Who can attend the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent?

The GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent keeps the door wide open. Students in grades 8 through 12 are the heart of the event, but they’re not the only ones invited. Parents, teachers, school staff, administrators, and professionals in the field all have a seat at the table. It’s a mix of voices, ages, and experiences that makes every conversation more meaningful. Whether you’re a student ready to spark change, a parent curious to learn, or an educator looking for new tools, this summit has something for you. If you care about creating safer, more thoughtful school communities, consider this your official invite. No secret handshake required—just bring an open mind and a willingness to engage.

When and where will the next summit be held?

Grab your calendar and maybe a comfy pair of shoes, because the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent is set for November 22 and 23, 2024. Things kick off Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., then dive into a full day of learning and connection on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You’ll find it all happening at Georgetown Day School’s High School campus, located at 4200 Davenport Street NW in Washington, DC. This isn’t your average weekend event. It’s a chance to swap small talk for real talk, listen, learn, and leave ready to make change. Whether you live down the block or across the country, this is one gathering worth showing up for.

What topics will be covered during the summit?

The summit doesn’t just skim the surface. It dives into everything from what consent actually means to how laws and school policies can better support survivors. Participants explore big, often messy topics like power dynamics, toxic culture, and why speaking up can be so hard. There’s a strong spotlight on survivor advocacy and building communities that are safe, respectful, and informed. Experts are there to share knowledge, but students are the ones asking questions, leading discussions, and pushing things forward. By the end of the weekend, no one’s walking away with just a notebook full of facts. They’re leaving with fresh perspectives, real tools, and the confidence to spark change in their own schools and circles.

Who organizes the summit?

The brains (and heart) behind the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent? The students. Yep, real high schoolers juggling homework, sports, and probably at least one group chat about snacks. They’re the ones reaching out to speakers, planning the workshops, and making sure everything runs like a well-oiled, socially conscious machine. Faculty members are there to lend a hand, but make no mistake—students are steering the ship. It’s a full-on production powered by passion, curiosity, and a genuine drive to make schools safer and smarter. Honestly, it’s kind of amazing. They’re not just organizing an event. They’re building a movement, one carefully crafted panel and color-coded spreadsheet at a time.

Georgetown Day School’s Summit On Sexual Assault And Consent

Most schools avoid “mature” topics like they’re made of lava. The uncomfortable stuff gets shuffled to the bottom of the lesson plan, usually under vague phrases like “health curriculum” or “to be covered later.” But the truth is, students need these conversations now, during the years when their understanding of boundaries, respect, and accountability is still taking shape. That’s why the Georgetown Day School Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent is so important. It’s bold, it’s student-led, and it’s exactly the kind of program more schools should be talking about.

What is the Summit About?

This isn’t a boring seminar with a stack of flyers and one awkward Q&A. The Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent is a full-scale, multi-day event that brings together students, educators, advocates, and experts from across the country. The goal is simple but powerful: understand the systems that shape conversations around consent, support survivors, and learn how to be agents of real change. And no surprise here, it’s the students running the show.

How the Summit Started

In 2016, GDS student Tyce Christian had an idea. She wanted to create space for real conversations about sexual assault and consent at her school. What started as one student’s vision turned into a team of eight, working with a counselor over the summer to dig into the nuances of sexual assault policy and culture in the U.S. They met with lawyers, politicians, survivors, and advocates. They asked hard questions and listened to harder answers. Out of that summer of learning came the foundation for the summit, which now reaches students far beyond the GDS campus.

What Do Students Actually Do?

The better question is, what don’t they do? Students lead every part of the summit. They connect with speakers, coordinate logistics, manage outreach, and host the event. During the summit, participants dive into workshops that unpack legal systems, explore survivor support resources, and challenge the harmful norms that make this issue so pervasive. And it doesn’t end there. Students take what they’ve learned back to their own communities, using that knowledge to push for policy changes, start conversations, and create new initiatives at their schools.

The Importance of the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent

When schools ignore topics like sexual assault and consent, students are left to figure things out on their own. That usually means misinformation, confusion, and silence. The stakes are too high for that. Programs like this summit fill the gap with education, conversation, and action. They teach students how to listen, how to advocate, and how to lead. The result is a culture that doesn’t just respond to harm, but works to prevent it. Without something like this, harmful patterns continue. With it, real change begins.

Key Focus: Student Leadership in GDS’s Consent Summit

Georgetown Day School could have played it safe. Instead, they chose to support a student-led program that takes on one of the hardest but most necessary topics out there. They handed students the mic and trusted them to lead with thoughtfulness, purpose, and impact. The summit isn’t just impressive. It’s essential. And GDS deserves serious credit for showing what it looks like when a school decides to do more than educate—they empower.

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Frequently Asked Questions

Who can attend the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent?
The GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent keeps the door wide open. Students in grades 8 through 12 are the heart of the event, but they’re not the only ones invited. Parents, teachers, school staff, administrators, and professionals in the field all have a seat at the table. It’s a mix of voices, ages, and experiences that makes every conversation more meaningful. Whether you’re a student ready to spark change, a parent curious to learn, or an educator looking for new tools, this summit has something for you. If you care about creating safer, more thoughtful school communities, consider this your official invite. No secret handshake required—just bring an open mind and a willingness to engage.
When and where will the next summit be held?
Grab your calendar and maybe a comfy pair of shoes, because the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent is set for November 22 and 23, 2024. Things kick off Friday evening from 5:00 to 8:30 p.m., then dive into a full day of learning and connection on Saturday from 8:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. You’ll find it all happening at Georgetown Day School’s High School campus, located at 4200 Davenport Street NW in Washington, DC. This isn’t your average weekend event. It’s a chance to swap small talk for real talk, listen, learn, and leave ready to make change. Whether you live down the block or across the country, this is one gathering worth showing up for.
What topics will be covered during the summit?
The summit doesn’t just skim the surface. It dives into everything from what consent actually means to how laws and school policies can better support survivors. Participants explore big, often messy topics like power dynamics, toxic culture, and why speaking up can be so hard. There’s a strong spotlight on survivor advocacy and building communities that are safe, respectful, and informed. Experts are there to share knowledge, but students are the ones asking questions, leading discussions, and pushing things forward. By the end of the weekend, no one’s walking away with just a notebook full of facts. They’re leaving with fresh perspectives, real tools, and the confidence to spark change in their own schools and circles.
Who organizes the summit?
The brains (and heart) behind the GDS Summit on Sexual Assault and Consent? The students. Yep, real high schoolers juggling homework, sports, and probably at least one group chat about snacks. They’re the ones reaching out to speakers, planning the workshops, and making sure everything runs like a well-oiled, socially conscious machine. Faculty members are there to lend a hand, but make no mistake—students are steering the ship. It’s a full-on production powered by passion, curiosity, and a genuine drive to make schools safer and smarter. Honestly, it’s kind of amazing. They’re not just organizing an event. They’re building a movement, one carefully crafted panel and color-coded spreadsheet at a time.