“Some frequent users of AI companion apps say safety concerns are overblown. They argue the apps are an immersive upgrade to the online experimentation young people have done for decades — from fan fiction on Tumblr to anonymous encounters in AOL chatrooms.”

That part of The Journey—sharing with a peer—was as much about community building as tool building. Because leading change is a lonely endeavor. You need kindred spirits, from inside and outside your school, to inspire you, support you, and guide you. Participants may have come from places as far-flung as South Korea, Greece, Spain, Puerto Rico, and all over the United States, but they connected deeply because of their shared purpose: to lead wise change in their schools.