spaces. As Vice President of the Public Education and Business Coalition she expanded the Colorado Teacher Residency to become the first residency-based preparation program in the country to serve both urban and rural districts. She also redesigned the residency curriculum, grounding new teachers in the fields of learning science, human development and human well-being.
An internationally-recognized expert on educational transformation at the level of instruction, assessment, organizational design and policy systems, Ulcca has addressed audiences at conferences including World EduLead, SxSW Education and Aurora Institute’s annual forum, and is a two-time TEDx speaker. Her new book, The Future of Smart, was released in September 2021. The book traces the deep roots of America’s dominant approach to education, illuminates why so many reform and innovation efforts over the last three decades have fallen short of our aspirations for children and proposes a path forward.
Ulcca holds a BA in Philosophy and German from Drew University where she was also licensed as an early childhood/elementary teacher with a focus on special education. She earned her Ph.D. in Education and Philosophy from Oxford University and a JD from Harvard Law School. She has been recognized nationally for her work in education as a Harry S. Truman Scholar; a British Marshall Scholar; and a Paul and Daisy Soros Fellow. Ulcca and her family are based in Denver, CO where her two sons attend Denver Public Schools.
Frank Edelblut - "Educational Innovation & Options for Students in New Hampshire"
In his role as commissioner, Edelblut serves on a number of boards, including as a trustee for the University System of New Hampshire, which includes the University of New Hampshire, Plymouth State University, Keene State College and Granite State College; as an ex-officio trustee for the Community College System of New Hampshire; a member of the New Hampshire Higher Education Commission; a member of the National Assessment Governing Board; among others.
Edelblut has a vision to make education accessible to everyone. “The equity gap is too large and it has persisted for too long. Everything needs to be on the table as we consider how to improve educational outcomes for all students,” stated Edelblut.
Edelblut is a businessman who started his career as a certified public accountant with a large international accounting firm. He briefly worked as a chief financial officer for a public company and then took the “entrepreneurial plunge,” starting his own company, which was sold to a French firm in 2009. Edelblut continues to be active as an investor in early stage companies across a range of industries including technology, med-tech, and even a wine company.
Edelblut was a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. During his term in the House, he served on the Finance Committee, Special Committee on Pensions and the Child and Family Law Committee.
Edelblut attended the University of Rhode Island where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – Accounting. He also holds a Masters of Theological Studies from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
Frank has been married for 36 years and has seven children. Five are college graduates, one is currently in college, and one is still at home being home educated. He and his wife also have six grandchildren."
Edelblut has a vision to make education accessible to everyone. “The equity gap is too large and it has persisted for too long. Everything needs to be on the table as we consider how to improve educational outcomes for all students,” stated Edelblut.
Edelblut is a businessman who started his career as a certified public accountant with a large international accounting firm. He briefly worked as a chief financial officer for a public company and then took the “entrepreneurial plunge,” starting his own company, which was sold to a French firm in 2009. Edelblut continues to be active as an investor in early stage companies across a range of industries including technology, med-tech, and even a wine company.
Edelblut was a Republican member of the New Hampshire House of Representatives. During his term in the House, he served on the Finance Committee, Special Committee on Pensions and the Child and Family Law Committee.
Edelblut attended the University of Rhode Island where he earned a Bachelor of Science, Business Administration – Accounting. He also holds a Masters of Theological Studies from the Holy Cross Greek Orthodox School of Theology.
Frank has been married for 36 years and has seven children. Five are college graduates, one is currently in college, and one is still at home being home educated. He and his wife also have six grandchildren."
SWAMI RAMCHANDRA DAS - "The Spiritual life and The Integral Education"
SWAMI RAMCHANDRA DAS is a yogi, social activist, spiritual leader as well as founder and
President of Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir (SAYM) Nepal. A Haven for the needy children who is
working hard to eliminate superstitions and mal practices existing in the Nepalese society in the
light of Sri Aurobindo's and The Mother's Teaching.
Being born in a very poor family in remote village of Nepal, his learning phase of childhood was
spent rearing buffalos, cows, goats and other domestic animals in the Himalayas. So, at the age
of 12, he left everything; his family, his village, his mountains and his country. He left on foot,
without saying anything, with a few young men to go to India and wandered different places in
search of good opportunities. From Adventure to Adventure and various hardships, he worked
in Indian Army for two and half years and then became a Sadhu(monk) at 14 and extensively
visited different ashrams, Gurus, for nearly 6 years, practicing various spiritual way of living, all
over India and also started studying Sanskrit at the same time. At the age of 20, not satisfied
with spiritual achievements, he again left everything and began his new journey towards Sri
Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry, in search of deeper spiritual experience. There he inwardly and
spiritually satisfied continuously stayed for 12 years learning and practicing Integral Yoga of Sri
Aurobindo. He was very much impressed and deeply submerged in the yoga of Sri Aurobindo as
it quenched his inner thirst of spirituality.
Suddenly, he remembered his native place after 20 years and decided to Visit Nepal Once but
seeing the poverty and children’s plight, he changed his mind and made a strong determination
to establish SAYM and stay in Nepal hence forth.
He is running a social and spiritual Organization since last 30 years in three different districts of
Nepal which and taking care of more than 300 children providing free food, cloth, shelter,
education and health facility.
To know more about his life and work please visit our website: www.auronepal.org.
President of Sri Aurobindo Yoga Mandir (SAYM) Nepal. A Haven for the needy children who is
working hard to eliminate superstitions and mal practices existing in the Nepalese society in the
light of Sri Aurobindo's and The Mother's Teaching.
Being born in a very poor family in remote village of Nepal, his learning phase of childhood was
spent rearing buffalos, cows, goats and other domestic animals in the Himalayas. So, at the age
of 12, he left everything; his family, his village, his mountains and his country. He left on foot,
without saying anything, with a few young men to go to India and wandered different places in
search of good opportunities. From Adventure to Adventure and various hardships, he worked
in Indian Army for two and half years and then became a Sadhu(monk) at 14 and extensively
visited different ashrams, Gurus, for nearly 6 years, practicing various spiritual way of living, all
over India and also started studying Sanskrit at the same time. At the age of 20, not satisfied
with spiritual achievements, he again left everything and began his new journey towards Sri
Aurobindo Ashram Pondicherry, in search of deeper spiritual experience. There he inwardly and
spiritually satisfied continuously stayed for 12 years learning and practicing Integral Yoga of Sri
Aurobindo. He was very much impressed and deeply submerged in the yoga of Sri Aurobindo as
it quenched his inner thirst of spirituality.
Suddenly, he remembered his native place after 20 years and decided to Visit Nepal Once but
seeing the poverty and children’s plight, he changed his mind and made a strong determination
to establish SAYM and stay in Nepal hence forth.
He is running a social and spiritual Organization since last 30 years in three different districts of
Nepal which and taking care of more than 300 children providing free food, cloth, shelter,
education and health facility.
To know more about his life and work please visit our website: www.auronepal.org.
Where Children Both Grow & Lead.
AERO's goal is to advance student-driven, learner-centered approaches to education. AERO is the primary hub of communications and support for educational alternatives around the world. One of AERO's areas of expertise is democratic process and democratic education, but equally important is the networking of all forms of educational alternatives. Towards this end, AERO provides information, resources and guidance to families, schools and organizations regarding their educational choices. AERO disseminates information internationally on topics such as: homeschooling, public and private alternative schools, and charter schools.
Workshops
Safannia Wright -
"Creating Revolutionary Change"
Gen Z is a generation of activists, change agents, social entrepreneurs and more! In this workshop, we will discuss how youth can use their talents, gifts, passions, and network to create the change they want to see in this world. We will also take a look at youth founded projects and organizations that are making revolutionary change.
****SPEAKER BIO****
Safannia Wright is the Social Media Coordinator for Black Girl Talk as well as an activist in Maternal Mortality among Black Women in Human Rights. She has been creating a safe, interactive space for the enterprise on social media starting in late 2020 with a goal to build community, empowerment, and connection. Outside of that, Safannia works to become an advocate in healthcare by engaging in public health. Stuck in the house all day in May of 2020 allowed her to see that COVID-19 disproportionately affected low-income and predominantly black neighborhoods such as her own. In response to that and the uprise in racial injustices, she participated in Mount Sinai’s Racial Justice & Public Health Program where she learned about racial disparities in healthcare. Here, Safannia was angered and moved by one specific racial disparity: the Maternal Mortality Health Crisis among Black women. This influenced her to create brochures on the issue, which provided alternative healthcare options and alarming statistics in New York City. These were later distributed in her community. With her many works in social justice, Safannia hopes to continue to engage in these matters as she studies to be a nurse with the goal to advocate for the vulnerable. She will continue her studies as a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in nursing and minoring in Global Health.
****SPEAKER BIO****
Safannia Wright is the Social Media Coordinator for Black Girl Talk as well as an activist in Maternal Mortality among Black Women in Human Rights. She has been creating a safe, interactive space for the enterprise on social media starting in late 2020 with a goal to build community, empowerment, and connection. Outside of that, Safannia works to become an advocate in healthcare by engaging in public health. Stuck in the house all day in May of 2020 allowed her to see that COVID-19 disproportionately affected low-income and predominantly black neighborhoods such as her own. In response to that and the uprise in racial injustices, she participated in Mount Sinai’s Racial Justice & Public Health Program where she learned about racial disparities in healthcare. Here, Safannia was angered and moved by one specific racial disparity: the Maternal Mortality Health Crisis among Black women. This influenced her to create brochures on the issue, which provided alternative healthcare options and alarming statistics in New York City. These were later distributed in her community. With her many works in social justice, Safannia hopes to continue to engage in these matters as she studies to be a nurse with the goal to advocate for the vulnerable. She will continue her studies as a freshman at the University of Pennsylvania, majoring in nursing and minoring in Global Health.
Ymorah Blackeney - "Creating Revolutionary Change"
Gen Z is a generation of activists, change agents, social entrepreneurs and more! In this workshop, we will discuss how youth can use their talents, gifts, passions, and network to create the change they want to see in this world. We will also take a look at youth founded projects and organizations that are making revolutionary change.
Ymorah Blakeney is the founder and director of Black Girls Talk, a social enterprise that provides a safe space and youth development resources for Black girls ages 14 to 18. She founded the social enterprise as a club when she was a high school freshman to provide a safe space for the Black female students, staff, and faculty at her school. Since then, Black Girls Talk has grown to serve 30 young Black women annually and continues to engage its members in discussions about social issues impacting them. In 2020, Ymorah launched a guest speaker series to provide members with the opportunity to meet and network with Black female professionals who have careers in business, entrepreneurship, activism, and STEM. Black Girls Talk has hosted Beatrice Dixon, founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company; Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista; Patrina Dixon, founder and CEO of It’s My Money; and others.
Ymorah also serves as the project manager on the Social Engagement and Programming Committee of the Black Lives Matter Task Force at Bard High School Early College Queens. She is passionate about hosting events that uplift and celebrate Black culture, people, and history. For the past four years, Ymorah has organized the Black Lives Matter Day of Action. During this event, she has hosted 20 guest speakers including Rachel Rodgers, Sulma Arzu-Brown, and Wesley Caines, and organized 90 workshops.
