Welcome to the companion site to our fourth annual conference: The Ideas Exchange: Student Education – Student Action.

The Ideas Exchange: Student Education - Student Action is a free city-wide student conference organized by Avondale’s student group, Raise Your Voice, and hosted by the students of Avondale Secondary Alternative School and the Noor Cultural Centre. The entire student body is involved in the project from selecting speakers, registration, hosting and ushering.

The conference focus is to empower youth to get involved and be leaders in social justice-related movements by exposing them to peers and other respected individuals who have done just that.

As the conference name implies, the emphasis is on the exchange of ideas between the speakers and attendees. Students participate as both. As a result, they are given the opportunity to engage in meaningful discussion with authentic voices and experts in the field regarding social equality, gender, poverty, health and environmental issues. The presentations/discussions are meant to open up honest dialogue on important social justice-related issues and to inspire students to get involved in their schools and communities or to start their own movement.

In this way, students connect with issues that they may not have known about otherwise. In fact, many students have been so inspired by our speakers that they have gone on to lead initiatives and projects of their own. For example, after hearing Jenna Hoyt speak about her Foundation, Little Voice, which provides shelter and education to orphaned street kids in Ethiopia, one school raised funds to support her efforts.

Also, as a result of our conference, schools have participated in the Share-IT program which refurbishes old computers and gives them to low income families in order to minimize the generation of by E-waste and ensure equitable access to information and technology benefits to all.

At our 2008 conference, many students were moved to tears by Sgt Debbie Bodkin’s presentation of the genocide in Darfur and signed petitions of protest and started their own chapter of STAND at their schools. In fact, that spring, our letter of protest was read into the House of Commons. A feat we are quite proud of.

In order to encourage active participation and dialogue with peers and experts alike, attendance is limited. Therefore, we recommend groups register early to ensure your spot.

For more information, click on presentations above and don’t forget to check out our amazing giveaways and free lunch!

We look forward to seeing you there!