Agenda
2012 Building A Grad Nation Summit — Session Details
Below are brief descriptions for each of the sessions that will be offered at the 2012 Building a Grad Nation Summit. The Summit will include plenary sessions, which all participants can attend toghether, as well as concurrent sessions, which provide participants with the opportunity to explore various topics in depth. In an effort to help attendees get the most out of their Summit experience, the conference will offer the following five session tracks (in addition to free-standing sessions):
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Track 1
Case Studies (2 sessions)
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Track 2
Post-Secondary Access, Readiness & Completion, and Career Readiness (3 sessions)
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Track 3
Early Childhood Education (2 sessions)
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Track 4
Special Populations (4 sessions)
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Track 5
Data (2 sessions)
Visit the main Building a Grad Nation Summit pagefor general information, a list of confirmed speakers and the “At-a-Glance” conference schedule.
SUNDAY, MARCH 18
Youth Leaders Preconference
All young people (ages 13-25) are invited to participate in a pre-conference session to prepare for their time as full participants of the Summit. A committee of active young leaders will lead participants in structured networking, discussion of the youth role in Grad Nation, and exploration of solutions led by young people.
Welcome Reception (evening)
Join your fellow attendees for a welcome reception before the start of the conference. Opening remarks will be delivered by Mrs. Alma Powell and entertainment will be provided by the Elsie Whitlow Stokes Community Freedom Public Charter School's Stokes Steel Drummers (sponsored by Ritz-Carlton). Heavy hors d'oeuvres will be served.
MONDAY, MARCH 19
Breakfast (7:00 – 7:45am)
Morning General Session (7:45 – 10:00am)
Mrs. Alma Powell will welcome all participants to the Summit in this high-energy opening session. The session will feature the national release of the Building a Grad Nation 2011-2012 report, which showcases the progress the nation is making in reaching the goal of a 90 percent high school graduation rate by 2020. The session will not only give participants a first look at the new data but will also highlight important gains in the Civic Marshall Plan through “big institutional plays” by Grad Nation partners. This session will also feature a panel moderated by U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Dr. Robert Balfanz, Co-Director, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University
- John Bridgeland, President & CEO, Civic Enterprises
- Reba Dominski, Director of Education Programs – Community Relations, Target
- Arne Duncan, Secretary of Education, U.S. Department of Education
- Brian Gallagher, President & CEO, United Way Worldwide
- Patricia de Stacy Harrison, President & CEO, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
- Max Miller, Co-CEO, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
- Nina Sazer O'Donnell, Vice President for Education, United Way Worldwide
- Beth Shiroishi, President, AT&T Foundation
- Alma Powell, Chair, America’s Promise Alliance
- Gene Sperling, Assistant to the President for Economic Policy & Director, National Economic Council, The White House
- Randall Stephenson, Chairman, CEO & President, AT&T
Morning Concurrent Sessions (10:15 – 11:45am)
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Community Spotlight: Lessons from Houston & Gwinnett County
Case Study Track
This session will engage participants in learning how two different communities built cultures that supported improved graduation rates for low-performing students, and how these learnings might be applied within participants’ own communities. This session will showcase that there is certainly no “one size fits all” for raising graduation rates.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Joanna H. Fox, Deputy Director, Capacity Building, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University
* Dr. Robert K. Wimpelberg, Professor, College of Education, University of Houston
* Mark White, Manager of Student Engagement, Houston Independent School District
* Brad Bryant, Executive Director, Georgia Foundation for Public Education, Georgia Department of Education
* Dr. Gale Hey, Deputy Superintendent for Teaching & Learning, Gwinnett County Public Schools
* Dr. Steve Flynt, Associate Superintendent for School Leadership & Operational Support,
Gwinnett County Public Schools
* Sherea McKenzie, Director of Youth Services, Harris County Pct. 1, Office of Commissioner El Franco Lee
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Collective Impact: Creating & Sustaining Successful Partnerships
Many communities across the country are taking new approaches to partnering and collaborating in order to improve student achievement. Come learn how these communities have coordinated the good work of multiple various players toward one shared agenda.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Tanya Tucker, Senior Vice President, Community Engagement, America’s Promise Alliance
* Michael McAfee, Director, Promise Neighborhoods Institute
* Katrina Mitchell, Senior Director, Education, United Way of Metro Atlanta
* Alicia Lara, Vice President, Community Investment, United Way of Greater Los Angeles
* Reuben Jacobson, Senior Associate for Research and Strategy, Coalition for Community Schools
* Anthony Johnson, America's Promise Collaborative Coordinator, Alignment Nashville
* Mathew Schwarzman, Director, New Orleans Kids Partnership
* Karen Pittman, President & CEO, Forum for Youth Investment
* Jeff Edmondson, Managing Director, Strive
* Clotilde Dedecker, President & CEO, Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo
* Monica Martin, Department of Health and Human Services, Montgomery County, MD
* Ron Migaliski, Vice President, Clinical Operations, SGA Youth & Family Services
* Hasani Pratts, Policy Consultant, Say Yes to Education, Inc.