Since 2019, Ymorah has spoken at The Schomburg Center, Intrepid Museum, The People’s Forum, The AERO Conference, and other organizations and events. She seeks to continue using her voice, knowledge, and resources to uplift and support other young Black women.
Ymorah Blakeney is the founder and director of Black Girls Talk, a social enterprise that provides a safe space and youth development resources for Black girls ages 14 to 18. She founded the social enterprise as a club when she was a high school freshman to provide a safe space for the Black female students, staff, and faculty at her school. Since then, Black Girls Talk has grown to serve 30 young Black women annually and continues to engage its members in discussions about social issues impacting them. In 2020, Ymorah launched a guest speaker series to provide members with the opportunity to meet and network with Black female professionals who have careers in business, entrepreneurship, activism, and STEM. Black Girls Talk has hosted Beatrice Dixon, founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company; Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista; Patrina Dixon, founder and CEO of It’s My Money; and others.
Ymorah also serves as the project manager on the Social Engagement and Programming Committee of the Black Lives Matter Task Force at Bard High School Early College Queens. She is passionate about hosting events that uplift and celebrate Black culture, people, and history. For the past four years, Ymorah has organized the Black Lives Matter Day of Action. During this event, she has hosted 20 guest speakers including Rachel Rodgers, Sulma Arzu-Brown, and Wesley Caines, and organized 90 workshops.
Since 2019, Ymorah has spoken at The Schomburg Center, Intrepid Museum, The People’s Forum, The AERO Conference, and other organizations and events. She seeks to continue using her voice, knowledge, and resources to uplift and support other young Black women.
Katryna Alexis - "Creating Revolutionary Change"
Gen Z is a generation of activists, change agents, social entrepreneurs and more! In this workshop, we will discuss how youth can use their talents, gifts, passions, and network to create the change they want to see in this world. We will also take a look at youth founded projects and organizations that are making revolutionary change.
Katryna Alexis is a high school junior in New York City. She has been with Black Girls Talk since freshman year and has moved up since then to the advisory board. She previously co-managed the social media account but now works on the weekly email newsletter and assists in coordinating organization activities. In regards to the future, she is leaning towards business and STEM careers.
Katryna Alexis is a high school junior in New York City. She has been with Black Girls Talk since freshman year and has moved up since then to the advisory board. She previously co-managed the social media account but now works on the weekly email newsletter and assists in coordinating organization activities. In regards to the future, she is leaning towards business and STEM careers.
Kathy Magnusson & Monica Cochran - "Thrive or Survive: A Well-being Toolkit for Adults"
Break out of the stress cycle and move toward thriving in this new post-pandemic landscape. This interactive workshop with two experienced practitioners will have you adding practical tools to retune your body and mind to finish 2022 stronger and wiser.
You will leave with:
- an understanding of the stress to burnout cycle
- emergency strategies to stay grounded in the triggering moments
- tools to tap into your strengths to promote wellness at work and home
- long term strategies to shift from just surviving to thriving and
- the importance of building a community dedicated to well-being"
Trainer, coach, and speaker Kathy Magnusson, M. Ed. believes learning is an adventure. She has over 25 years of working with youth in various formal and informal settings. As the owner of Wildewood Learning, Kathy develops tailor-made professional development opportunities for educators and youth professionals that will support them in designing trauma-sensitive strength-based learning environments for their learners.
Kathy is a licensed middle and high school teacher and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota. Additional credentials include certification in adverse childhood experiences, creating trauma-sensitive resilience schools, non-violent communication, and strengths-based education and leadership. Kathy believes educators and youth professionals need to develop their own social and emotional learning skills to create meaningful relationships with learners, creating a ripple effect that changes the process of learning for all.
Monica Cochran, M.Ed has worked with children, parents, and other adults in a wide variety of educational, hospital, and business settings for over 40 years. She has been active in alternative education since 1978, home-educated two of her own children, and has worked with other home educating and distance learning families since 1997. She has vast experience in helping learners of all ages and abilities enjoy learning. She especially enjoys helping learners who have both unique talents and unique challenges develop their strengths and create learning experiences that work for them. Currently, Monica works with learners and their families around the world through her private practice, Learning Without Borders.
Monica earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in a multi-disciplinary program in child development, social work, and early childhood education and a Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University in special education with certifications in learning disabilities and emotional impairment. She also earned a Primary Montessori Certification from the American Montessori Society and is an Advanced DIR practitioner. Since 1997, following her youngest son’s auto accident, she has also been active in supporting survivors of brain injuries and learners with other health and developmental issues, as they redesign their lives.
You will leave with:
- an understanding of the stress to burnout cycle
- emergency strategies to stay grounded in the triggering moments
- tools to tap into your strengths to promote wellness at work and home
- long term strategies to shift from just surviving to thriving and
- the importance of building a community dedicated to well-being"
Trainer, coach, and speaker Kathy Magnusson, M. Ed. believes learning is an adventure. She has over 25 years of working with youth in various formal and informal settings. As the owner of Wildewood Learning, Kathy develops tailor-made professional development opportunities for educators and youth professionals that will support them in designing trauma-sensitive strength-based learning environments for their learners.
Kathy is a licensed middle and high school teacher and has a master’s degree in education from the University of Minnesota. Additional credentials include certification in adverse childhood experiences, creating trauma-sensitive resilience schools, non-violent communication, and strengths-based education and leadership. Kathy believes educators and youth professionals need to develop their own social and emotional learning skills to create meaningful relationships with learners, creating a ripple effect that changes the process of learning for all.
Monica Cochran, M.Ed has worked with children, parents, and other adults in a wide variety of educational, hospital, and business settings for over 40 years. She has been active in alternative education since 1978, home-educated two of her own children, and has worked with other home educating and distance learning families since 1997. She has vast experience in helping learners of all ages and abilities enjoy learning. She especially enjoys helping learners who have both unique talents and unique challenges develop their strengths and create learning experiences that work for them. Currently, Monica works with learners and their families around the world through her private practice, Learning Without Borders.
Monica earned a Bachelor of Science degree from the University of Pittsburgh in a multi-disciplinary program in child development, social work, and early childhood education and a Master’s Degree from Eastern Michigan University in special education with certifications in learning disabilities and emotional impairment. She also earned a Primary Montessori Certification from the American Montessori Society and is an Advanced DIR practitioner. Since 1997, following her youngest son’s auto accident, she has also been active in supporting survivors of brain injuries and learners with other health and developmental issues, as they redesign their lives.
Amanda Cottrell - "Rethinking What it Means to be Educated"
Looking through the Lens of our Creative Gifts -Struggling with the traditional school system? The last two years have really impacted how we view education. I was always really good at school but many of my friends barely made it through high school yet went on to become very successful. My workshop strives to empower people to use their inner gifts to empower their lives and to rethink who we view education and what it means to be successful.
I am a teacher, author illustrator, yoga and mindfulness advocate. I believe we are all infinitely creative and that our success is inevitable when we step in our our creative power. When people follow their calling and become unapologetically themselves there is no stopping what they can accomplish and who they can uplift along the way.
I am a teacher, author illustrator, yoga and mindfulness advocate. I believe we are all infinitely creative and that our success is inevitable when we step in our our creative power. When people follow their calling and become unapologetically themselves there is no stopping what they can accomplish and who they can uplift along the way.
Gina Riley - "Student Experiences at a Democratic School: A Summary of the Research"
In this workshop, we will report on our findings about a radically alternative school, the Hudson Valley Sudbury School (HVSS). Like other Sudbury model schools, HVSS is a democratically administered primary and secondary day school, governed by the students and staff together, that has no academic requirements but supports students' self-directed activities. The aim was to learn about the respondents' experiences with and evaluation of those features of the school that define the Sudbury model the democratic legislative and judicial procedures, the non-intervention policy of the staff, and the freedom of students to associate with other students, regardless of age, throughout the school day. The majority of respondents were happy with all of these aspects of the school, though there were some dissenting views. A major finding was that nearly all of the respondents felt that they had learned most from their freely chosen interactions with other students. At the end of our presentation, we will discuss the tangible steps schools can use to provide student centered, democratic learning experiences, based on information we gained from the study.
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is a Clinical Professor and Program Leader of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY Hunter College. She is internationally known for her research on homeschooling, unschooling, and intrinsic motivation in education. She is the author of Unschooling: Exploring Learning Beyond the Classroom (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and The Homeschooling Starter Guide (Rockridge Press, 2021).
Gina Riley, Ph.D. is a Clinical Professor and Program Leader of the Adolescent Special Education Program at CUNY Hunter College. She is internationally known for her research on homeschooling, unschooling, and intrinsic motivation in education. She is the author of Unschooling: Exploring Learning Beyond the Classroom (Palgrave Macmillan, 2020) and The Homeschooling Starter Guide (Rockridge Press, 2021).
Peter Gray - "Student Experiences at a Democratic School: A Summary of the Research"
In this workshop, we will report on our findings about a radically alternative school, the Hudson Valley Sudbury School (HVSS). Like other Sudbury model schools, HVSS is a democratically administered primary and secondary day school, governed by the students and staff together, that has no academic requirements but supports students' self-directed activities. The aim was to learn about the respondents' experiences with and evaluation of those features of the school that define the Sudbury model the democratic legislative and judicial procedures, the non-intervention policy of the staff, and the freedom of students to associate with other students, regardless of age, throughout the school day. The majority of respondents were happy with all of these aspects of the school, though there were some dissenting views. A major finding was that nearly all of the respondents felt that they had learned most from their freely chosen interactions with other students. At the end of our presentation, we will discuss the tangible steps schools can use to provide student centered, democratic learning experiences, based on information we gained from the study.
Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook, now in its eighth edition, which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. Much of his research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Releasing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine.
Peter Gray, research professor of psychology at Boston College, has conducted and published research in neuroendocrinology, developmental psychology, anthropology, and education. He is author of an internationally acclaimed introductory psychology textbook, now in its eighth edition, which views all of psychology from an evolutionary perspective. Much of his research focuses on the role of play in human evolution and how children educate themselves, through play and exploration. He has expanded on these ideas in his book, Free to Learn: Why Releasing the Instinct to Play Will Make Our Children Happier, More Self-Reliant, and Better Students for Life. He also authors a regular blog called Freedom to Learn, for Psychology Today magazine.
Kevin Currie Knight - "Student Experiences at a Democratic School: A Summary of the Research"
In this workshop, we will report on our findings about a radically alternative school, the Hudson Valley Sudbury School (HVSS). Like other Sudbury model schools, HVSS is a democratically administered primary and secondary day school, governed by the students and staff together, that has no academic requirements but supports students' self-directed activities. The aim was to learn about the respondents' experiences with and evaluation of those features of the school that define the Sudbury model the democratic legislative and judicial procedures, the non-intervention policy of the staff, and the freedom of students to associate with other students, regardless of age, throughout the school day. The majority of respondents were happy with all of these aspects of the school, though there were some dissenting views. A major finding was that nearly all of the respondents felt that they had learned most from their freely chosen interactions with other students. At the end of our presentation, we will discuss the tangible steps schools can use to provide student centered, democratic learning experiences, based on information we gained from the study.
