Da Vinci RISE Selected to Participate in National Human Connection + AI Summit
By Erin Whalen, Assistant Superintendent of Student Services & Co-Founder of Da Vinci RISE High School
The Da Vinci community is proud to share that Da Vinci RISE High School was selected to participate in The Rithm Project Human Connection + AI Summit at Lone Rock, Colorado. This four-day gathering, held earlier this month, explored a bold question: What does a preferable future look like when technology and humanity meet?
I had the honor of attending alongside Naomi Lara, RISE Principal, and two incredible RISE student leaders, Vee and Danylah. Together we joined educators, technologists, futurists, medical practitioners, and others to imagine a world where human connection thrives amidst AI.
Students Leading the Conversation
For Vee, the summit was a powerful reminder that “technology can never replace the feeling of sitting across from someone and really being heard.” Vee shared that the most meaningful moments weren’t the AI demos, but the late-night conversations with youth and adults from around the country. Vee is a founding member of the RISE Peer-to-Peer group: The Friendship Support Program (FSP). In the FSP at RISE, youth are trained by credentialed staff to become peer mentors to provide compassionate, confidential support to fellow students by building trust, practicing active listening, and connecting peers to appropriate resources when needed.
Danylah echoed that sentiment: “I expected to learn about AI tools, but what stayed with me were the people. We talked about things we didn’t always agree on and still left feeling closer. That’s the kind of world I want to help build.”
When considering her charge from here, Vee said, “I want to show society that we can desire human connection AND exist in a world where we use AI. I want to advocate for a world where both can happen. The Rithm project is bridging up these insightful conversations that allow us to consider both sides.”
Danylah closed out the discussion by passionately stating, “I want to be able to advocate for human connections more than anything. In the moment, when using AI for connection, you may feel something, but with a human it will inspire you to not just feel, but take it and run!”
Reimagining Education
Principal Naomi Lara left the summit inspired to bring its spirit of curiosity and care back to her school community. Reflecting on the experience, she shared, “The Rithm experience showed us that when you combine somatic practices, intergenerational wisdom, and brave dialogue, you unlock deeper engagement.”
For Naomi, the urgency to recreate these kinds of spaces comes from witnessing how fragmented information, shaped by social media feeds, algorithms, and limited access, can isolate people. “This summit reignited my belief that, in these times, people need to talk more through intergenerational community dialogues driven by youth to grapple with important topics,” she explained. “They showed us how we can facilitate these dialogues in simple, inviting ways that welcome all voices.”
With that vision in mind, Naomi is already exploring town hall-style gatherings at RISE where students, parents, and community members can come together to wrestle with the big questions of our era.
Building a Preferable Future
Personally, I left Colorado carrying both inspiration and responsibility. Guided by the brilliance of Rithm Project facilitators like Michelle Culver, Alison Lee, Sarah Selim, and Rob Strain, we wove ancestral wisdom with cutting-edge thinking. In every session, youth voices like Vee’s and Danylah’s grounded us in what truly matters.
This summit reminded me that young people are not only the future, they are the present force shaping how we connect, create, and care for one another. Our next step is to capture these insights in a short documentary and social media clips featuring Da Vinci students from across our organization, ensuring their perspectives reach a national audience.
Next Step: The Rithm Exchange
The momentum continues as we lay the groundwork for the Rithm Exchange, a collaborative media storytelling campaign that we are developing in partnership with the Rithm Project. Logistics and agreements are already underway, and while the details are still coming together, the vision is clear and energizing.
This next chapter will feature a series of filmed shorts highlighting the voices of students through a series of reflective activities the Rithm Project calls “Sparks”. Through these activities, participants dig deep into the moral, ethical and human-centered questions surrounding AI in our society.
If you’re a Da Vinci student or staff member who would like to be part of this exciting collaboration, reach out at ewhalen@davincischools.org, we’d love to include you!
The Rithm Project AI + Human Connection Summit affirmed that technology’s highest purpose is to amplify our humanity. With leaders like Naomi, Vee, and Danylah lighting the path, Da Vinci is poised to continue weaving futures rooted in love, wisdom, and authentic connection.
IMAGES:
