What does "made in the future" mean? That’s the complex question hundreds of local teens will explore during a TEDxYouth@RVA collaborative forum on Saturday.
“We’ve spent a lot of time trying to figure out what 'made in the future' means,” says TEDxYouth@RVA communications director Madison Stewart about the theme. “That’s why we’re having this event, to discover how everyone, from Richmond high school students to adults, interprets the future. It will be interesting to see how people of my generation define the future.” Stewart, a Collegiate School senior, is one of the event’s student organizers.
The event is a joint effort by students at the Collegiate School, Glen Allen High School and James River High School, which they have been planning since May. A variety of teen and adult speakers will give talks related to the “Made in the Future” theme, and encourage the participants to examine their own ideas about the world’s forthcoming innovations. The speaker lineup is quite diverse: students from Collegiate, Hermitage High School and Tomahawk Creek Middle School will all have their time at the mic; Craig Dodson, founder of Richmond Cycling Corps, will share his thoughts; spoken word artist and Cosby High School senior Kate Nezelek is slated to speak; Garth Callaghan, founder of Napkin Notes, will share his story, among several others.
“One thing I hear constantly is that our future is in jeopardy if we don't fix things,” reads a statement by Collegiate student David Angstadt in the event’s news release. “As a society, we tend to focus on the negatives we are, and will be, facing in the future. I can think of no better resource to use to portray a positive view of the future.”
In addition to the series of talks, students will share their ideas in an interactive session, which will include a 3D printing demonstration by Tomahawk Creek Middle School students, a screen-printing demonstration by Hillary Zell of Studio Two Three, and “a student from Mosby Middle School showing his award-winning science project on the effect of dogs on lowering stress in children,” according to the news release.
The “Made in the Future” event will focus on Richmond’s ideas about innovation, but concurrent events following the same theme will kick off on the same day around the world as part of TEDYouth Day 2015.
Food will be provided at the event, and attendees will enjoy a performance by the No BS! Brass Band.
“This kind of collaboration is a rare opportunity to foster relationships, build community, and develop a dedicated team — one committed to making the views and talents of Richmond students defy boundaries,” says Stewart.
TEDxYouth@RVA “Made in the Future” takes place Saturday, Nov. 14, at 5 p.m. at the Oates Theatre at the Collegiate School, 103 North Mooreland Road. Tickets are free; register here.
