About The Seeds of Change (SOC)
SOC is an annual youth conference for Bergen County high school students. Designed to inspire leadership, connection, and personal growth, SOC provides an engaging positive youth development experience while exploring topics such as cultural humility, equity, inclusion, mental health, substance misuse prevention, leadership, and action planning. Bergen County schools may bring up to 10 students to participate.
Funding provided by a grant through the Youth Services Commission
More than a Mirror
Beyond the feed. Beyond the filter. Beyond the reflection.
Date: Friday, October 23rd, 2026
Time: 9:00 AM – 2:00 PM
Location: Ramapo College of New Jersey, Trustees Pavilion
Target Audience: Bergen County High School Students (Grades 9–12)
Agenda
| Arrival & Check-in | 9:00 AM |
| Welcome | 9:30 AM |
| Ice Breaker | 10:00 AM |
| Keynote: Unfiltered: Confidence without Conditions | 10:15 AM |
| Brain Break | 11:15 AM |
| Workshop: Disrupting Beliefs of the Appearance Ideal | 11:30 AM |
| Action Planning | 12:15 PM |
| Lunch | 1:00 PM |
| Conference Conclusion | 2: 00 PM |
Keynote Presentation
Unfiltered: Confidence without Conditions
Lauren Dorman, MS RD CDE
In a world of filters, likes, and endless advice, it's easy to lose sight of what's real.
Unfiltered: Confidence Without Conditions helps you cut through the noise and build confidence that doesn't depend on your appearance, followers, grades, or anyone else's approval.
Through relatable stories, interactive activities, and practical strategies, you'll learn how to challenge comparison, navigate social media with confidence, and recognize your worth beyond what you see in the mirror.
Using the REAL Roadmap, you'll discover how to:
R | Recognize the Noise
E | Envision Your Future Self
A | Appreciate Beyond Appearance
L | Live Your Confidence
You'll leave with tools to boost self-confidence, strengthen resilience, and become the most authentic version of yourself.
Because real confidence isn't about being perfect. It's about being unapologetically you.
Lauren Dorman is New Jersey's go-to School Registered Dietitian! She's a master detective of nutrition trends, a passionate change leader, and a creative problem solver dedicated to helping adolescents untangle the complexities of food, self-image, and emotions. As the owner of Schools, Master Food and Mood, Lauren empowers students with her signature Strong Student Shift presentation, equipping them with solution-focused skills to create health habits with ease.
Workshop
Disrupting Beliefs of the Appearance Ideal
Jacquelyn Gazzano, Prevention Consultant, NJ4S-Bergen Hub, Children's Aid and Family Services
Have you ever felt pressure to look a certain way because of social media, celebrities, or what everyone else seems to be doing?
In this interactive workshop, you'll challenge the unrealistic standards that shape how we see ourselves. Through conversations, partner activities, and role-plays, you'll explore the real impact of appearance pressure and learn how to push back against comparison, perfectionism, and self-criticism.
Because your value isn't determined by how you look. It's defined by who you are.
