Look Who it Was Random video

The evolution of lunch tables | Daniella Cohen | TEDxRedmond

2,017 views · Published 19 November 2014 · 9:39 · Indexed 23 October 2026

Channel: TEDx Talks · 2014 · Nonprofits & Activism

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This talk was given at a local TEDx event, produced independently of the TED Conferences. Daniella Cohen sees lunch tables differently. High school lunch tables are synonymous with bullying, fear and sameness.  Cohen talks about the journey she took in discovering the power of lunch tables and how she sees lunch tables in the future.

Daniella Cohen is a girl who loves to make new friends. In fifth grade, she started a pen pal connection with a school in Bangalore, India and learned the importance of friendship through her pen pal, Suma. Daniella’s passion for friendship and cultural understanding led her to co-found G.I.V.E. G.I.V.E is  a project with the goals of promoting empathy and enhancing education. The project has sent thousands of letters and flip flops, signed with messages of hope, from schools across the US to schools in India, Uganda and Rwanda. With recent funding G.I.V.E has been able to install internet and send laptops to some of their partner schools. Daniella has been invited to speak at several universities and youth conferences.  She has also received the Build-a-Bear Huggable Hero Award, The Presidents Volunteer Service Award, Princeton Prize in Race Relations , and The Prudential Spirit of Community Award. She was featured in a Belgian documentary: “30 under 30 International Social Entrepreneurs” by GoYoung.  She is a Junior at Highland Park High School in Highland Park, Il. and is on the Girls Varsity Golf Team, Math team and Mock Trial Team. She also loves to figure skate.

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