Kevin Currie-Knight is a Teaching Associate Professor in East Carolina University's College of Education. Much of his research is devoted to alternatives to public schooling and self-direction in education. He's the author of the book Education in the Marketplace, and is working on an edited collection of anarchist essays about education.
Kevin Currie-Knight is a Teaching Associate Professor in East Carolina University's College of Education. Much of his research is devoted to alternatives to public schooling and self-direction in education. He's the author of the book Education in the Marketplace, and is working on an edited collection of anarchist essays about education.
Cathleen McCaffery - "How to Get into College as a Non-traditional Student "
How to successfully navigate college admissions as a non-traditional student and family -
Cathleen McCaffery is a college admissions counselor and coach who works with creative, quirky change makers, helping them pave their own way to college. She's worked with thousands of students around the world and helped them get into great colleges with millions in scholarships. You can learn more about Cathleen and her unique approach to college admissions through her podcast, The Bold Student or on Instagram or TikTok @lifeandcollegecoach.
Cathleen McCaffery is a college admissions counselor and coach who works with creative, quirky change makers, helping them pave their own way to college. She's worked with thousands of students around the world and helped them get into great colleges with millions in scholarships. You can learn more about Cathleen and her unique approach to college admissions through her podcast, The Bold Student or on Instagram or TikTok @lifeandcollegecoach.
Ashley Nielsen - "Self-designing from Elementary to Grad School"
What is the journey of self-designing from elementary to grad school in the context of the pandemic? As a group, we will explore the similarities, the differences, the challenges, and the strengths--and plans for nourishing this learning in our post-pandemic world.
Ashley Neilson is member of the Faculty in the Individualized MA at Antioch University.
Ashley Neilson is member of the Faculty in the Individualized MA at Antioch University.
Praja Tickoo - How We Can Empower Students To Impact The Future (Design Thinking)
In our world today, soft skills such as creativity, critical thinking and problem solving are needed in order to adapt and succeed. Our education system focuses on training students in skills such as recall and memorization, failing to prepare them for success in the future workplace. Through the process of Design Thinking, students can foster skills needed for the future and be prepared for future fields of study.
Praja Tickoo, a 15-year-old student, has spent four years studying Design Thinking. In the summer of 2019, as part of a program at Boston University, he participated in a collaborative effort to design a better brace for a multiple sclerosis patient. This experience revealed to him the power that young people have to reshape their world, while reinforcing his conviction that problems can only be solved by questioning assumptions and involving those directly affected.
Praja has taken over 15 courses in design thinking associated with institutions such as the IDEO, University of Pennsylvania and Brown University. Additionally, he is the founder of Impact The Future, an organization aimed at teaching the process of design thinking to middle and high school students. He continues to work through Impact the Future to empower students to break down their assumptions of society, develop their skills of critical thinking, problem solving and creativity, and work to have an impact on the world.
Praja Tickoo, a 15-year-old student, has spent four years studying Design Thinking. In the summer of 2019, as part of a program at Boston University, he participated in a collaborative effort to design a better brace for a multiple sclerosis patient. This experience revealed to him the power that young people have to reshape their world, while reinforcing his conviction that problems can only be solved by questioning assumptions and involving those directly affected.
Praja has taken over 15 courses in design thinking associated with institutions such as the IDEO, University of Pennsylvania and Brown University. Additionally, he is the founder of Impact The Future, an organization aimed at teaching the process of design thinking to middle and high school students. He continues to work through Impact the Future to empower students to break down their assumptions of society, develop their skills of critical thinking, problem solving and creativity, and work to have an impact on the world.
Hope Wilder - "Change Up Meeting: An Agile and Sociocratic Tool"
Do you make decisions together with young people? A Change-Up Meeting is a great way to make participatory decisions. From Agile Learning Centers and sociocracy, this quick and easy meeting uses sticky note- sized proposals to change up rules, practices, or culture. You can do group problem-solving together or look for opportunities. Frequent check-ins make trying out new practices safe and easy. I will also cover the basics of consent decision-making from sociocracy.
Hope Wilder is the author of "Let's Decide Together: Practicing Sociocracy with Children." She is the founder of Pathfinder Community School, which used sociocracy as governance with staff, parents, and members for 2 years before closing due to covid-19. She is currently the Schools and Sociocracy Program Manager at Sociocracy for All.
Hope Wilder is the author of "Let's Decide Together: Practicing Sociocracy with Children." She is the founder of Pathfinder Community School, which used sociocracy as governance with staff, parents, and members for 2 years before closing due to covid-19. She is currently the Schools and Sociocracy Program Manager at Sociocracy for All.
Laurel Tien - "What’s new at the Holistic Education Review Journal? "
Have you wondered about how holistic education and alternative education overlap? Or perhaps how you can share your wisdom in self-directed learning, especially in light of our post-pandemic world? In this session, we will discuss the mandate and focus of the Holistic Education Review journal, as well as how to access and get published.
Laurel Tien is a co-editor of the Holistic Education Review journal.
Laurel Tien is a co-editor of the Holistic Education Review journal.
Je'anna Clements - "When Challenging Behaviour Isn't What it Seems"
The initial draft title for this workshop was "What is PDA and What Do You Need To Do About It?" Pathological Demand Avoidance is a rare neuroptype that's increasingly showing up in home ed and alternative facilities for the simple reason that it's almost impossible for PDA brains to thrive in mainstream education. If you are a facilitator in an alternative setting or a home educating family, there is a very high chance that you will encounter children and parents whom you will innocently misjudge and unintentionally harm due to your ignorance about the realities of living with PDA. This workshop will give you the necessary foundations to recognise PDA and be able to behave in a more informed, fair and kind way in these encounters, rather than unknowingly doing harm to someone who is already struggling with the daily challenges of a hidden disability.
Je'anna L Clements is an advocate for young people's rights, a writer, a mother of a teen and a tween who have both self-educated since birth in a neurdiverse family. She is a founding member and key facilitator of Riverstone Village, Africa's first Sudbury-inspired learning community. She writes articles and e-books on alternative education including What If School Creates DYSlexia?, Help! My Kid Hates School!, and the Helping The Butterfly Hatch series of books on Self-Directed Education facilitation: Book One - How Does Self-Directed Education Work, and Why? and Book Two - How Can We Best Support Young People In SDE? She specialises in supporting parents and facilitators in optimising Self-Directed Education settings and family practices for Pathological Demand Avoidance.
Je'anna L Clements is an advocate for young people's rights, a writer, a mother of a teen and a tween who have both self-educated since birth in a neurdiverse family. She is a founding member and key facilitator of Riverstone Village, Africa's first Sudbury-inspired learning community. She writes articles and e-books on alternative education including What If School Creates DYSlexia?, Help! My Kid Hates School!, and the Helping The Butterfly Hatch series of books on Self-Directed Education facilitation: Book One - How Does Self-Directed Education Work, and Why? and Book Two - How Can We Best Support Young People In SDE? She specialises in supporting parents and facilitators in optimising Self-Directed Education settings and family practices for Pathological Demand Avoidance.
April Huard - "Moving Beyond Content: Supporting 21st Century Skills"
In the past 25 years, the way we access and use information has changed dramatically. While many traditional models of education continue to focus on content, students outside of traditional systems have the freedom to use content as a means to develop critical 21st century skills. When we consider more than just content as markers of success, we can intentionally support students to become creative, collaborative, confident thinkers.
April Huard is the Director of Education at Clonlara School, an alternative private school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She works with Clonlara's Global Learning Community to provide personalized, self-directed educational experiences for over 2,000 students. April started her education career in the public school, transitioned to homeschooling her own five children, and has now found her true home in alternative education.
April Huard is the Director of Education at Clonlara School, an alternative private school in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She works with Clonlara's Global Learning Community to provide personalized, self-directed educational experiences for over 2,000 students. April started her education career in the public school, transitioned to homeschooling her own five children, and has now found her true home in alternative education.
Cassidy Younghans - "A Wild Ride: When Things Must Change"
Revolutionizing education is hard work and, as I've learned, requires the ability to grow, shift, and pivot when necessary. Our work in education can only be a revolution if it’s sustainable, and sustainability requires flexibility and new ways of being and organizing. I'll share my experience as a co-founder of a learning community, why I left, and how we pivoted and started something new. We will discuss tools and frameworks for creating, adapting, and sustaining a self-directed learning community.
Mariola Strahlberg - "Simple Lifestyle Changes for a Healthier, Happier and More Peaceful YOU"
Pandemic affected not only our health but also our mental, emotional and spiritual wellbeing. In order to stay balanced it was not enough to be bombarded with news all day long or do our zoom sessions. We needed to take RESPONSIBILITY for ourselves. This workshop will show you how to do that well. We will examine what is needed to lead a life that has a daily rhythm, positive attitude, being in the moment, not past or future, consistency and gratitude. Come with an open mind, ready to have fun.
Mariola Strahlberg, educator and acupuncturist is the founder of the Shining Mountain Center for Peaceful Childhood, Inc and Janusz Korczak Association of the USA. Her passion is to educate parents and teachers in being able to listen better to students’ needs and to create cooperative environments for everybody to live in peace. She has presented at various international conferences including previous AERO conferences. She is the author of the guide for teachers and parents, The Five Star Program(R) and her newest book-program, The Power of One-Third.
Mariola Strahlberg, educator and acupuncturist is the founder of the Shining Mountain Center for Peaceful Childhood, Inc and Janusz Korczak Association of the USA. Her passion is to educate parents and teachers in being able to listen better to students’ needs and to create cooperative environments for everybody to live in peace. She has presented at various international conferences including previous AERO conferences. She is the author of the guide for teachers and parents, The Five Star Program(R) and her newest book-program, The Power of One-Third.
Miruna Braescu & Adriana Vasile - "EOTAS (Education Otherwise Than At Standard School) in Romania"
Quitting the standard educational system in Romania is quite a challenge. You have to be very inventive to find the gaps in the Romanian (and EU law as well), to keep updated and to involve all sorts of people - form academic to politicians - in reconfiguring the legislation according to the human rights. This workshop is about the do's and don't's in a very sinuous path to escape "the death valley of compulsory education" - tackling the difference between right and obligation, covering the requests to pursue further academic learning and so on.
Miruna is one of the first "graduates" of this one-of-its-kind school in Romania - a network of learning-pods located all over the country and abroad, based on project-based learning and self-directed education. The general concept is close to the Library of Alexandria - you meet the right mentors and read the information which captivates you, and helps you pursuing as far as possible your interests. Miruna is passionate about math, visual arts and the Japanese language, culture and civilisation. She discovered recently the Byzantine music and its notation, pole-dancing sport, and wants to pursue a bioinformatics career somewhere in Japan.
