Why should you attend the 2021 Teen Summer Symposium?

We believe every person can make a difference.

Open to any 9-12th grade student, over 500 teens from the across the state have attended the Teen Summer Symposium on Human Rights. Each fall, participants return to their schools and communities inspired to improve the lives of others.

Check out the schools they attend and consider being the first from your school. You’ll also find a list of projects created by teens who have attended the Symposium.

Ballston Spa High School

Bethlehem High School

Broadalbin Perth

Burnt Hills High School

Doane Stuart

Emma Willard

Fort Johnson

Maple Ave Middle School

Maple Hill High School

Saratoga Springs High School

Schalmont High School

Schenectady High School

Shaker High School

Shaker Middle School

South Colonie High School

 Guilderland High School

Troy High School

Tamarac High School

Academy of the Holy Names

Shenendahowa High School

Amsterdam High School

Mechanicville Jr/Sr High School

Duanesburg High School

 Albany High School

Tech Valley High School

Coxsackie-Athens High School

Niskayuna High School

Ravena-Coeymans High School

Liberty High School

Projects created by Teen Summer Symposium attendees:

  • Organizing the Climate Change Strike, Walk Out, 2019

  • Organizing the Albany Women’s Empowerment Conference and March, 2019

  • Organizing the March for Our Lives, Albany. Read the following articles to learn more: Times Union, News 10 and here.

  • Arts and food festival to benefit RISSE, a local refugee support organization. Read this Times Union article to learn more.

  • Coordinating donations from local restaurants to benefit The South End Children’s Cafe

  • Partnering with First Book and teachers to improve literacy in their districts

  • Starting a letter writing campaign to benefit the homeless in Saratoga

  • Raising $2,000 for The Giving Circle, a humanitarian relief organization, in support of Uganda’s first school for the deaf

  • Advocating for their schools to become fair trade schools

  • Developing online resources to support mental health

  • Engaging students from New York’s 213 Key Clubs to support the building of a community farm in Uganda with The Giving Circle.

  • Creating The Book Shelf a community-wide book drive for students and families in need. To learn more about this project and how you can support this student’s work, visit her website: thebookshelffundraiser.weebly.com. Also, check out this Times Union article about her work.

  • Creating a human rights day at their schools and leading breakout sessions on social justice topics.

  • Starting service organizations at their schools

You can make a difference too! Attend the Teen Summer Symposium and..

  • Meet teens who share your interests.

  • Meet human rights advocates.

  • Develop the leadership skills that will help you make a difference.

  • Explore careers in human rights.

  • Create an advocacy plan to raise awareness about a human rights issue.

  • Discover your passion for helping others.

  • Learn how to change the world.

Ready to learn more? Watch this video about us.