Two years ago, I experienced the magic of EDGE for the first time. My friend Eric—a former colleague at Stanford and long-time EDGE supporter—called me up: "Would you be interested in teaching a design thinking & leadership workshop for 150 sophomores at our seminar?"

As a designer and activist, I'm always looking for opportunities to empower youth as leaders and change-makers, and have had the joy of teaching workshops for thousands of students across the US. Joining EDGE, however, inspired me in ways I couldn't have expected.

EDGE is more than a "seminar"—it's a booming, loving family, and a transformative experience. In 3 jam-packed days, EDGE gives 150 sophomores the permission and support to talk about issues that matter, step up as leaders, and discover ways to impact their communities. And it's completely free for all students, thanks to support from people like you.

All this impact happens between reckless dancing, authentic speeches, lots of laughter and tears, super loud cheering, and activities like "Board Break" where students literally punch through a wooden block that symbolizes their fears while dozens of students cheer them on.

Last year, I came back to EDGE as a Team Lead and helped guide a group of 8-10 students throughout the seminar. This year, I've been helping with fundraising to help EDGE expand its impact. And that's where you come in—I'm humbly asking for your support to enable this program to live on (for free!) and reach many more students.

$250 covers food, lodging, and materials for 1 sophomore to attend—but any amount helps. Thanks so much for considering!

Questions? Email me at katie.kirsch@edgeyl.org. I can't wait to tell you more about this amazing program.