Peer-led advocacy takes center stage at Georgetown Day School’s summit

A Day of Empowerment at Georgetown Day School

On November 22, SafeBAE brought its powerful message of consent education and sexual violence prevention to Georgetown Day School in Washington, D.C. This summit wasn’t just another presentation—it was an immersive day designed to spark meaningful conversations and equip students and educators with the tools to create safer communities.

Executive Director Shael Norris alongside youth advocate Drew, led three impactful sessions tailored to different audiences, ensuring everyone from students to faculty left with actionable insights. The day also featured a panel discussion with SafeBAE team members Finley, a New York City school liaison, and Cheyenne, a board member, whose expertise and experiences added depth to the conversations.

Georgetown Day School’s annual summit, now in its 8th or 9th year, provided the perfect platform for SafeBAE’s unique peer-led and trauma-informed approach. With each presentation, SafeBAE demonstrated its commitment to fostering lasting change—one classroom, one conversation, and one school community at a time.

Addressing Male Sexual Assault

The summit began with a topic often overshadowed in discussions of sexual violence: male sexual assault. SafeBAE shared the powerful story of Theo Hutt, a 21-year-old survivor, advocate, and SafeBAE board member whose journey sheds light on the unique challenges faced by male survivors. Theo’s story is not only a testament to his resilience but also a call to action for educators, students, and allies to challenge the stigma and stereotypes surrounding male survivorship.

As a youth mentor at SafeBAE’s 2023 Summer Activist Institute, Theo has been instrumental in fostering conversations about inclusivity and support for survivors of all genders. His bravery in sharing his personal experience has inspired SafeBAE’s latest educational tool: an adjoining teaching guide designed to help schools address male sexual assault more effectively. This resource empowers educators to lead nuanced discussions, dispel harmful myths, and create environments where male survivors feel seen and supported.

At Georgetown Day School, SafeBAE had the opportunity to debut this teaching guide in action for the first time. The guide is the newest addition to SafeBAE’s suite of educational materials and represents a groundbreaking step in addressing the often-overlooked issue of male survivorship. Seeing this tool come to life in a room full of engaged students and educators was a powerful moment, showcasing the impact that intentional resources can have in sparking meaningful dialogue and creating lasting change.

Empowering Educators Through a 360-Degree Approach

The second session of the day shifted focus to the faculty and staff, offering a tailored presentation designed to equip educators with actionable tools for addressing sexual violence within their schools. SafeBAE emphasized its unique 360-degree approach—a comprehensive method that goes beyond traditional education to engage every stakeholder in the school community.

Led by Shael Norris, this session highlighted the ways SafeBAE integrates policy reform, restorative justice practices, and curriculum development to create systemic change. Educators were shown how to take a cross-curricular approach, incorporating lessons on consent and healthy relationships into various subjects and activities.

Unlike many programs, SafeBAE’s model isn’t one-size-fits-all. Faculty learned how this trauma-informed and student-led strategy adapts to meet the specific needs of each school. From empowering peer educators to updating Title IX policies, the session provided practical guidance on fostering a safer, more inclusive school environment.

This session was more than just a workshop—it was a moment to engage educators in meaningful dialogue about their critical role in supporting students. By the end, faculty left with a deeper understanding of how to take proactive steps in creating a school culture that prioritizes consent, respect, and equity.

Training the Next Wave of Peer Educators

The final session of the day was dedicated to one of SafeBAE’s most impactful initiatives: peer educator training. This presentation aimed to equip Georgetown Day School students with the tools and confidence needed to bring SafeBAE’s mission back to their own school communities.

SafeBAE’s peer educator model emphasizes the power of young people leading the charge in creating safer, more respectful environments. During the session, students learned how to facilitate conversations about consent, bystander intervention, and healthy relationships. The goal was to inspire these attendees to become advocates not just for themselves but for their entire school.

This session carried a special weight as it built on Georgetown Day School’s long-standing summit tradition, now in its 8th or 9th year. SafeBAE focused on making the training more than a one-day event—encouraging students to take the lessons and tools they gained and implement them throughout the year. From forming SafeBAE clubs to creating their own peer-led initiatives, students were given a roadmap to continue the work long after the summit ended.

Drew a powerful youth advocate and student at Georgetown University, exemplified the success of SafeBAE’s peer-to-peer model. Showing the importance of students leading these conversations, proving that young people can educate, inspire, and create meaningful impact within their own communities.

The session closed with an invitation: to take what they had learned and be the spark for a safer, more inclusive future—not just at Georgetown Day School, but wherever life takes them.

Be the Catalyst for Change

The Georgetown Day School summit is a shining example of what’s possible when schools take bold steps to address sexual violence and foster a culture of respect and inclusivity. But these conversations shouldn’t end with one event—they are the beginning of something much larger.

SafeBAE’s work is powered by the belief that every school has the potential to create safer spaces where students feel supported and empowered to make a difference. Through initiatives like peer educator training, trauma-informed faculty sessions, and comprehensive teaching resources, we’re building a movement that puts young people at the forefront of change.

Support SafeBAE’s Work:

These efforts aren’t possible without your help. Every dollar funds life-saving programs, peer-led workshops, and resources that empower students, teachers, and communities to take action against sexual violence.

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• Get Involved: Want to bring SafeBAE’s programming to your school or community? Reach out directly at info@safebae.org.

Together, we can create a future where survivors are believed, boundaries are respected, and justice is the norm—not the exception.