They started a committee on student government devoted to organizing the event and laid out most of the groundwork for the conference. With the help of their MS faculty advisors, Ms. Nimetz, and Ms. Neubauer, and in conjunction with the science department, they chose the conference’s theme: community. As the end of eighth grade neared, the two met High School Activities Director Mr. Lechich, who would help the project along and serve as their faculty advisor. After finalizing the license agreement with TED, they began to reach out to speakers. They looked for those who would embody the meaning of President John F. Kennedy’s quote, “one person can make a difference, and everyone should try.” They started TED Club, a group of 9th, 10th, 11th, and 12th grade students, who dedicated their time and efforts to finalize the crucial details. The members designed the conference’s logo, making the TEDxDalton sign and worked at the conference. (The two worked with New Lab and orchestrated a live stream/recording of the event.)

 

The day finally arrived; one hundred attendees and ten inspiring speakers showed up to Dalton on a warm Saturday morning and left inspired to enact change in the world at large, and in their communities. The day was broken up into three parts. First, five speakers delivered their talks with poise and passion, followed by an hour-long break-out session with live music from PAC, a photo booth (supplied by Dalton parent Jamie Watts), food, and a community wall building activity where attendees wrote what community meant to them. Five speakers spoke in the second session and were just as enlightening as the first. The day filled attendees, from ages 8 to 88, with a strengthened sense of pride in their community.

 

Dalton alum, Allegra Snyder of the class of ‘45, wrote that to her, community is defined as, “An unbroken circle, growing ever larger.” We hope that TEDxDalton does the same.

 

Story submitted by Celia Heath ’18 and Grace Isaacman ‘18