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IC 2012 Program Highlights

CLICK HERE FOR THE COMPLETE INTERNATIONAL CONVENTION 2012 PROGRAM GUIDE.

Select Program Highlights:

All events take place at the Hyatt Regency Downtown Atlanta

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 2012

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17, 2012

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18, 2012

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 19, 2012

Official IC Press Release with Program Highlights:

Atlanta hosts 1,100+ Jewish Teen Community Leaders from 13 Countries at BBYO International Convention, February 16-20

From February 16 – 20, Atlanta will host more than 1,100 of the global Jewish community’s brightest teen thinkers, strategists, philanthropists, and educators from 13 countries, for the largest-ever BBYO International Convention (IC). BBYO the world’s leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement. IC convenes the teen leaders of AZA and BBG, BBYO’s global cadre of teen members, to set the course for the coming year, determine strategies for strengthening BBYO as a youth-led movement and connect teens to the worldwide Jewish community. In addition to nearly 900 teen leaders in attendance, 55 of which are from Atlanta, the convention will bring together BBYO professionals, Board of Directors, volunteer advisors and alumni that represent some of the most passionate, educated and committed leaders in the global Jewish community and Atlanta.

The convention’s theme, “Our Tomorrow Starts Today,” is designed to help participants make an immediate difference directly in Atlanta and the world as representatives of a movement of more than 31,000 teens. As a key feature of its headlining Day of Service and Advocacy, BBYO will premiere an all-teen audience screening of The Bully Project, a feature-length documentary that depicts “a year in the life” of America’s bullying crisis, including a Q & A with the film’s director and anti-bullying training from Facing History. (BBYO is the only North American-wide teen partner of The Bully Project and will be the first all-teen audience to view the film.)

In addition to The Bully Project, teens will participate at 18 other service learning sites throughout Atlanta, including:

• A pro-Israel advocacy track to be held at Emory University Hillel in partnership with AIPAC’s leadership development staff with guest speakers including the Vanguard Group, an all African American young professionals and graduate student pro-Israel advocacy network from Atlanta, members of AIPAC’s Board of Directors and congressional staff.
• Media and advocacy training at CNN and Fox News
• An urban expansion study, discussion and clean-up hike with the Atlanta Beltline Project
• Development of Public Service Announcements at Vox, the Atlanta based teens-only publication
• The creation of a new panel for the AIDS Memorial Quilt through the Names Project, and more.

Additional IC 2012 highlights include:

• The presentation of BBYO’s Alumni of the Year Awards to AJ Robinson of Atlanta and Judith Finer Freedman of Toronto.
• The re-release of BBYO Sings, a collection of traditional BBYO songs from the organization’s history, performed by the original creator and Atlanta’s own Dr. Artie Gumer.
• A keynote speech on the importance of global Jewish Peoplehood and interdependence will be delivered by Avraham Infeld, renowned Jewish scholar and President Emeritus of Hillel, the Foundation for Jewish Campus Life.
• Congressman John Lewis will speak on the importance of volunteering in your community.
• BBYO Southern Regions’ and Districts’ Alumni Reunion featuring AZA Alums Tony Levitas and David Weissman and their band The Helpers.
• Teen delegations in attendance will represent Jewish communities in Albania, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Canada, Ireland, Israel, Latvia, Macedonia, Serbia, Turkey, Ukraine, the United Kingdom and from across the United States.
• An evening for participants to “Stand UP and Be Counted,” which will highlight BBYO’s social action priorities through celebration of what the teen movement has accomplished, headlined by hip-hop artist Chiddy Bang.
• Live broadcasts from Jewish Rock Radio and Jewish Life TV (JLTV).

“BBYO’s IC is bringing to Atlanta some of the brightest thinkers, strategists and leaders of the entire global Jewish community – and we are all 18 years old or younger,” said Samantha Levinson, International Teen President (N’siah) of BBYO. “We could all be doing a lot of other things, but we’re here to chart the future of the Jewish people as a unified movement committed the continuity of our Jewish traditions.”

About BBYO

BBYO is the leading pluralistic Jewish teen movement aspiring to involve more Jewish teens in more meaningful Jewish experiences. For almost 90 years, AZA and BBG chapters in communities around the world have been providing exceptional leadership programs and identity enrichment experiences, shaping the confidence and character of 250,000 alumni who are among the most prominent figures in business, politics, academia, the arts and Jewish communal life. Now, BBYO’s network of Jewish teens, alumni, parents, volunteers and philanthropists serves as the Jewish community’s most valuable platform for delivering to the post Bar/Bat Mitzvah audience fun, meaningful and affordable experiences. With year-round activities in hundreds of local communities and inspiring world-wide travel experiences, BBYO’s broad program menu enables teens to explore areas of leadership, service, civic engagement, Israel education and Jewish values. Atlanta Council BBYO is a program of the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta and boasts more than 2000 engaged teens annually.