Eighth Graders Shine at HackBAC 2026

On March 20, four Crossroads eighth graders traveled to the Bay Area to take part in HackBAC, a social justice hackathon with the mission to “inspire and cultivate genius in young leaders of color who innovate for positive social impact.” 

HackBAC, organized by the Black Alumni Collective (BAC), brings together students from different schools for a three-day collaborative experience. Participants in grades eight through 12 work in teams to identify a problem that they care about; research and brainstorm on their topic; and develop a creative solution, such as an object, process, plan, communication or model. The event culminates in group presentations judged by a panel that offers feedback and selects a winning team. Throughout the weekend, workshops, guest speakers and mentors challenge students to harness their creativity, unlock new modes of thinking and approach change with courage and empathy. 

This was the first time that HackBAC took place in California and the first year that Crossroads students attended. Eighth graders Cameron Clayter, Christian Turner, Monroe Johnson and Xi’analiah Ballon were among the youngest students at the conference. Crossroads Director of Diversity, Equity & Inclusion Stephanie Carrillo, who chaperoned the group along with Assistant Head of Middle School David Stewart, noted “I was incredibly impressed with how our students showed up. From the very beginning, they were the ones with their hands up to ask and answer questions and their ideas were intelligent and insightful.”  

Christian and Cameron joined a team focused on immigration. Their project aimed to improve the immigrant experience by creating a centralized system for accessing essential resources and organizations. “It made me realize a lot about what’s happening in the world and think about ways we could fix it,” Cameron said.  

Monroe and Xi’analiah found their experience working on health and well-being similarly eye-opening. “We looked at the percentages of how many people are struggling with their mental health, and it was actually a lot more than I thought,” said Monroe. Their team designed a website to connect young people seeking mental health services with psychology students looking to gain experience as mental health providers. 

In addition to thinking about their topic, students learned about how to consider a problem, shape a project within a set of limitations and build a presentation. “I think my favorite part was presenting,” said Xi’analiah. “Showing off what we had practiced and what we had taken all this time to make. It was kind of scary, but also really exciting.”

Beyond the project work, HackBAC emphasizes connection and community. The four Crossroads students enjoyed getting to know their peers while they worked together, as well as at meals, at a bowling night and during a trip to the Stanford University campus. 

Thinking deeply about difficult challenges in society was also an opportunity for reflection. Christian shared, “It made me feel grateful for everything I have and reminded me that it’s important to show that gratitude through my actions, not just my words.”