Looking back and thinking forward at the New England Youth Identity Summit

Hundreds of students and educators gathered for a remarkable day for connection and dialogue at Waynflete’s ninth annual New England Youth Identity Summit on Saturday. The event featured powerful student-led workshops and presentations, moving musical performances, and beautiful poetry that encouraged meaningful conversations about important issues in students’ lives.

Keynote speaker Khalil Kilani (Waynflete Class of 2021) delivered an extraordinary address that captivated attendees. The Bowdoin College senior shared insights shaped by his journey to the United States as a refugee, his humanitarian work, and his experiences in foreign service.

Featured Visual Artist Andrew Harrison invited participants to nurture change in their communities through his interactive seed-planting project “This Was/This Will Be.” Attendees were encouraged to create seed bombs, plant them in locations they find significant, and share photos online.

The day was further enriched by two outstanding student performances. Elle enchanted the audience with her original song “Clarissa” while Ikram delivered a powerful original poem that beautifully articulated the complexity of navigating multiple cultural identities.

The Summit also featured performances by pianist and rhythm bones musician Kafari, whose unique rhythms and melodies bridged traditional and contemporary sounds and complemented the Summit’s themes of identity and connection.

Thank you to all who made this incredible day possible!