Hack the Track: Reprogramming the Future Today | Annika Chadha | TEDxPaul Laurence Dunbar HS Youth

Key Takeaways from Hack the Track - The event aimed to empower young people to be problem solvers, not just future leaders [8] - Hack the Track was the first high school hackathon in Kentucky [4] - The hackathon featured five challenge tracks aligned with the mayor's goals: education, environment, housing accessibility, public safety, and downtown revitalization [5] - Students from 15 different schools across Kentucky participated [7] Impact and Outcomes - Students grew in confidence, grit, and compassion through the real-world opportunity [12] - AI requires human direction and collaboration; students learned to collaborate, compromise, and learn from different perspectives [13] - Technology facilitated collaboration, but students carried each other [14] - Projects focused on community impact, such as improving public safety and addressing food insecurity [15][16][17][18] Call to Action - Educators should give students problems to solve that matter [19] - City leaders should invite young technologists to the table [19] - Students should create spaces that don't exist [20] - The future is actively being built, and young people can transform communities [21]