Don’t delay! The deadline to submit to the summer 2025 cycle is June 25, 2025. Share your pitch with us today.
Breakouts is a collection of multimedia projects that capture the most engaging, inspiring, and insightful illustrations of the power of virtual exchange. In 2025, we’re thrilled to bring you even more opportunities to use your voice for virtual exchange. Participate in Breakouts by pitching a multimedia project that highlights your perspectives and contributions to the field. Centered on a guiding theme, each edition will spotlight compelling anecdotes, insights, best practices, data, testimonials, short stories, and more.
Inspired by the impact we can create as a collective, we developed this field-wide effort dedicated to exploring various topics in virtual exchange through contributions from many perspectives – just like a breakout room in virtual exchange. Whether you have something new you want to share or existing work that deserves a spotlight, feature it in Breakouts. We want to hear from you! Select projects will be featured on our website and promoted across our social media channels.
Summer 2025 Theme: 10 Years of Impact
Launched in 2015, the Stevens Initiative is building a better tomorrow by championing global connections, empowering future leaders, and advancing the field of virtual exchange. We’re focused on preparing rising generations of global leaders to build 21st-century skills needed to thrive. To do that, we’re showcasing the incredible value and impact of virtual exchange with global leaders, educators, and business executives.
As we celebrate a decade of impact, we invite you to help us illustrate the power of virtual exchange in building a better tomorrow. We’re seeking multimedia projects that address one of the following prompts or themes:
- Championing Global Connections: What role do digital platforms and virtual exchanges play in shaping people-to-people engagement? How has virtual exchange empowered lasting relationships between young people around the world?
- Empowering Future Leaders: How does virtual exchange invest in young people as solutions-oriented leaders in our local and global communities?
- Advancing the Field: How does virtual exchange foster innovation and reimagine what global learning can look like, whether through program design, learning outcomes, or program deliverables?
You must be 18 or older to submit a pitch.
Campaign Timeline
- June 11, 2025: Pitches Open
- June 25, 2025: Pitch Deadline
- June 30, 2025: Pitch Acceptance Notifications
- July 16, 2025: Deliverable Drafts Due
- July 17-23, 2025: Deliverable Refinement/Editing
- July 24-30, 2025: Contributors Review and Approve Deliverables
- July 31, 2025: Deliverables Finalized
- August 11, 2025: Campaign Launch
Please note, dates are subject to change. The Stevens Initiative will reach out to you directly if you are impacted by any deadline and/or campaign rollout changes.
Process
Contributors should follow the below process:
- Submit a pitch by the deadline via this form, including a brief summary and identified medium (e.g. social media content, written piece, datapoint or infographic, poem, painting, photo, etc.).
- The Initiative will review pitches and notify contributors if their pitch has been selected.
- Contributors work with the Initiative to compile information for submission. Involvement in complete drafting will depend on the pitch and contributors’ interest.
- The Initiative will edit and share the final draft for approval.
- Campaign rollout and amplification.
Previous Breakouts Themes