2024 Experiences

Art and Impact

Mending Walls is a public art project that brings together public artists from different cultures and backgrounds to create murals that address where we are now in society and how we can move forward through understanding and collaboration. Mending Walls pairs up artists of different backgrounds to create unique connections and give them an opportunity to tell their stories collaboratively in an effort to express healing through connection. This session will explore bringing about healing through public art.

Big Dreams: So you want to be a…

Join Micah Bam-Bamm White (national comedian and entertainer), Christine Mercado (booking agent and H.R. expert), and Jimmy Budd (founder of RVA Fashion Week and owner of Vagabond Restaurant) as they give you insight and tips on how to effectively become whatever it is your heart desires.

You will gain tips on:

Effective marketing practices
How to setup an actual business
How to handle money
How to form positive thinking habits
The importance of giving back

Build Your Biz Workshop

Join Founders Mark for an immersive workshop that transcends traditional learning boundaries. Our workshop is designed for learners seeking to embark on a transformative journey of rapid prototyping and business concept development. The workshop takes a holistic approach, addressing key attributes essential for success in today’s dynamic world. This workshop goes beyond theoretical learning, equipping youth with practical skills and insights that will mark the beginning of your entrepreneurial journey. Founders Mark is committed to shaping the next generation of leaders and innovators – are you ready to leave your mark?

Calm Room

Take some time to relax or engage in mindful meditation. Mindfulness is the practice of paying attention to the present moment in a compassionate, accepting, and kind way. Take a moment to experience a formal mindfulness practice during the Teen Summit. Guided practices will invite students to focus attention, gain mindful awareness, and transition through the day with clarity.

Dollars N Sense

This session provides an interactive learning experience that teaches students about wealth! Our program will start with a brief conversation with students about the importance of assets and the wealth in America. We transition into getting them to set up a budget as a group activity, so they learn the value of healthy communication in making monetary decisions. We end by giving them options to invest their disposable income in various stock assets, which teaches them to pay attention to the stock of the favorite companies. We use movie money to ensure that the students are engaged and always put having fun first!

Empowering Teens to Transform Their Communities

This insightful panel discussion, part of the Change Your World session, is designed to guide teens on how to become proactive community members. Our aim is to inspire them to ‘pay it forward’ by actively participating in initiatives that create positive change in their environments. Throughout the session, we will explore various avenues for making a difference. These include volunteering for community projects, joining programs that are already effecting change, and even initiating new ventures to address harmful circumstances within their communities.

First Gen

First generation students from various countries will answer questions that share their experience on the immigration process, their experience in America, and their desire and dreams for the future. They will reveal challenges and success in navigating being a first generation student. The audience will also have an opportunity to discuss their experiences.

I Am Worth It: LGBTQIA+

This session is an exercise in self-love, self-advocacy and boundary setting for the LGBTQIA+ community and advocates. Aligning with the theme of the event “I AM”, students will learn how to build self-confidence and self-esteem. Students will also have the opportunity to talk about their experiences with building confidence and the challenges that it comes with.

Influence the Influencers: Substance Abuse

Join this interactive session to learn about influences teens face today regarding substance use, mental health, peer pressure and more. Learn what’s trending, how to be a positive influencer for yourself and your peers, and what to do when faced with these pressures in your friend groups. Come share your thoughts or experiences about these topics and help influence the influencers.

Inspire Youth at Work

This vendor fair is a chance for students to explore opportunities and resources such as Wellness, Employment, Volunteering, Recreation, Sports, Entertainment, Education and Training organizations and programs.

Mental Health in the Real World

The prevalence of mental health concerns has risen globally since the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, increasing the likelihood of knowing someone who is experiencing symptoms of anxiety, depression, self-harm, or thoughts of suicide. In this educational and interactive workshop, teens will learn about common mental health concerns that affect young people, actions steps to help support a friend, and the importance of self-care.

Photography Life: An Introduction to Studio Photography

In this session, students will explore how to use photography as a form of self-care and how to connect with others through photography. With the right mindset and a little encouragement, anyone can start using a camera — be it a smartphone, Instax, or high-end DSLR — to tap into the wellness benefits of creativity. Once you get the hang of taking intentional photos, you can go deeper with photography as a tool for self-exploration and expression. This session will include images of photography that evokes emotion, youth encouragement, an interactive activity, and a Q&A session.

Talk to Me: Building Healthy Communication Skills

This session is designed to explore what healthy communication in all relationships look like. It will help students understand how to resolve general conflicts and positive approaches to navigating hard conversations. Students will engage in open conversation about their experiences.

Telling My Story

This session will include the events of the life of Zenobia Bey in hopes to inspire, empower and provide an example to teens that they can accomplish whatever they put their minds to. The session will remind them that they do not have to be a product of their environment despite experiencing patterns of violence and impacts of living in the City of Richmond in the ‘80s and 90’s when it was the #Number Capital in the Nation. It will allow them to learn how to turn their pain into power and the importance of knowing how to tap into their higher self to be the best human they can be.

The Culture Debates

In this session, students will participate in an engaging debate to explore their perspectives on social media, music, movies, gaming and how it is affecting their culture and society. There will be a focus on entertainment and impact and students will have the opportunity to learn about the different ways others view life through their eyes.

Who am I? Exploring Self Identity

This session will help student explore who they are beyond their roles as students, children to their parents, athletes or artists. This is an opportunity for students to engage in reflection/ introspection and help them define themselves for themselves.