Call for Speakers!
Teen Summit 2025 :: “Our Vision”
Speaker Responsibilities for Teen Summit RVA 2025
Thank you for your interest in participating as a speaker at Teen Summit RVA 2025! Our summit’s mission is to empower and amplify youth voices, tackling topics on violence prevention, wellness, and community impact through inspiring and interactive experiences. As a speaker, you will play an essential role in sparking dialogue, sharing valuable insights, and helping English and non- English-speaking youth in the Richmond region envision pathways to success.
Role & Responsibilities:
- Prepare an Interactive, Youth-Focused Session
- Design a session that is both engaging and accessible for high school students (grades 9-12).
- Be prepared to present your 45-minute session three times throughout the day. More details below*
- Ensure the session is interactive, with elements that encourage participation and hands-on experiences. Options include simulations, workshops, panels, and clinics.
- Incorporate Summit Themes and Clusters
- Select clusters that align with your expertise: Entrepreneurship, Critical Thinking & Creativity, Life, or Career Exploration. Samples/Examples below.
- While each cluster has suggested topics, feel free to submit a unique proposal that fits the spirit of Teen Summit RVA.
- Tailor Your Content to Inspire and Inform
- Prepare a message or skill-building activity that empowers students to envision and create positive futures.
- Include themes of exploration, self-discovery, and innovation, fostering critical thinking, resilience, and creative problem-solving.
- Manage Timing and Engagement
- Be prepared to present your 45-minute session three times throughout the day. Those within the Critical Thinking & Creativity (Art and Impact only) and all under the Career Exploration clusters should prepare 20–30-minute sessions to fit into the 45-minute block.
- Ensure your content keeps students engaged throughout, balancing educational elements with interactive and motivational moments.
- Connect with Youth
- Use language and presentation styles that resonate with high school audiences.
- Cultivate an inclusive environment that values diverse perspectives, encouraging youth to engage openly and confidently.
- Coordinate with Summit Staff
- Communicate with the Teen Summit RVA team to finalize logistics and session details.
- Be responsive to updates or adjustments and collaborate on how best to support the event’s mission and themes.
- Speaker application deadline is December 2, 2024.
- All selected speakers will be notified by January 10, 2025.
- Selected speakers must submit any handouts or materials to be presented by February 1, 2025, to allow time for translation and interpreter services.
- Teen Summit 2025 is Saturday, March 22.
If you have any questions or need additional guidance, please reach out to Chloe Carter at [email protected] or (501) 442-9933. We look forward to your potential involvement in helping us make Teen Summit RVA 2025 an unforgettable and impactful experience for Richmond’s youth!
Entrepreneur Cluster
The Entrepreneur track at Teen Summit RVA is meant to attract students who are interested in starting their own business and building confidence in being self-employed. We are looking for facilitators to submit proposals on the following topics:
- Online businesses & Freelancing
- Brand & Plan
- Documents, Documents, Documents
- Business Financials
- More than a side hustle
- What does it Mean to be a Business Owner?
Critical Thinking & Creativity Cluster
The Critical Thinking & Creativity track caters to students looking for ways to express themselves creatively and further expand their big dreams and bright ideas. We are looking for facilitators to submit proposals on the following topics:
- Bringing Ideas to life
- Content Creation
- Art and Impact (Must be 20-30 minute in length, immersive sessions)
- Photography/Painting/Drawing
- Graphic Design/ Murals
- AI and /or Platform/ Software Exploration Canva, Adobe Express etc.
- Motivational Speaking/ Writing/ Poetry/ Bilingualism
- Hobbies Arts/ Art as an outlet/ Art therapy
Life Cluster
The Life track helps students understand the nuance of what it takes to be a productive adult, how the world is currently changing around them and what they can do to make the most of it. We are looking for facilitators to submit proposals on the following topics:
- Pathways to college/ technical careers
- Social Survival
- AI and Technology
- Multi-generational workforce
- Stocks and Investments
- Conflict Resolution
Career Exploration Cluster
The Career Exploration track allows students to explore their interests in engaging and interactive ways. These sessions will include demos, simulations, workshops, and hands on learning. We are looking for facilitators to submit proposals on the following topics/ examples. If you don’t see your field here, please still submit. We want a variety! (Must be 20-30 minute in length, immersive sessions)
- Plants, Botanicals & Agriculture
- Emergency Management
- Healthcare (Expanded)
- Culinary
- STEM & Engineering
- Cosmetology
- Social Media Management/ Mass Communications
- Trades/ Apprenticeships