Adriana is a Neurobiologist, founder of the Re-Design ngo, which administrates CEREHARD - British Curriculum School EOTAS type. She is one of those scientists who bridge Neuroscience and Education, in order to create that dynamic system of education which is adapted to the present.
Miruna is one of the first "graduates" of this one-of-its-kind school in Romania - a network of learning-pods located all over the country and abroad, based on project-based learning and self-directed education. The general concept is close to the Library of Alexandria - you meet the right mentors and read the information which captivates you, and helps you pursuing as far as possible your interests. Miruna is passionate about math, visual arts and the Japanese language, culture and civilisation. She discovered recently the Byzantine music and its notation, pole-dancing sport, and wants to pursue a bioinformatics career somewhere in Japan.
Adriana is a Neurobiologist, founder of the Re-Design ngo, which administrates CEREHARD - British Curriculum School EOTAS type. She is one of those scientists who bridge Neuroscience and Education, in order to create that dynamic system of education which is adapted to the present.
Gabriel Groiss - What means quality education?
8 central aspects for the change we need -The need for change in education is obvious since many years and more and more is talked about.
The academic standards are changing for some years already and big entities like UNESCO and the European Union are becoming very clear, expressing publicly that traditional education has failed and that we need to reorientate our pedagogical perspectives.
But it seems that a certain diplomacy is still hindering to address more specifically how harmful conventional schooling is, and staying very vague with some recommendations which direction to go, but not being very precise describing the new ways to go.
So this workshop brings the central aspects of up to date quality in education together in a very clear resume. From a theoretical background, but also taking it down to the real life practice. Contrasting it with what is going wrong, why and how to change it.
Let's look at what really matters!
Gabriel Bio -
Educator since 2007
Father of two children
Founder and pedagogical director of the free democratic school in nature ""PlayaEscuela El Médano""
EUDEC Council member
The academic standards are changing for some years already and big entities like UNESCO and the European Union are becoming very clear, expressing publicly that traditional education has failed and that we need to reorientate our pedagogical perspectives.
But it seems that a certain diplomacy is still hindering to address more specifically how harmful conventional schooling is, and staying very vague with some recommendations which direction to go, but not being very precise describing the new ways to go.
So this workshop brings the central aspects of up to date quality in education together in a very clear resume. From a theoretical background, but also taking it down to the real life practice. Contrasting it with what is going wrong, why and how to change it.
Let's look at what really matters!
Gabriel Bio -
Educator since 2007
Father of two children
Founder and pedagogical director of the free democratic school in nature ""PlayaEscuela El Médano""
EUDEC Council member
Anum Khalid "Education in South Asia"
Planning Equitable and Accessible Education For All Post-Pandemic 26/06
Anum Khalid is a 23 years old student of “Architectural Engineering” from Pakistan. Belonging to a resourceful area, she started working on empowering women by joining “Rotary Foundation” and won several awards including “Best Secretary” for the year 2021. In 2020, she got selected in Awareness 360 as a fellow and had been performing as a project management internee. While choosing engineering, she felt the un-accessibility of digital and quality education to the population suffered by COVID-19 and before. She made speeches on multifaceted issues confronted by students and led student solidarity marches throughout Pakistan.
She is fascinated by the feminist movements and has been leading Women Marches recognized by “Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.” Her interests include feminism, student rights, health, climate and sustainability that made her to be part of #LearningPlanet by CRI Paris and UNESCO and a Young Climate Advocate at YCA (Young Climate Advocates) Network by the United Nations Foundation. Moreover, she is the co-founder of “Puchick x Community
Anum Khalid is a 23 years old student of “Architectural Engineering” from Pakistan. Belonging to a resourceful area, she started working on empowering women by joining “Rotary Foundation” and won several awards including “Best Secretary” for the year 2021. In 2020, she got selected in Awareness 360 as a fellow and had been performing as a project management internee. While choosing engineering, she felt the un-accessibility of digital and quality education to the population suffered by COVID-19 and before. She made speeches on multifaceted issues confronted by students and led student solidarity marches throughout Pakistan.
She is fascinated by the feminist movements and has been leading Women Marches recognized by “Human Rights Commission of Pakistan.” Her interests include feminism, student rights, health, climate and sustainability that made her to be part of #LearningPlanet by CRI Paris and UNESCO and a Young Climate Advocate at YCA (Young Climate Advocates) Network by the United Nations Foundation. Moreover, she is the co-founder of “Puchick x Community
Devyanee Dalmia - "Education in South Asia"
Planning Equitable and Accessible Education For All Post-Pandemic 26/06
Devyanee Dalmia (she/her) is a 15-year-old student from India. She is passionate about human rights and youth activism in all forms possible and she has started an organization called 'Ekaansh Foundation' which aims to provide vocational training to underprivileged children. She has raised over Rs. 1.2 Lakhs and directly impacted over 150 people through Ekaansh. Devyanee also runs the EkStart podcast which aims to make "ek start" (first step) towards important and meaningful conversations that has the potential to make one’s surroundings "ekaansh" (undivided, whole) which has had eminent guests like Nikhil Taneja, Avanti Nagral and Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya among others. She is the president of Girl Up Kol club at Girl Up. She has interned in the fields of event and social media management in organisations like Sanmarg Hindi Daily, Red Lantern Analytica, VS Studio and Aparajita. She constantly wishes to expand her horizons and learn more each day.
Devyanee Dalmia (she/her) is a 15-year-old student from India. She is passionate about human rights and youth activism in all forms possible and she has started an organization called 'Ekaansh Foundation' which aims to provide vocational training to underprivileged children. She has raised over Rs. 1.2 Lakhs and directly impacted over 150 people through Ekaansh. Devyanee also runs the EkStart podcast which aims to make "ek start" (first step) towards important and meaningful conversations that has the potential to make one’s surroundings "ekaansh" (undivided, whole) which has had eminent guests like Nikhil Taneja, Avanti Nagral and Dr Bhaswati Bhattacharya among others. She is the president of Girl Up Kol club at Girl Up. She has interned in the fields of event and social media management in organisations like Sanmarg Hindi Daily, Red Lantern Analytica, VS Studio and Aparajita. She constantly wishes to expand her horizons and learn more each day.
Sheen Tyagi - "Education in South Asia"
Planning Equitable and Accessible Education For All Post-Pandemic 26/06
Sheen Tyagi is a 17-year-old youth activist from India. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Spanish and elementary French. She likes to learn different languages and cultures. She's passionate about passionate about women's rights, climate change, sustainable development and children's education and welfare (socially) and business, economics and finance (academically). She’s the Founder and President of the Girl Up Nation club, an international club at the Girl Up Campaign by the United Nations Foundation (UNF). She's a part of the Girl Up HQ Staff as Co-Chair of Arts Club. She is also a Youth Fellow at #LearningPlanet by CRI Paris and UNESCO and a Young Climate Advocate at YCA (Young Climate Advocates) Network by the United Nations Foundation. She is the Research Project Director at the Finance and Markets Working Group at YOUNGO, UNFCCC. She is a Junior Fellow at Debate Spaces. To know more about her work, please visit https://sheentyagi.carrd.co/
Sheen Tyagi is a 17-year-old youth activist from India. She is fluent in English, Hindi, Spanish and elementary French. She likes to learn different languages and cultures. She's passionate about passionate about women's rights, climate change, sustainable development and children's education and welfare (socially) and business, economics and finance (academically). She’s the Founder and President of the Girl Up Nation club, an international club at the Girl Up Campaign by the United Nations Foundation (UNF). She's a part of the Girl Up HQ Staff as Co-Chair of Arts Club. She is also a Youth Fellow at #LearningPlanet by CRI Paris and UNESCO and a Young Climate Advocate at YCA (Young Climate Advocates) Network by the United Nations Foundation. She is the Research Project Director at the Finance and Markets Working Group at YOUNGO, UNFCCC. She is a Junior Fellow at Debate Spaces. To know more about her work, please visit https://sheentyagi.carrd.co/
Jerry Mintz - "Options for New Alternatives & How To Start One"
Find out about new trends in educational alternatives, what options are out there and how you can start your own.
"Jerry Mintz has been a leading voice in the alternative school movement since establishing AERO in 1989. In addition to his seventeen years as a public and independent alternative school principal and teacher, he has also helped found more than one hundred public and private alternative schools and organizations. He has lectured and consulted in more than twenty-five countries around the world.
In 1989, he founded the Alternative Education Resource Organization and since then has served as it’s Director. Jerry was also a founding member of the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in 2013.
In addition to several appearances on national radio and TV shows, Jerry’s essays, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Paths of Learning, Green Money Journal, Communities, Saturday Review, Holistic Education Review as well as the anthology Creating Learning Communities (Foundation for Educational Renewal, 2000).
Jerry was Editor-in-Chief for the Handbook of Alternative Education (Macmillan, 1994), and the Almanac of Education Choices (Macmillan/Simon & Schuster, 1995). He is the author of School’s Over: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education (AERO, 2017) and is editor of Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Story (AERO, 2010).He is the editor of the AERO weekly free e newsletter with 15,000 subscribers.
Jerry Mintz has spoken at Alternative Education Resource Organization Conferences from its inception in 2004 through 2019 in locations such as Troy, NY, Albany, NY, Portland, OR, and Long Island University. He has spoken at the International Democratic Education Conference in locations including Hadera, Israel, Vienna, Austria, Devon, England, Summerhill School, England, Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, Christchurch, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Bhubanashwar, India, Vancouver, Canada, Nuestra Escuela, Puerto Rico, Boulder, Colorado, Gwangmyeong, Korea, Mikkeli, Finland, and Kiev, Ukraine. He has done TEDx talks in Brooklyn and Norway. He has also spoken at the Reevo Conference in Bogota, Colombia, the ED Crunch Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Eureka Conferences in Narva, Estonia, Simferipol, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia, The Green Festival in New York, International Association of Learning Alternatives Conferences in Deluth, MN, Portland, OR, St. Augustine, FL, Atlanta, GA, Des Moines, IA, Denver, CO, Amsterdam, NY. He has spoken a homeschooling conferences such as in Albany, NY, Montreal, Quebec, Dallas, TX. He has spoken at the Montessori Foundation Conference in Sarasota, FL. He spoke at numerous National Coalition of Alternative Community School conferences such as in Salem, OR, Chicago, IL, Santa Fe, NM, Ann Arbor, MI, Bloomington, IN, San Diego, CA, Summertown, TN, Glenmoore, PA. He has done consultations in nearly every state and over 22 countries, most recently in Eger, Hungary, Chalford, England and Kiev, Ukraine.
Articles by Jerry Mintz
Democratic School Governance
Sustainable Education
Ten Signs You Need to Find a Different Kind of Education for Your Child
https://www.educationrevolution.org/store/jerrymintz/"
"Jerry Mintz has been a leading voice in the alternative school movement since establishing AERO in 1989. In addition to his seventeen years as a public and independent alternative school principal and teacher, he has also helped found more than one hundred public and private alternative schools and organizations. He has lectured and consulted in more than twenty-five countries around the world.
In 1989, he founded the Alternative Education Resource Organization and since then has served as it’s Director. Jerry was also a founding member of the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in 2013.
In addition to several appearances on national radio and TV shows, Jerry’s essays, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Paths of Learning, Green Money Journal, Communities, Saturday Review, Holistic Education Review as well as the anthology Creating Learning Communities (Foundation for Educational Renewal, 2000).
Jerry was Editor-in-Chief for the Handbook of Alternative Education (Macmillan, 1994), and the Almanac of Education Choices (Macmillan/Simon & Schuster, 1995). He is the author of School’s Over: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education (AERO, 2017) and is editor of Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Story (AERO, 2010).He is the editor of the AERO weekly free e newsletter with 15,000 subscribers.
Jerry Mintz has spoken at Alternative Education Resource Organization Conferences from its inception in 2004 through 2019 in locations such as Troy, NY, Albany, NY, Portland, OR, and Long Island University. He has spoken at the International Democratic Education Conference in locations including Hadera, Israel, Vienna, Austria, Devon, England, Summerhill School, England, Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, Christchurch, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Bhubanashwar, India, Vancouver, Canada, Nuestra Escuela, Puerto Rico, Boulder, Colorado, Gwangmyeong, Korea, Mikkeli, Finland, and Kiev, Ukraine. He has done TEDx talks in Brooklyn and Norway. He has also spoken at the Reevo Conference in Bogota, Colombia, the ED Crunch Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Eureka Conferences in Narva, Estonia, Simferipol, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia, The Green Festival in New York, International Association of Learning Alternatives Conferences in Deluth, MN, Portland, OR, St. Augustine, FL, Atlanta, GA, Des Moines, IA, Denver, CO, Amsterdam, NY. He has spoken a homeschooling conferences such as in Albany, NY, Montreal, Quebec, Dallas, TX. He has spoken at the Montessori Foundation Conference in Sarasota, FL. He spoke at numerous National Coalition of Alternative Community School conferences such as in Salem, OR, Chicago, IL, Santa Fe, NM, Ann Arbor, MI, Bloomington, IN, San Diego, CA, Summertown, TN, Glenmoore, PA. He has done consultations in nearly every state and over 22 countries, most recently in Eger, Hungary, Chalford, England and Kiev, Ukraine.
Articles by Jerry Mintz
Democratic School Governance
Sustainable Education
Ten Signs You Need to Find a Different Kind of Education for Your Child
https://www.educationrevolution.org/store/jerrymintz/"
More Speakers Coming Soon!
Mini-Talks
John Wall - “Give Children the Vote”
John Wall will discuss his recent book, Give Children the Vote: Democratizing Democracy, which lays out the case for why all children should have the right to vote. The book argues that today’s children’s suffrage movement needs to be put into a larger historical context, which shows that children’s right to vote is justified on the twin ideas that children in general are sufficiently competent and that ageless suffrage would systemically benefit children, adults, and societies.
John Wall is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Childhood Studies, as well as Director of the Childism Institute, at Rutgers University Camden. He is a theoretical ethicist who is author or editor of nine books and numerous articles and chapters on political philosophy, post-structuralism, children’s rights, childism, and childhood studies theory. He also co-founded the Children’s Voting Colloquium, an international organization of scholars and activists dedicated to eliminating all voting ages.
John Wall is Professor of Philosophy, Religion, and Childhood Studies, as well as Director of the Childism Institute, at Rutgers University Camden. He is a theoretical ethicist who is author or editor of nine books and numerous articles and chapters on political philosophy, post-structuralism, children’s rights, childism, and childhood studies theory. He also co-founded the Children’s Voting Colloquium, an international organization of scholars and activists dedicated to eliminating all voting ages.
Moses Ssekyanzi & Mariam Natasha - "Empowering youths to stand out from others and take action"
We want to encourage and empower youths to take action and bring about positive change in
the world. We want to let them know that you don't have to be old or rich to help somebody or
to bring about positive change in the lives of people. They should start now and lead the
change."
Moses & Mariam are the founders of Star Hands Organisation, a
non-profit Organisation dedicated to addressing the most problems affecting youths especially
girls living in Uganda. Such problems include lack of Girl Child Education, Poor Menstrual
Hygiene Management, Gender Inequalities, poverty and among other problems.
Moses was raised in rural areas of Uganda (Rakai District), attended primary and secondary
school from the same area and then finally moved to Kampala the capital city of Uganda to
pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Finance). Moses is
currently a student from Cavendish University Uganda.
Mariam was raised from Central Uganda, Hoima District studied her elementary/primary school
from the same area and moved to Mukono District for her Ordinary Secondary School Level of
Education. Mariam is currently an O’Level Secondary graduate. And she wishes to study further
in case of any opportunity.
Mariam and Moses have participated in so many community programs and volunteered with so
many Non-Profit Organizations and impacted over 2,000 people in Uganda.
During their work as volunteers, they accessed invaluable experiences and knowledge and
they want to see more Ugandan youths exposed to the same opportunity. There is a great
population of crime, social and economic issues in Uganda; many minority youth are
incarcerated or victims of the poor or lack of proper menstrual hygiene management, poverty
and lack of Education in Uganda. With our own personal encounter with life’s unfortunate
circumstances and understanding the importance of education it is our desire to take part and strive for a change.
the world. We want to let them know that you don't have to be old or rich to help somebody or
to bring about positive change in the lives of people. They should start now and lead the
change."
Moses & Mariam are the founders of Star Hands Organisation, a
non-profit Organisation dedicated to addressing the most problems affecting youths especially
girls living in Uganda. Such problems include lack of Girl Child Education, Poor Menstrual
Hygiene Management, Gender Inequalities, poverty and among other problems.
Moses was raised in rural areas of Uganda (Rakai District), attended primary and secondary
school from the same area and then finally moved to Kampala the capital city of Uganda to
pursue his Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration (Accounting and Finance). Moses is
currently a student from Cavendish University Uganda.
Mariam was raised from Central Uganda, Hoima District studied her elementary/primary school
from the same area and moved to Mukono District for her Ordinary Secondary School Level of
Education. Mariam is currently an O’Level Secondary graduate. And she wishes to study further
in case of any opportunity.
Mariam and Moses have participated in so many community programs and volunteered with so
many Non-Profit Organizations and impacted over 2,000 people in Uganda.
During their work as volunteers, they accessed invaluable experiences and knowledge and
they want to see more Ugandan youths exposed to the same opportunity. There is a great
population of crime, social and economic issues in Uganda; many minority youth are
incarcerated or victims of the poor or lack of proper menstrual hygiene management, poverty
and lack of Education in Uganda. With our own personal encounter with life’s unfortunate
circumstances and understanding the importance of education it is our desire to take part and strive for a change.
Ssanyu Lukoma - "How a Classroom Library Changed My Life"
A diverse display of books in learning environments is an invaluable tool while a child is developing into a young adult. Ssanyu Lukoma is a teenage author, business owner (4+ years), and book enthusiast! In this presentation, she will share her personal journey of how books have positively impacted her growth and provide tools for parents and educators to intentionally diversity their childrens' bookshelves. Diverse books will change the world, let's make it happen!
Ssanyu Lukoma is a teenage entrepreneur, author, and public speaker.
In 2018, at 13 years old, she founded Brown Kids Read, a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating all children, but especially children of color, to read more diverse literature.
Since then, she has created an online and pop-up bookstore called The Brown Reads Bookshelf and hosts a podcast called The Book Junkie. Most recently, she wrote a children’s picture book entitled Suubi's Sunny Smile through a publishing company she founded, Share a Smile Books.
Suubi's Sunny Smile comprises prominent heritage and dental hygiene themes, but most importantly, has a vital anti-bullying message. She was compelled to write a story featuring Suubi, a main character of color, whose inspiring journey will show young readers that what makes us unique, can be our greatest strength. Ssanyu is now in the process of publishing her next book -- Chi-Chi's Toothy Grin!
Additionally, She is a junior broadcaster and Junior Advisory Board Member for KiDz HuB Media Network, a member of the Homeschool National Honor Society, and she has been playing basketball for seven years.
She has also presented to corporations including Flywire and JPMorgan Chase about Teenage entrepreneurship, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Additionally, she presents goal-setting workshops for public high school students along with other workshops to help them stay motivated.
Her ultimate goal is to inspire and motivate others to leave a positive impact on the world!
Ssanyu Lukoma is a teenage entrepreneur, author, and public speaker.
In 2018, at 13 years old, she founded Brown Kids Read, a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating all children, but especially children of color, to read more diverse literature.
Since then, she has created an online and pop-up bookstore called The Brown Reads Bookshelf and hosts a podcast called The Book Junkie. Most recently, she wrote a children’s picture book entitled Suubi's Sunny Smile through a publishing company she founded, Share a Smile Books.
Suubi's Sunny Smile comprises prominent heritage and dental hygiene themes, but most importantly, has a vital anti-bullying message. She was compelled to write a story featuring Suubi, a main character of color, whose inspiring journey will show young readers that what makes us unique, can be our greatest strength. Ssanyu is now in the process of publishing her next book -- Chi-Chi's Toothy Grin!
Additionally, She is a junior broadcaster and Junior Advisory Board Member for KiDz HuB Media Network, a member of the Homeschool National Honor Society, and she has been playing basketball for seven years.
She has also presented to corporations including Flywire and JPMorgan Chase about Teenage entrepreneurship, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion. Additionally, she presents goal-setting workshops for public high school students along with other workshops to help them stay motivated.
Her ultimate goal is to inspire and motivate others to leave a positive impact on the world!
Zakia Irfan - "Learning to maintain good mental health while engaging in various extracurricular activities"
Learn some tips to maintain good mental health while engaging in extracurricular activities.
Zakia Irfan - is 16 years old and is an 11th grader at Colonel By Secondary School. She is an honour roll student and loves to read, write, and draw. She is a writer for the Hands on Health magazine and is immersed in medicine, collaborating with the PreMed Scene Journal Club. She was awarded the 2022 Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards presented by the Orleans Star Newspaper for achievements in academics and extracurriculars. She has authored two books, having designed the cover of and co-authoring an anthology of short-stories and original poems, entitled A Time to Fly. She also loves to play the piano, winning a bronze medal in the Ottawa Piano Festival in April 2021.
Zakia Irfan - is 16 years old and is an 11th grader at Colonel By Secondary School. She is an honour roll student and loves to read, write, and draw. She is a writer for the Hands on Health magazine and is immersed in medicine, collaborating with the PreMed Scene Journal Club. She was awarded the 2022 Orleans Outstanding Youth Awards presented by the Orleans Star Newspaper for achievements in academics and extracurriculars. She has authored two books, having designed the cover of and co-authoring an anthology of short-stories and original poems, entitled A Time to Fly. She also loves to play the piano, winning a bronze medal in the Ottawa Piano Festival in April 2021.
Jay Bates - "Domestic Violence - During The Time of Virtual Learning"
Schools aren't always equipped to handle domestic violence, virtual learning made it even more challenging. The good news is that there are steps schools can take whether learning is virtual or in person to reduce the occurence and support victims of domestic violence.
