Stronger Together: BBYO IC 2015

From the outside looking in, one cannot fully comprehend nor explain the magnitude of BBYO’s International Convention (IC). While on the surface you may have some success deciphering that which is superficial – size, location, performers, etc – in the end you lack the ability to appropriately convey the impact of it all, unless you attend.

This past week, thousands of teens from more than 20 countries gathered in Downtown Atlanta, Georgia to kick off BBYO’s annual global summit. Ahead of them stood four days of delicately designed programming, overflowing with opportunities to hear from a collection of the world’s most inspiring minds, engage with community changing organizations, learn from globally renowned educators, and celebrate with GRAMMY Award nominated recording artists.

With a list of speakers, performers and educators that includes Past-Israeli President Shimon Peres, Actress Emmanuelle Chriqui, Neiman Marcus CEO Karen Katz, Def Jam Records Mogul Michael Skolnik, Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks, Actress Kat Graham, financial genius Michael Steinhardt, Forbes rising star Alex Banyan, Olympic Gold Medalist Garrett Weber-Gale, GRAMMY nominated artist Flo Rida and more, how can you not be impressed?

But the power of this conference isn’t contained within its headliners, rather in the audience that sits so attentively before them. The 2500+ participant convention body comprised of 15 to 18 year-old teens from the United States, Israel, France, Ukraine, Argentina, Serbia, Uruguay, Bulgaria, Georgia, Turkey, England, Ireland, Latvia, and elsewhere is what makes this conference so magically significant.

While it may seem that this behemoth of an event must be conceived by the minds of seasoned professionals, and engineered by the hands of event planning experts, it is in fact the teens themselves that drive the formation of what can easily be considered the gold standard for conferences of its kind.

These teens dream, plan and execute on ideas that likely appear unthinkable to many. Outsiders may ask, “How can teenagers build something like this?” Rather than satisfying a thirst for reasonable understanding with an answer that tries to explain the process, I’d instead reply… “What can’t they do?”

With a blank canvas, tools provided by generous donors who deeply believe in the empowerment of youth, and support from staff whose passion, dedication, resilience, perseverance, authenticity, and outright love could never be adequately described with words; these teens are capable of anything.

As an alumnus of BBYO, I left convention with an assemblage of feelings about an organization that will forever hold a special place in my heart. I was proud to see the values I learned as a member are still celebrated years later. I was excited to see that the passion that I shared with friends and family as a leader within its ranks is still so undeniably infectious. I was confident to know that this organization, which provided me with such a strong foundation for life is in such able hands. And I was inspired to know that these amazing teens exist in a world where hope may sometimes not be so easy to find.

It was an honor to come home to IC, and a pleasure to have had the opportunity to photograph it with all access privilege. Below are some of the moments I found most compelling. I hope you enjoy viewing them as much as I enjoyed capturing them.

For additional photographs from IC and elsewhere, please join me on instagram -> @makandel.

Note: There are more than 100 images in this collection; it may take time to load. Load time is dependent upon internet strength and availability. These images are in no particular order, and do not represent any sequence of events. Thank you for your patience.

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Representatives from IC’s host region, Southern Region, welcome participants at opening ceremonies.

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Delegates work to iron out an amendment during Februrary Executive Meetings.

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Teens read from prayer books during Shabbat services.

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Centennial Ballroom

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Rabbi Lord Jonathan Sacks

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BBYO Life Member pins await dispersal to senior participants.

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Teens help sort donations at the Atlanta Community Food Bank.

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Atlanta based gospel choir joins opening ceremonies.

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Flo Rida’s set list.

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Alex Banayan, Venture Capitalist & Forbes “30 Under 30” honoree.

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State of the Order

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Teen band performs during opening ceremonies.

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Boker Tov

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Flo Rida

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Carter Schultz of AER

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Teens tweet about community service.

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Centennial Ballroom

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Staff transitions events in Centennial Ballroom

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Centennial Ballroom

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Flo Rida invites teens on stage.

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Surprise video guest Shimon Peres, Past President of Israel

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AER

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Hyatt Regency Atlanta

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Opening Ceremonies

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Pre-Shabbat set-up, Centennial Ballroom

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David Von Mering of AER

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Opening Ceremonies

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Centennial Ballroom

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Community Service Projects

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Teens gather at dinner.

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Teens sorted more than 3000 meals for families in need.

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International advisor of the year awardee.

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Israeli participants create a Magen David during opening ceremonies.

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Flo Rida

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Teens between sessions.

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Teens gather around the main entrance to the convention floor.

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Centennial Ballroom

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Spirit prior to opening ceremonies.

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Centennial Ballroom

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BBYO: Stronger Together

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State of the Order

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Hoodie Allen

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Spirit at opening ceremonies.

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70/90 AZA Blue Books & BBG Red Books

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Flo Rida invites surprise guest Gorilla Zoe to the stage.

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Jonathan Greenblatt, Former Special Assistant to the President of the United States and National Director Designate of the Anti-Defamation League

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Spirit prior to opening ceremonies.

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State of the Order

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In-Q, Slam Poet

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BBYO: Stronger Together production

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Lobby view, Hyatt Regency Atlanta

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Teens hold signs in solidarity with Ukrainian and French delegations.

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A tree placed in the center of the conference meal hall as a reminder of the iconic Perlman memorial tree at B’nai B’rith Perlman Camp which historically hosted International Convention.

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AER & crowd

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Trudy Album, Holocaust Survivor & Activist who was inducted into BBG during convention.

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Teens perform during opening ceremonies.

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Opening Ceremonies

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State of the Order

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Limud Session with In-Q.

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Centennial Ballroom

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Centennial Ballroom during opening ceremonies.

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Spirit during opening ceremonies.

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Community service projects

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Teens on stage with Flo Rida.

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Teen leadership, Centennial Ballroom

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Song leaders, Centennial Ballroom

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Havdallah

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Seating chart for Shabbat dinner, Centennial Ballroom

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Hoodie Allen

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Song Session

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IC Welcome Center

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Atlanta Community Food Bank

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IC Town Center

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February Executive Meetings

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Teens read through the BBYO IC Program Guide.

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Centennial Ballroom

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Atlanta Community Food Bank

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Kap Slap

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Centennial Ballroom

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BBYO Staff

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Flo Rida – BBYO: Stronger Together

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Atlanta Community Food Bank

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Centennial Ballroom

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Noa Tishby, Producer, Activist and Co-Founder of The Digital Activism Group Act for Israel

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Shabbat, Centennial Ballroom

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BBG Leadership

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Havdallah

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BBYO: Stronger Together

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Opening Ceremonies

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Kat Graham, Actress, The Vampire Diaries

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Teen band rehearsal.

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Opening Ceremonies

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Opening Ceremonies

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Hoodie Allen

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Opening Ceremonies

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BBYO CEO Matt Grossman & Staff at Closing Ceremonies.

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Spirit

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“Walk Downs”

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Teens take selfies with Flo Rida.

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Garrett Weber-Gale, Olympic Gold Medalist

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Hoodie Allen

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Emmanuelle Chriqui, Actress & Activist

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Israeli Delegation

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Michael Skolnik, Political Director, Def Jam Records and President, GlobalGrind.com

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Staff

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Kap Slap

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Centennial Ballroom

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Emmanuelle Chriqui, Actress & Activist

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Opening Ceremonies

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International President’s gavel following State of the Order.

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Stronger Together