* Erin Starkey, Coordinator, Roseland Children's Initiative, SGA Youth & Family Services
* Peter Beard, Senior Vice President for Impact Priorities, United Way Worldwide
* Dalene Dutton, Executive Director, Five Town Communities That Care
* Blair Brooke-Weiss, Communities That Care Specialist, Communities That Care
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Connecting to Post-Secondary Education: Knowledge, Access & Affordability
Post-Secondary Education Track
In this increasingly knowledge-based economy, America must do better at increasing opportunities for all students to access post-secondary education. This session will explore topics such as building “college knowledge” among under-represented populations, including first-generation students; financing post-secondary education; and other barriers to access.
Confirmed Speakers: * Mike Schmidt, Director for Education & Workforce Development, Ford Motor Company
* Brandy Johnson, Executive Director, Michigan College Access Network
* Bobby Kanoy, Senior Fellow, American Council on Education
* Robert Birdsell, President & CEO, The Cristo Rey Network
* Jose Antonio Tijerino, President & CEO, Hispanic Heritage Foundation
* Erin Cox, Chief Program & Strategy Officer, ACCESS (Action Center for Educational
Services and Scholarships)
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Exploring the Ways Technology Can Contribute to Student Learning
With the ever-changing technological landscape of our country, many teachers, schools, and programs are taking up the challenge of integrating new tools in a variety of ways to increase student engagement, understanding, and access. To encourage this evolution in learning, we need effective models and practices, strong advocates, and supportive policies to address the use of technology in America’s schools.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education
* Dr. Michael J. Martirano, Superintendent, St. Mary's County Public Schools
* Hope Johnston, Academic Support Specialist, Charlotte-Mecklenburg Schools
* Megan Parker, Student, Eastern High School
* Robyn Young, School Librarian, Avon High School and the Avon Advanced Learning Center
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Hitting the Mark on Third Grade Reading
Early Childhood Education Track
Early literacy is critical to laying a proper groundwork for future success. This session will present a variety of successful models for building community commitment toward third-grade reading achievement, and strategies to help improve that benchmark.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Dr. Kelly Hunter, Executive Director, Children’s Literacy Initiative
* Andrea Nielsen, Senior Manager, Community Relations, Target
* Claiborne Barksdale, Chief Executive Officer, Barksdale Reading Institute
* Ron Fairchild, Senior Consultant, Campaign for Grade-Level Reading and President & CEO, Smarter
Learning Group
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Military-Connected Children: What Schools & Communities Need to Know
Special Populations Track
More than two million children nationwide are growing up in military families. The vast majority lives and attends school in civilian communities. Learn about the particular issues that affect military-connected children, and how non-military school systems are successfully responding to those issues.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Kate Sylvester, Vice President, Initiative for Military Families at America’s Promise Alliance
* Dr. Mary Keller, President & CEO, Military Child Education Coalition
* Trevor Romain, President & Co-Founder, The Trevor Romain Company/The Trevor Romain Foundation
* Ronald Walker, Superintendent, Gary County Unified School District 475
* Marilee Fitzgerald, Director, Department of Defense Education Activity
* Louis Burgess, Assistant Director, Michigan Department of Education
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Time Well Spent: Increasing Achievement through Expanded Learning Opportunities
Expanded learning opportunities have a measurable impact on student achievement and help young people succeed in school and prepare them for an increasingly global economy. This session will discuss what the research says about time and learning and will feature successful models of expanded learning opportunities, afterschool programs, and summer learning programs that use time to deepen supports for students.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Jeanne Fauci, Executive Director, Los Angeles Small Schools Center
* Lynsey Wood Jeffries, Executive Director, Higher Achievement DC Metro
* Dr. Jeannie Oakes, Director, Educational Opportunity & Scholarship programs, Ford Foundation
* Margie Reese, Vice President of Programming, Big Thought
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Transforming Our Schools, Improving Student Success
A crucial strategy for building a Grad Nation is re-organizing the lowest-performing schools to improve their effectiveness in graduating students ready for post-secondary education and careers. In this session, explore the different models being employed to improve schools; the importance of leadership; challenges and successes around the country; and the federal government’s role in this effort.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Dr. Elizabeth M. Morgan, Executive Director, Grad Nation, America's Promise Alliance
* Maritza Montiel, Vice Chairman & Deputy CEO — Legislative Affairs, Quality & Risk, Deloitte LLP
* Robin Lake, Associate Director, Center on Reinventing Public Education, University of Washington
* Dr. Lillian Lowery, Secretary of Education, Delaware Department of Education
* Dr. James C. Morse, Sr., Superintendent, Portland Public Schools
* Jason Snyder, Director, U.S. Department of Education, Office of School Turnaround
Lunchtime General Session (12:00 – 1:30pm)
In this session, participants will hear from a panel of “mold breakers” – leaders who have looked at old challenges in new ways, disrupted the status quo, and generated results that are now being adapted and replicated in businesses, schools and communities all across the country.