Jay is a 17 year old high schooler in Utah. They work with local charities, clubs, organizations, pride centers and do protests & walkouts to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone in Utah.
Jay is a 17 year old high schooler in Utah. They work with local charities, clubs, organizations, pride centers and do protests & walkouts to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone in Utah.
Addie Lentzner - "Equity in American Schools"
This talk will discuss the intersection of racial demographics, crime rates, poverty rates, literacy rates, and drop-out rates in American schools. We will look at towns within Vermont, in Chicago Illinois, and in Jackson Mississippi.
Addie Lentzner (she/her) is a high school senior from Bennington, Vermont. She founded the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network and the End Homelessness Vermont Coalition, helped to organize the AEROx Youth Rights Day Conference, and is passionate about uplifting youth voices for social change.
Addie Lentzner (she/her) is a high school senior from Bennington, Vermont. She founded the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network and the End Homelessness Vermont Coalition, helped to organize the AEROx Youth Rights Day Conference, and is passionate about uplifting youth voices for social change.
Apoorva Panidapu - "How Youth Can Leverage Online Platforms to Explore Their Passions, Grow, and Start Businesses"
These past few years, we've seen the incredible potential of streamlining and growing our work online. I'll be talking about how young people can use their experience in the online space to create or engage with virtual platforms to learn, grow a business, or tangibly develop their passions.
Apoorva is a young mathematician, artist, social entrepreneur, writer, and advocate for youth in STEAM, pushing against the discrimination she and many others face for being a girl in math. She has written and co-authored several research publications, working alongside world-renowned mathematicians. She is a 2021 Davidson Fellow Laureate, a 2020 Global Child Prodigy, a World Science Scholar, and a winner of the Templeton Spirit of Ramanujan Fellowship. Apoorva created her column, Gems in STEM, to welcome everyone to STEM in an accessible way. She reaches over 65,000 people through published newspapers and Medium, and won the 2021 Strogatz Prize for Math Communication due to her column's considerable global impact. Apoorva is also the founder of Apoorva’s Art Gallery, an online platform to raise funds for underserved children and to advocate for social reform. She has raised over $45,000 for charity with her art and teaching, receiving the 2021 Diana Award and five President's Volunteer Service awards in recognition of her service. Apoorva is a keynote speaker who has spoken nationally and globally at various STEM and leadership events, partnering with companies like Microsoft, Ebay, and Cisco, about gender bias in early education, her research, and her journey in STEM, entrepreneurship, and service–encouraging youth to pursue their passions fearlessly. Through her teaching, art, public speaking, and writing, she strives to create a world where women and gender minorities in STEM are treated equitably.
Apoorva is a young mathematician, artist, social entrepreneur, writer, and advocate for youth in STEAM, pushing against the discrimination she and many others face for being a girl in math. She has written and co-authored several research publications, working alongside world-renowned mathematicians. She is a 2021 Davidson Fellow Laureate, a 2020 Global Child Prodigy, a World Science Scholar, and a winner of the Templeton Spirit of Ramanujan Fellowship. Apoorva created her column, Gems in STEM, to welcome everyone to STEM in an accessible way. She reaches over 65,000 people through published newspapers and Medium, and won the 2021 Strogatz Prize for Math Communication due to her column's considerable global impact. Apoorva is also the founder of Apoorva’s Art Gallery, an online platform to raise funds for underserved children and to advocate for social reform. She has raised over $45,000 for charity with her art and teaching, receiving the 2021 Diana Award and five President's Volunteer Service awards in recognition of her service. Apoorva is a keynote speaker who has spoken nationally and globally at various STEM and leadership events, partnering with companies like Microsoft, Ebay, and Cisco, about gender bias in early education, her research, and her journey in STEM, entrepreneurship, and service–encouraging youth to pursue their passions fearlessly. Through her teaching, art, public speaking, and writing, she strives to create a world where women and gender minorities in STEM are treated equitably.
Ymorah Blackeney - "Girls Inspiring Tomorrow"
On Friday, April 8th, Black Girls Talk hosted a virtual event, Girls Inspiring Tomorrow, to celebrate and showcase the work young Black women are doing to inspire others in their school, community, and the world at large. Attendees were able to participate in workshops led by activists and change agents. This talk aims to continue the conversation of how young Black women are taking charge and creating change within the climate justice, education equity, and human rights movements.
Ymorah Blakeney is the founder and director of Black Girls Talk, a social enterprise that provides a safe space and youth development resources for Black girls ages 14 to 18. She founded the social enterprise as a club when she was a high school freshman to provide a safe space for the Black female students, staff, and faculty at her school. Since then, Black Girls Talk has grown to serve 30 young Black women annually and continues to engage its members in discussions about social issues impacting them. In 2020, Ymorah launched a guest speaker series to provide members with the opportunity to meet and network with Black female professionals who have careers in business, entrepreneurship, activism, and STEM. Black Girls Talk has hosted Beatrice Dixon, founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company; Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista; Patrina Dixon, founder and CEO of It’s My Money; and others.
Ymorah also serves as the project manager on the Social Engagement and Programming Committee of the Black Lives Matter Task Force at Bard High School Early College Queens. She is passionate about hosting events that uplift and celebrate Black culture, people, and history. For the past four years, Ymorah has organized the Black Lives Matter Day of Action. During this event, she has hosted 20 guest speakers including Rachel Rodgers, Sulma Arzu-Brown, and Wesley Caines, and organized 90 workshops.
Since 2019, Ymorah has spoken at The Schomburg Center, Intrepid Museum, The People’s Forum, The AERO Conference, and other organizations and events. She seeks to continue using her voice, knowledge, and resources to uplift and support other young Black women.
Ymorah Blakeney is the founder and director of Black Girls Talk, a social enterprise that provides a safe space and youth development resources for Black girls ages 14 to 18. She founded the social enterprise as a club when she was a high school freshman to provide a safe space for the Black female students, staff, and faculty at her school. Since then, Black Girls Talk has grown to serve 30 young Black women annually and continues to engage its members in discussions about social issues impacting them. In 2020, Ymorah launched a guest speaker series to provide members with the opportunity to meet and network with Black female professionals who have careers in business, entrepreneurship, activism, and STEM. Black Girls Talk has hosted Beatrice Dixon, founder and CEO of The Honey Pot Company; Tiffany Aliche, aka The Budgetnista; Patrina Dixon, founder and CEO of It’s My Money; and others.
Ymorah also serves as the project manager on the Social Engagement and Programming Committee of the Black Lives Matter Task Force at Bard High School Early College Queens. She is passionate about hosting events that uplift and celebrate Black culture, people, and history. For the past four years, Ymorah has organized the Black Lives Matter Day of Action. During this event, she has hosted 20 guest speakers including Rachel Rodgers, Sulma Arzu-Brown, and Wesley Caines, and organized 90 workshops.
Since 2019, Ymorah has spoken at The Schomburg Center, Intrepid Museum, The People’s Forum, The AERO Conference, and other organizations and events. She seeks to continue using her voice, knowledge, and resources to uplift and support other young Black women.
Ava Mateo - "The Liberating Power of Peer-to-Peer Education"
I will discuss the possibilities of youth liberation in society through peer-to-peer education in the context of youth-led organizations and social media.
Ava Mateo (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of 18by Vote. She believes deeply in the power of youth and finds it her mission to spread opportunity for meaningful civic engagement among teens and young adults. At 18by Vote, Ava leads an entirely youth-led team in the development and execution of hyper localized youth voter outreach programming. This programming supports paid youth participants in becoming catalysts for civic action within their own communities. With immense passion for sustaining democracy through the American public school system, she is also a Masters Candidate at Columbia University, Teachers College studying Sociology and Education with a concentration in Education Policy. Her current research is focused on the influence of youth-led organizations and youth educational programs on youth participant’s socio-political identity development. Ava is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Class of 2020.
Ava Mateo (she/her/hers) is the Executive Director of 18by Vote. She believes deeply in the power of youth and finds it her mission to spread opportunity for meaningful civic engagement among teens and young adults. At 18by Vote, Ava leads an entirely youth-led team in the development and execution of hyper localized youth voter outreach programming. This programming supports paid youth participants in becoming catalysts for civic action within their own communities. With immense passion for sustaining democracy through the American public school system, she is also a Masters Candidate at Columbia University, Teachers College studying Sociology and Education with a concentration in Education Policy. Her current research is focused on the influence of youth-led organizations and youth educational programs on youth participant’s socio-political identity development. Ava is a graduate of Sarah Lawrence College, Class of 2020.
Crystal Widado - "Stuck, lost, and afraid: dealing with mental health as a teenager in today's education system"
Between the lack of trust in high school counselors and the fear of stigma, many teens are left without much support with their traumas and pains; I'll be speaking on my own journey through this frustration in the past few years along with sharing ways both teens and adults can work together to enhance mental health education on campuses and why it's so important to destigmatize mental health conversations.
Crystal Widado (she/her/hers) is a student journalist, public speaker, and high school junior. After dealing with many personal struggles with suicide and identity in middle school, she became extremely passionate about teen mental health and intersectional approaches to our generation’s conversations surrounding wellness. Crystal has served as the social media facilitator for Mind Out Loud, the co-president of her schools’ NAMI on Campus chapter, the Writing Director of Each Mind, and is a part of the Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup at the California Department of Education.
Crystal Widado (she/her/hers) is a student journalist, public speaker, and high school junior. After dealing with many personal struggles with suicide and identity in middle school, she became extremely passionate about teen mental health and intersectional approaches to our generation’s conversations surrounding wellness. Crystal has served as the social media facilitator for Mind Out Loud, the co-president of her schools’ NAMI on Campus chapter, the Writing Director of Each Mind, and is a part of the Student Mental Health Policy Workgroup at the California Department of Education.
Dami Balogun - "Youth Impact and Transformational leadership for trailblazing the SDGs"
Damilola Hamid Balogun is a passionate youth, thought leader, international development professional with over five years’ hands-on experience in advisory service provision, collaborative research, youth-led advocacy, facilitation of participatory processes and a track record of meaningful impact in youth, communities and institutions inclusion in sustainable development affairs.
Exceptional communication skills evidenced by several features on television and radio stations in Nigeria and Africa such as Silverbird TV, Television Continental, PlusTv Africa, Channels TV amongst others and international speaking roles in several international conferences speaking on issues of Sustainable Development Leadership, Youth Development and inspiring real-life action and impact.
Damilola is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sustainable Development
Network, a network that works with change-makers and youth across the globe to foster an enabling environment that will lead to a more sustainable and resilient future by 2030. Since its existence, the YSDN has been able to impact 1500 youths across 25 countries through its workshops, training and summits. In 2021, in a bid to put youth at the center of meaningful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the YSDN launched the Solar Irrigation Project to support farmers to have access to knowledge on irrigation and irrigation management as well as equipment that can support them to practice all year production.
