THE HARVARD TO BEAVER #SPEAKUP SHOWCASE

STUDENT DESIGNED PROJECT

The Harvard To Beaver #SpeakUP Showcase

Melina Bertsekas '20 | 04/24/2019

ABOUT THE PROJECT:  I was one of 25 students selected from across the country to be on Harvard Graduate School of Education’s Making Caring Common Youth Advisory Board. Our mission was to work together to make real change in America’s educational system through activism. My team—#SpeakUP—focused on empowering youth to speak out about social justice topics, and use art as a vehicle to do so. We created monthly videos on pressing international issues and each designed, planned, and executed our own unique project.

On April 24, 2019, for my personal project, I hosted the “Harvard To Beaver #SpeakUP Exposition”—Beaver’s first activism-through-arts showcase. This Upper School-wide event gave a platform for passionate Beaver students to stand up for what they believe in by performing music and poetry, displaying visual art, and showcasing fashion designs. I absolutely loved getting to work with each of the artists and performers and see them shine on stage.

To start off the event, I loved being able to show all of the visual artists' work on a big slideshow as Select Singers sang "Be The Change". It truly began the show in such an overwhelmingly incredible way. I am so proud of all the performers and artists.
Speak UP
This Upper School-wide event gave a platform for passionate Beaver students to stand up for what they believe in by performing music and poetry, displaying visual art, and showcasing fashion designs.