Our Story

In 2016, then-junior Tyce Christian (GDS Class of 2018) approached her high school counselor and proposed that GDS implement a track addressing sexual violence and consent for the GDS Policy Institute. One student's vision became a summer of advocacy for eight more. Over the course of four weeks that summer, those eight students and their counselor learned about the many complexities and nuances of sexual assault policy and culture in our country that enables and promotes it while silencing survivors. They met with lawyers, politicians, advocates, educators, counselors, survivors, and activists. Together, they came up with the idea for this Summit as a way to address these issues not only within GDS, but throughout the greater DC area. Since 2016, the Summit has continued through the efforts of students who believe in the power of collective action to bring transformational change.

Today, the Summit is a student-led collaboration of dozens of students, educators, and nonprofit organizations continuing to raise awareness and promote change on a national level. With schools joining us from all over the country, we are excited to be a part of a movement to help prevent sexual violence and promote a culture of consent-based interaction. The Summit convenes students in grades 8-12, school administrators, faculty/staff, and parents to learn from experts in the field - from consent educators to advocates and, more importantly, to hear and uplift the voices of survivors of sexual violence. 

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Being student-led was the cornerstone of the Summit since its founding and is still so today. Each year, 8 seniors choose to embark on an independent study through which they plan the Summit. From deciding on a theme to creating this very website to reaching out to speakers and schools, student leads are dedicated to creating a Summit experience that is empowering and meaningful.​

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Our hope is that you bring what you learn from the Consent Summit back to your own school, along with your passion and commitment to enact change in your own communities. We look forward to learning alongside you from our expert speakers and being partners in this work together to prevent sexual violence and promote communities of care.

Let's make a difference together.

Get in touch!