In October 2021, Damilola also participated at the biggest United Nations Climate Change Conference- the Conference of Parties 26 (COP) in Glasgow, United Kingdom. During the conference, he was featured on a panel session led by Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, to showcase youth from Global South pushing towards the agenda of the future we want.
Exceptional communication skills evidenced by several features on television and radio stations in Nigeria and Africa such as Silverbird TV, Television Continental, PlusTv Africa, Channels TV amongst others and international speaking roles in several international conferences speaking on issues of Sustainable Development Leadership, Youth Development and inspiring real-life action and impact.
Damilola is a co-founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Youth Sustainable Development
Network, a network that works with change-makers and youth across the globe to foster an enabling environment that will lead to a more sustainable and resilient future by 2030. Since its existence, the YSDN has been able to impact 1500 youths across 25 countries through its workshops, training and summits. In 2021, in a bid to put youth at the center of meaningful implementation of the Sustainable Development Goals, the YSDN launched the Solar Irrigation Project to support farmers to have access to knowledge on irrigation and irrigation management as well as equipment that can support them to practice all year production.
In October 2021, Damilola also participated at the biggest United Nations Climate Change Conference- the Conference of Parties 26 (COP) in Glasgow, United Kingdom. During the conference, he was featured on a panel session led by Emory University, Atlanta Georgia, to showcase youth from Global South pushing towards the agenda of the future we want.
Kylah Avery - "How not standing for the pledge affected me and others in a public school"
My sophomore year, I made the decision to no longer participate in the Pledge of Allegiance and I posted about it. How did my republican public school react? Let me tell you
My name is Kylah (she,her) and I’m a 17 junior in a public high school.
My name is Kylah (she,her) and I’m a 17 junior in a public high school.
Michael Maser - "In Memorium - Brent Cameron (d. 2012)"
Brent Cameron was a remarkable, pioneering educator who left a wide footprint in the landscape of alternative schooling. He died in 2012 but his legacy is evident in many ways and places. He touched thousands of lives in the programs he launched (mainly in BC Canada but extending elsewhere) starting in the 1980s: Wondertree, Virtual High and SelfDesign, by name. I was fortunate enough to 'ride the range' with Brent starting in 1992 and, in this presentation, I would like to honour his memory by sharing some insights and reflections.
Michael Maser: Educator: 1987 - present (many, varied experiences! K - Grad Studies); PhD candidate (present): Simon Fraser University (Vancouver Canada); author: 'Learn Your Way!' (2012); Adjunct faculty (present): Antioch University ... home = Gibsons BC Canada
Michael Maser: Educator: 1987 - present (many, varied experiences! K - Grad Studies); PhD candidate (present): Simon Fraser University (Vancouver Canada); author: 'Learn Your Way!' (2012); Adjunct faculty (present): Antioch University ... home = Gibsons BC Canada
Sarah Syed - "How the Unconventional Path Unlocks the Door of Potential"
We all want to make an impact, change the world and become the future leaders we envision. Sometimes taking the first step when working on a project to turn a vision into reality can be challenging. From first hand experiences, during this presentation, I will be sharing the 3 step process to design a project in any field and use your passion to change the world. I will be sharing stores from the projects I worked on such as the biodegradable sorbent made from aerogels, biomass and polymers to mindsets that helped me through the process.
Sarah is a poet and science researcher whose environmental journey began in fourth grade when she learned about the detrimental impacts climate change has on the environment. Since then, Sarah has made it her mission to solve aspects of the climate crisis. Sarah organised an environmental hackathon with workshops that had over 1000 participants to encourage youth to use technology to develop climate-tech. In addition, Sarah developed a project that transforms synthetic polymers that are often thrown in landfills into a product that can be used to clean-up oil spills. In addition, she conducted research on bioplastics made from food scraps. She has won many awards such as gold at the Toronto Science Fair, UTSC Best Environmental Award in Chemistry, Nature Inspiration Finalist Award, Ontario Junior Citizen Award, named as a Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist in Canada, Top 20 in STEM in the world and her poetry has been awarded nationally and internationally
Sarah is a poet and science researcher whose environmental journey began in fourth grade when she learned about the detrimental impacts climate change has on the environment. Since then, Sarah has made it her mission to solve aspects of the climate crisis. Sarah organised an environmental hackathon with workshops that had over 1000 participants to encourage youth to use technology to develop climate-tech. In addition, Sarah developed a project that transforms synthetic polymers that are often thrown in landfills into a product that can be used to clean-up oil spills. In addition, she conducted research on bioplastics made from food scraps. She has won many awards such as gold at the Toronto Science Fair, UTSC Best Environmental Award in Chemistry, Nature Inspiration Finalist Award, Ontario Junior Citizen Award, named as a Top 25 Under 25 Environmentalist in Canada, Top 20 in STEM in the world and her poetry has been awarded nationally and internationally
Sophia Benavente - Sayani - "Youth Taking a Stand"
: How to lead youth service groups with a focus on gender equality. in our ever-evolving world, it’s the youth who are now taking a stand and advocating for the
issues that matter most to them. With technology granting societies a wide range of resources
and materials, it’s a great time to start an organization to fight for the causes you believe in. In
this session, you will learn how to successfully lead youth service groups, with a focus on gender
equality. From how to create a community that gives back to the world around them, to getting
recognized, to some examples of service projects, if you want to commit to compassion, this is
the chance. We will cover a range of tips and tactics to strengthen and inspire your group!
"Sophia Benavente-Sayani is an aspiring woman in STEM, and most importantly a huge advocate
for gender equality. A rising senior at High Tech High School, studying computer science,
Sophia knows the specific issues that women and other Latinas face in the workforce, thus she
has made a commitment to uplifting others so that these barriers may be defeated. Selected by
the National Academy of Engineering as 1 of the Nation’s 24 Engineer Girl Ambassadors,
Sophia Benavente-Sayani has implemented STEM programs for her community's
underrepresented youth. She is the founder and president of her high school’s Girl Up chapter.
Her achievements range from graduating from the New Jersey Governor STEM Scholars
program to winning the Hudson County STEM Showcase for several years, most recently with a
gold medal.
issues that matter most to them. With technology granting societies a wide range of resources
and materials, it’s a great time to start an organization to fight for the causes you believe in. In
this session, you will learn how to successfully lead youth service groups, with a focus on gender
equality. From how to create a community that gives back to the world around them, to getting
recognized, to some examples of service projects, if you want to commit to compassion, this is
the chance. We will cover a range of tips and tactics to strengthen and inspire your group!
"Sophia Benavente-Sayani is an aspiring woman in STEM, and most importantly a huge advocate
for gender equality. A rising senior at High Tech High School, studying computer science,
Sophia knows the specific issues that women and other Latinas face in the workforce, thus she
has made a commitment to uplifting others so that these barriers may be defeated. Selected by
the National Academy of Engineering as 1 of the Nation’s 24 Engineer Girl Ambassadors,
Sophia Benavente-Sayani has implemented STEM programs for her community's
underrepresented youth. She is the founder and president of her high school’s Girl Up chapter.
Her achievements range from graduating from the New Jersey Governor STEM Scholars
program to winning the Hudson County STEM Showcase for several years, most recently with a
gold medal.
Panelists
Jerry Mintz - "Welcome & Opening"
Jerry Mintz has been a leading voice in the alternative school movement since establishing AERO in 1989. In addition to his seventeen years as a public and independent alternative school principal and teacher, he has also helped found more than one hundred public and private alternative schools and organizations. He has lectured and consulted in more than twenty-five countries around the world.
In 1989, he founded the Alternative Education Resource Organization and since then has served as it’s Director. Jerry was also a founding member of the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in 2013.
In addition to several appearances on national radio and TV shows, Jerry’s essays, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Paths of Learning, Green Money Journal, Communities, Saturday Review, Holistic Education Review as well as the anthology Creating Learning Communities (Foundation for Educational Renewal, 2000).
Jerry was Editor-in-Chief for the Handbook of Alternative Education (Macmillan, 1994), and the Almanac of Education Choices (Macmillan/Simon & Schuster, 1995). He is the author of School’s Over: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education (AERO, 2017) and is editor of Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Story (AERO, 2010).He is the editor of the AERO weekly free e newsletter with 15,000 subscribers.
Jerry Mintz has spoken at Alternative Education Resource Organization Conferences from its inception in 2004 through 2019 in locations such as Troy, NY, Albany, NY, Portland, OR, and Long Island University. He has spoken at the International Democratic Education Conference in locations including Hadera, Israel, Vienna, Austria, Devon, England, Summerhill School, England, Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, Christchurch, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Bhubanashwar, India, Vancouver, Canada, Nuestra Escuela, Puerto Rico, Boulder, Colorado, Gwangmyeong, Korea, Mikkeli, Finland, and Kiev, Ukraine. He has done TEDx talks in Brooklyn and Norway. He has also spoken at the Reevo Conference in Bogota, Colombia, the ED Crunch Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Eureka Conferences in Narva, Estonia, Simferipol, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia, The Green Festival in New York, International Association of Learning Alternatives Conferences in Deluth, MN, Portland, OR, St. Augustine, FL, Atlanta, GA, Des Moines, IA, Denver, CO, Amsterdam, NY. He has spoken a homeschooling conferences such as in Albany, NY, Montreal, Quebec, Dallas, TX. He has spoken at the Montessori Foundation Conference in Sarasota, FL. He spoke at numerous National Coalition of Alternative Community School conferences such as in Salem, OR, Chicago, IL, Santa Fe, NM, Ann Arbor, MI, Bloomington, IN, San Diego, CA, Summertown, TN, Glenmoore, PA. He has done consultations in nearly every state and over 22 countries, most recently in Eger, Hungary, Chalford, England and Kiev, Ukraine.
Articles by Jerry Mintz
Democratic School Governance
Sustainable Education
Ten Signs You Need to Find a Different Kind of Education for Your Child
https://www.educationrevolution.org/store/jerrymintz/
In 1989, he founded the Alternative Education Resource Organization and since then has served as it’s Director. Jerry was also a founding member of the International Democratic Education Conference (IDEC) in 2013.
In addition to several appearances on national radio and TV shows, Jerry’s essays, commentaries, and reviews have appeared in numerous newspapers, journals, and magazines including The New York Times, Newsday, Paths of Learning, Green Money Journal, Communities, Saturday Review, Holistic Education Review as well as the anthology Creating Learning Communities (Foundation for Educational Renewal, 2000).
Jerry was Editor-in-Chief for the Handbook of Alternative Education (Macmillan, 1994), and the Almanac of Education Choices (Macmillan/Simon & Schuster, 1995). He is the author of School’s Over: How to Have Freedom and Democracy in Education (AERO, 2017) and is editor of Turning Points: 35 Visionaries in Education Tell Their Own Story (AERO, 2010).He is the editor of the AERO weekly free e newsletter with 15,000 subscribers.
