The theme of this year's conference was "Tribalism and Cosmopolitanism." The programming provided an excellent opportunity to engage in the ideologically pluralist discourse that lies at the heart of The Unafraid Project, with multiple perspectives on complex issues brought to the forefront. Dalton student Nora Meade ‘27 was particularly appreciative of the opportunity to communicate directly with panelists and speakers. “[An] incredibly impactful aspect of the conference was the opportunity for us students to interact with the speakers and ask questions after their presentations. Some of my greatest learning experiences during the conference were from the speakers' responses to the questions asked by my fellow Dalton students.”

The program comprised a series of lectures and panel discussions featuring prominent historians, journalists, political theorists, and public intellectuals. It offered numerous opportunities for interested students to engage directly with the speakers and connect with high school and college students and faculty from other schools who share common interests. The HAC is named in honor of Hannah Arendt, one of the foremost political philosophers of the twentieth century.

Rose Yardeni ‘25 identified Sebastian Junger’s panel as a favorite. “[Junger] defined negative tribalism essentially as fascism and positive tribalism as a feeling that ‘what happens to you happens to me.’ He discussed the importance of unifying people under common political goals and ideas such as patriotism to fight political polarization. I liked how he discussed using positive forms of tribalism as a device to fight negative tribalism and make political change.”

Another Dalton student attendee, Isabella Fogelman ‘27, most enjoyed Fintan O’Toole’s speech. “He was the prime example of what the conference was trying to accomplish: having an informed, intellectual discussion on the political divides in our communities while working in the themes of tribalism and cosmopolitanism. His speech taught me about a conflict I knew very little about while highlighting that division in our society has become a negative sum game.” 

HAC conferences are unique in addressing contemporary issues from multiple disciplinary perspectives. When asked about her takeaways from the program, Rose Yardeni ‘25 shared, “the importance of ideological pluralism and the ability to actively engage in civil discourse with those who have different opinions than your own…we attended a breakout session led by one Palestinian and one Israeli professor, who had different views on the war in Gaza but were able to engage in productive dialogue to facilitate a group discussion.”