On Mar. 24, Paideia faculty and students hosted the first-ever Swap and Shop event to promote sustainability and community engagement. Students were encouraged to bring formal clothing for others to borrow for events like Bash and senior celebrations or to keep for themselves. The idea for the event originated with Emily Roberts, Paideia’s Urban Agriculture teacher, who introduced it to a group of students as a way to foster sustainable fashion practices and raise awareness about sustainability.
Seniors Lucy Rotenberg and Eleanor Dameron were inspired by the proposal and quickly stepped up to help bring the idea to life, working closely with Roberts and other faculty members, including Grace Garret and Melissa McKay-Hagan. “After Emily came to us with the idea, we were excited to start working. We worked out logistics at a planning meeting that included Natalie, Emily, Melissa, Grace, and other students like Rachel, Raffaella, and Emmanuele, then assisted throughout the process of making the idea come to fruition,” Rotenberg shared. “I feel grateful to have been a part of making all of this happen; the process has truly illuminated that having a group of dedicated individuals coming together can have powerful impacts.”
Roberts and Garret played pivotal roles in organizing and guiding the event, with their leadership and attention to detail ensuring its success. Students from across the high school participated by donating formal clothing in good condition. Each item was labeled with the student’s name,
phone number, size, and whether the item was intended to be borrowed or permanently gifted. This transparent system made it easy for borrowers to contact the original owners if needed and helped streamline the process of borrowing or keeping items.
Student-led events like the Swap and Shop have long been a cornerstone of the Paideia community, fostering connections among students across grades. High school can often feel isolating, but initiatives like this bring people together while contributing to larger goals, such as sustainability. “I think it’s a good community builder and form of sustainability,” Rachel Morrison ’27 shared. Events like these not only strengthen the school community but also make a positive impact on the local environment.