Jerry Mintz has spoken at Alternative Education Resource Organization Conferences from its inception in 2004 through 2019 in locations such as Troy, NY, Albany, NY, Portland, OR, and Long Island University. He has spoken at the International Democratic Education Conference in locations including Hadera, Israel, Vienna, Austria, Devon, England, Summerhill School, England, Vinnitsa, Ukraine, Tokyo, Japan, Christchurch, New Zealand, Sydney, Australia, Berlin, Germany, Bhubanashwar, India, Vancouver, Canada, Nuestra Escuela, Puerto Rico, Boulder, Colorado, Gwangmyeong, Korea, Mikkeli, Finland, and Kiev, Ukraine. He has done TEDx talks in Brooklyn and Norway. He has also spoken at the Reevo Conference in Bogota, Colombia, the ED Crunch Conference in St. Petersburg, Russia, the Eureka Conferences in Narva, Estonia, Simferipol, Ukraine, and Moscow, Russia, The Green Festival in New York, International Association of Learning Alternatives Conferences in Deluth, MN, Portland, OR, St. Augustine, FL, Atlanta, GA, Des Moines, IA, Denver, CO, Amsterdam, NY. He has spoken a homeschooling conferences such as in Albany, NY, Montreal, Quebec, Dallas, TX. He has spoken at the Montessori Foundation Conference in Sarasota, FL. He spoke at numerous National Coalition of Alternative Community School conferences such as in Salem, OR, Chicago, IL, Santa Fe, NM, Ann Arbor, MI, Bloomington, IN, San Diego, CA, Summertown, TN, Glenmoore, PA. He has done consultations in nearly every state and over 22 countries, most recently in Eger, Hungary, Chalford, England and Kiev, Ukraine.
Articles by Jerry Mintz
Democratic School Governance
Sustainable Education
Ten Signs You Need to Find a Different Kind of Education for Your Child
https://www.educationrevolution.org/store/jerrymintz/
Peter Berg - "Welcome & Opening"
Dr. Peter Berg, the founder of Youth Transformations, works with teens and adults as the Assistant Director of Counseling & Outreach at Franklin Pierce University.
He is an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, in the Doctor of Educational Leadership program. Previously he was a Principal at a democratic school in Maine.
The author of the best-selling book The Tao of Teenagers: A Guide to Teen Health, Happiness & Empowerment, his work includes helping teenagers empower themselves so they can take charge of their health and happiness and be the masters of their own lives. His mission is to guide youth and families to create transformations that lead to health, happiness and empowerment.
He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has written extensively on alternative, holistic, integrated educational theory and integrated health.
Peter helps to organize many aspects of the Alternative Education Resource Organization. He has consulted on many school and organizational startups.
He is an adjunct instructor at Southern New Hampshire University, in the Doctor of Educational Leadership program. Previously he was a Principal at a democratic school in Maine.
The author of the best-selling book The Tao of Teenagers: A Guide to Teen Health, Happiness & Empowerment, his work includes helping teenagers empower themselves so they can take charge of their health and happiness and be the masters of their own lives. His mission is to guide youth and families to create transformations that lead to health, happiness and empowerment.
He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and has written extensively on alternative, holistic, integrated educational theory and integrated health.
Peter helps to organize many aspects of the Alternative Education Resource Organization. He has consulted on many school and organizational startups.
Kurt Krueger - "Future of Education"
Kurt Krueger, Lives on and cares for the unceded land of Humans, just 20 miles N. of Los Angeles CA. Kurt is a global citizen serving a regenerative society and life on our planet; he is one of the founders of the Peace Lab; and is a polymath, Solutionist, explorer, alchemist for love, and pragmatic futurist. Since the 70s, he has led programs on 5 continents for elite athletes/coaches, corporations, and educational institutions. As an Ultimizationalist and Transformationalist, Kurt founded the Institute of Sports Psychology and Success Systems International in the early 1980s. He has taught in the ghettos of Los Angeles for 40+ years, designed curriculum, and was on a hijacked airplane, which all led to offering of stress management programs at the UN and Oxford U. Medical School. In Who’s Who in America/Educators. He’s helped present or promote Vegan World 2026, the Pachamama.org Alliance/Drawdown, and Character Inclusion programs. He has written the Best-Selling series, Winning Ways for Living, and produced numerous Peace Lab programs for the Humanity Rising: Global Solutions Summit (they’ve done over 450 in about 18 months). He’s available for all media interviews.
Michael Strong - "Future of Education"
Michael Strong is one of the most experienced designers of innovative school programs in the United States. His projects include a public school program in which minority female students gained four years’ worth of critical thinking gains in four months (on the Watson-Glaser). He later went into Montessori secondary school program design at The Judson Montessori School (San Antonio), The Emerson School, and Hacienda School. He created The Winston Academy, where middle school students passed AP exams, making it the most academically advanced school in the country at the time.
Another of Michael’s projects, Moreno Valley High School, a Paideia charter high school, was ranked the 36th-best U.S. public high school by Newsweek. More recently he co-founded KoSchool in Austin, Texas, which combined his high-performance approach to AP coursework and SAT score gains focused on entrepreneurial and creative projects. KoSchool, in turn, became the original model for The Academy of Thought and Industry, the high school model for the largest Montessori network in the United States.
Students from Michael’s schools have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Smith, Bard, Bennington, McGill, UT-Austin, University of Colorado, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Parsons School of Design, Quest, St. John’s, and many dozens of other post-secondary institutions.
He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and the lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems.
Another of Michael’s projects, Moreno Valley High School, a Paideia charter high school, was ranked the 36th-best U.S. public high school by Newsweek. More recently he co-founded KoSchool in Austin, Texas, which combined his high-performance approach to AP coursework and SAT score gains focused on entrepreneurial and creative projects. KoSchool, in turn, became the original model for The Academy of Thought and Industry, the high school model for the largest Montessori network in the United States.
Students from Michael’s schools have been admitted to Harvard, Stanford, Georgetown, Smith, Bard, Bennington, McGill, UT-Austin, University of Colorado, the Hebrew University of Jerusalem, Parsons School of Design, Quest, St. John’s, and many dozens of other post-secondary institutions.
He is the author of The Habit of Thought: From Socratic Seminars to Socratic Practice and the lead author of Be the Solution: How Entrepreneurs and Conscious Capitalists Can Solve All the World’s Problems.
Heidi Little - "Future of Education"
Heidi Little, M. Ed is a heart-based, social-emotional learning, international educator, children's advocate, producer, musician, author, podcaster, and the founder of International Children's Month, The Center for Advancement in Social Emotional Learning, The Book of Honor, and The Children's Global Wave of Love (June 21st), WE, The World producer, creator of The Child of the Heart series of training modules to support and uplift our present and future generations: How Do We Teach Self Love in Education. A water protector, humanitarian, Mother, and peace /children's advocate.
New Single DIAMONDS and All Facets of Heidi Little, M. Ed www.heidilittle.com Humanitarian Heart Based Education www.seladvancement.org The Children's Empowerment Platform/Specials www.internationalchildrensmonth.com and https://we.net/icm/
New Single DIAMONDS and All Facets of Heidi Little, M. Ed www.heidilittle.com Humanitarian Heart Based Education www.seladvancement.org The Children's Empowerment Platform/Specials www.internationalchildrensmonth.com and https://we.net/icm/
Raheen Fatima - "Future of Education"
Raheen Fatima, 14 years old girl from Pakistan. She is a multi-award-winning GEN-Z
Peace & Climate Change Activist. She is also a SDGs Ambassador, Stand-up comedian,
Theatre Actor, teacher, Sustainability Entrepreneur, and Podcaster. Raheen’s work has
been featured in news outlets including CNN, Cartoon Network, Voice of America, CTV
News Canada, and Pakistan National Television. She is a prolific public speaker and has
spoken at schools across the country and internationally. She gave her debut TEDx Talk
at Acton Youth TEDx. She has been named Cartoon
Network and CNN Climate Champion, Pakistan’s Youngest Climate Activist, Stand-up
Comedian, Social Entrepreneur, and Podcaster. She has her social startup to replace
plastic shopping bags with cotton bags, with a twist. She has been Awarded 25 Under 25
Extraordinary Women of Pakistan by The Little Art Organization in collaboration with the
Government of Netherlands, "Youth Leadership Award” by Volunteer Force Pakistan, and
"Peace Achievers and Leadership Award” by School of Peace & Leadership Studies,
Pakistan.
Peace & Climate Change Activist. She is also a SDGs Ambassador, Stand-up comedian,
Theatre Actor, teacher, Sustainability Entrepreneur, and Podcaster. Raheen’s work has
been featured in news outlets including CNN, Cartoon Network, Voice of America, CTV
News Canada, and Pakistan National Television. She is a prolific public speaker and has
spoken at schools across the country and internationally. She gave her debut TEDx Talk
at Acton Youth TEDx. She has been named Cartoon
Network and CNN Climate Champion, Pakistan’s Youngest Climate Activist, Stand-up
Comedian, Social Entrepreneur, and Podcaster. She has her social startup to replace
plastic shopping bags with cotton bags, with a twist. She has been Awarded 25 Under 25
Extraordinary Women of Pakistan by The Little Art Organization in collaboration with the
Government of Netherlands, "Youth Leadership Award” by Volunteer Force Pakistan, and
"Peace Achievers and Leadership Award” by School of Peace & Leadership Studies,
Pakistan.
Liberated Learners - "What Have I Done?"
A Panel by: Isabel Miller, Kim Chin-Gibbons, Hazel Kleinman-Eddy, Tove Schweitzer.
Isabel Miller, 17, North Star member heading into her 3rd year, Kim Chin-Gibbons, 21, North Star alum, now joining North Star staff in September, Hazel Kleinman-Eddy, 19, new North Star alum, just completed their 5th year, Tove Schweitzer 17, new North Star alum, just complete her 3rd year.
Isabel Miller, 17, North Star member heading into her 3rd year, Kim Chin-Gibbons, 21, North Star alum, now joining North Star staff in September, Hazel Kleinman-Eddy, 19, new North Star alum, just completed their 5th year, Tove Schweitzer 17, new North Star alum, just complete her 3rd year.
Jay Bates
Youth In Action - Tips on Taking Action- Practical tips on taking action to bring about change in schools. Led by AERO's youth organizers.
Jay is a 17 year old high schooler in Utah. They work with local charities, clubs, organizations, pride centers and do protests & walkouts to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone in Utah.
Jay is a 17 year old high schooler in Utah. They work with local charities, clubs, organizations, pride centers and do protests & walkouts to create a safe and inclusive space for everyone in Utah.
Addie Lentzner
Youth In Action - Tips on Taking Action- Practical tips on taking action to bring about change in schools. Led by AERO's youth organizers.
Addie Lentzner (she/her) is a high school senior from Bennington, Vermont. She founded the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network and the End Homelessness Vermont Coalition, helped to organize the AEROx Youth Rights Day Conference, and is passionate about uplifting youth voices for social change.
Addie Lentzner (she/her) is a high school senior from Bennington, Vermont. She founded the Vermont Student Anti-Racism Network and the End Homelessness Vermont Coalition, helped to organize the AEROx Youth Rights Day Conference, and is passionate about uplifting youth voices for social change.
More Speakers Coming Soon!
The AERO Conference Is in Proud Partnership With:
