Empowering the Next Generation: Margaret’s Legacy at the C.H.A.N.G.E the Way Human Rights Conference

On January 10th, 2019, Margaret’s Legacy had the honour of participating as a Conference Delegate at the C.H.A.N.G.E the Way Human Rights Conference, held at Carmen’s Banquet Centre in Hamilton, Ontario.

This remarkable event was a fully student-led initiative organized by the Global Connect class at Dundas Valley Secondary School (DVSS) in Dundas, Ontario. Under the leadership of inspirational educator Mr. Toth and with the help of Ms. Dupuis, students designed a conference rooted in the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, with the aim of empowering young people to create meaningful, real-world impact.

The conference brought together over 1,000 students from Grades 4 through 12, alongside teachers, administrators, and members of the broader educational community from across the province. The diversity of participants and perspectives created a powerful environment for dialogue, learning, and connection.

Sharing Stories That Matter

Margaret’s Legacy participated in multiple ways throughout the day.

In addition to hosting an information booth with educational materials for both students and educators, we were honoured to present Margaret & Arthur’s Story to a full auditorium.

Danna Horwood introduced the documentary, offering context for the story and its significance. Following the screening, Mitchell Horwood spoke with the audience and later joined a large panel discussion alongside other presenters. Students, educators, and attendees were given the opportunity to ask questions and engage in meaningful conversation.

Moments like these, where history, personal narrative, and open dialogue come together, are at the heart of what Margaret’s Legacy strives to create.

Student Leadership in Action

What made this conference especially impactful was its origin. The entire initiative was conceived, organized, and executed by students. The Global Connect class at DVSS demonstrated an extraordinary level of commitment, leadership, and vision in bringing together such a large-scale event focused on human rights and global responsibility.

As noted in newspaper coverage of the event, the conference expanded beyond the walls of the school, creating opportunities for students to engage directly with real-world issues and community leaders.

We were incredibly impressed by the dedication and professionalism of the students who made this day possible. Their work reflects the kind of proactive, values-driven leadership that has the potential to create lasting change.

Looking Forward

Events like the C.H.A.N.G.E the Way Conference highlight what is possible when young people are given the tools, trust, and opportunity to lead.

We are confident that the conversations sparked and connections made will continue to have positive, reverberating effects far beyond that day.

Margaret’s Legacy is grateful to have been included and to have connected with so many inspiring students, educators, and community members committed to advancing human rights.

Shepping Nachas

One of the most meaningful aspects of this experience was something most people wouldn't know.

A number of the students behind the C.H.A.N.G.E the Way Conference had been exposed to Margaret & Arthur’s Story years earlier, while still in middle school. Some of these students went to Jewish private middle school but two of them were in a public middle school with not a lot of Jews in it. They felt the need to educate the school community about the Holocaust, Judaism and what antisemitism looks like in today's world and reached out to Margaret’s Legacy to help support the administration and educators in this initiative.

Even then, these students stood out.

They demonstrated early leadership by helping initiate those conversations, recognizing both the importance of the subject matter and the need to bring it to the forefront of people's awareness in a meaningful way.

Years later, that same spark had grown into something much larger.

One of the student leaders involved in organizing the conference shared that his experience with Margaret’s Legacy had left a lasting impression. Seeing firsthand the impact that education and advocacy could have inspired him to take initiative, to create something that could educate, empower, and bring people together. In many ways, this conference was his way of paying it forward.

For us, this is what it’s all about.

Not just the presentations, or the materials, or even the conversations in the moment, but the ripple effects. The moments that stay with students long after we leave. The ideas that take root, evolve, and eventually re-emerge as action.

To witness that kind of growth, to see students lead with purpose, and create something of their own, is something truly special. This is the definition of what it means to shep nachas.

Watch a recap of the day on Instagram:https://www.instagram.com/p/BslNRg_g1qa/

Read more about the conference:https://www.thespec.com/news/hamilton-region/student-conference-grows-beyond-walls-of-dundas-valley-secondary-school/article_a9ac7024-85a2-51cb-8f36-4858f6aac6af.html