Student Speaker | The Learning Project

Student Speaker Series

In the 2023-2024 school year, The Learning Project initiated its

“Student Speaker Series.”

The program's goals:

1

To put in front of our children role models who demonstrate positive LP values in their everyday lives

2

To expand our students’ circles of awareness related to neighborhood, city, national and global issues

3

To highlight and share the good work of these leaders and organizations among our current and extended communities

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Last Year's Speakers Included:

Tarish “Jeghetto” Pipkins

Master Builder and Puppeteer who uses found materials to create his puppets. Jeghetto is a self-taught artist and puppeteer known for working with celebrities like Missy Elliott and Pharrell Williams. Before focusing on puppetry full-time, he taught special needs students and ran a foster home with his wife.

Vivien Li

A nationally recognized waterfront expert who led the efforts to restore Boston Harbor. She later served as President and CEO of Riverlife, helping secure city support for Pittsburgh’s first riverfront redevelopment plan. In that role, she worked with property owners to ensure public access, open spaces, and riverfront amenities.

Annawon Weeden

Representing the indigenous voice and educating folks about Native communities, he’s a member of the Mashpee Wampanoag, Pequot, and Narragansett tribes.

Previous Speakers:

Joanne Chang

Joanne Chang - Chef, Author, Restaurateur: Owner of Flour Bakery and Myers + Chang. Joanne Chang is an American chef and restaurant owner of Flour Bakery and Myers + Chang. She is a James Beard Foundation Award winner for Outstanding Baker, 2016.

Peter H. Reynolds

Author and Illustrator and founder of the Reynolds Center for Teaching and Learning. He started his career at Tom Snyder Productions, helping build award-winning educational software. He later founded FableVision and the Reynolds Center to support creativity and learning worldwide.

Elizabeth James Perry

Algonquian artist and activist related to environmental sustainability and Native American culture.

Kannan Thiruvengadam

Climate Ready Boston leader and director of Eastie Farm, an urban farm in East Boston focused on community resiliency.

In addition to the school’s Speaker Series, The Learning Project has, for many years, awarded an ‘honorary diploma’ to those carrying The LP mission forward and living lives of service to others. Each awardee gets to know our sixth grade class, and speaks to the community at Graduation about their work and values.

The following is a list of past Honorary Diploma Recipients in the last few years:

Tina Chery

Founder and CEO of Louis D. Brown Peace Institute

Michelle Wu

then Boston City Councilor, now Mayor

Kathe McKenna

Founder of Haley House

Jodi Rosenbaum

Founder and CEO More than Words

Jonathan Starr

Founder of the Abaarso School in Somaliland

Rev. Mariama

Chief of Environment, Energy, and Open Space

Roger H. Brown

Berklee President

Bren Bataclan

creator of the street art project, Project Smile