Featured Presenters:
- Chip Wheeler, Vice President, ING Americas
- Mayor Bill Foster, St. Petersburg, FL
Moderator:
- Jonathan Capehart, Opinion Writer, The Washington Post
Panelists:
- Cynthia Paris-Jeffries, Principal, Blackstone Elementary School, Boston
- Michelle Rhee, Founder & CEO, StudentsFirst
- Jon Schnur, Executive Chairman & Co-Founder, America Achieves
- Paul G. Vallas, Superintendent, Bridgeport Public Schools
Networking Time (1:30 – 2:45pm)
Join your fellow Summit participants in the networking lounge before heading to the afternoon sessions.
Afternoon Concurrent Sessions (2:45 – 4:00pm)
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Cincinnati Case Study: Focused Community Efforts Improve Success
Case Study Track
This session will engage participants in learning how a mid-western community with a medium-sized, low-performing school district used community and school data to focus efforts, raise graduation rates, and develop a national model for community engagement. Session participants will develop plans for applying these lessons within their own communities.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Stephanie Byrd, Executive Director, Success by 6, United Way of Greater Cincinnati
* Greg Landsman, Executive Director, The Strive Partnership, KnowledgeWorks
* Leslie Maloney, Senior Vice President and Program Manager – Education, Carol Ann and Ralph V. Haile, Jr./US Bank Foundation
* Lynda Jackson, Superintendent, Covington Independent Public Schools
* Julie Sellers, President, Cincinnati Federation of Teachers
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Using Data to Drive Decisions in Different Models for Raising Student Achievement
Data Track
This session will actively engage participants in learning about several nationally-recognized data driven efforts to raise student achievement. Presenters will discuss which types of data they use, and how they use it, to raise student achievement.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Aimee Guidera, Executive Director, Data Quality Campaign
* Dr. Pat Mikos, Program Manager, Division of Career and College Readiness, Maryland State Department of
Education
* M. Buell Snyder, Grad Nation Coordinator, Jefferson County Public Schools
* Dr. Robert Balfanz, Co-Director, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University
* Cindy Eggleton, Senior Director, Educational Preparedness, United Way for Southeastern Michigan
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Getting a Jump on a Grad Nation: How Early Childhood Education Puts Our Children on the Path to Success
Early Childhood Education Track
This session will provide an analysis of the new evidence for the impact of early education on school and life success. It will also discuss how education officials can successfully include pre-k in their system, and will present the evidence from one large district that early education is improving later academic achievement.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Peter J. Danchak, President, Northeast PA, PNC Bank
* Dr. W. Steven Barnett, Director, National Institute for Early Education Research at Rutgers University
* Jay Speck, Superintendent of Schools, Solano County Office of Education
* Jacqueline Jones, Senior Advisor on Early Learning, U.S. Department of Education
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I Hear You! Creating Communications That Inspire Action
Awareness of the dropout crisis has increased dramatically over the past several years. Action is growing too, but we’ll need to motivate many more Americans in order to reach the Grad Nation goals. Compelling, consistent messages from a spectrum of organizations will be crucial to inspiring greater involvement. This session will show groups how to create these types of communications.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Doug Hattaway, President, Hattaway Communications
* David Park, Executive Vice President, Mission Advancement, America's Promise Alliance
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Scaling What Works
Ending the dropout epidemic is possible because we now know which students tend to drop out and where they go to school. Thus, we are left with an engineering problem of getting the right evidence-based solutions to the right students. This session brings together leaders of nonprofits to share best practices in growing programs and practices that work.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Mary Bruce, Education Policy Analyst, Civic Enterprises
* Stephanie Aaronson, Vice President, American Graduate, Corporation for Public Broadcasting
* Sandra Lafleur, Senior Director of Youth Outcomes, Big Brothers Big Sisters of America
* Imari Paris Jeffries, Community Co-Investment, Boston Rising
* Chris Cutter, Executive Director, Zone 126 Promise Neighborhood
* Tony L. Hopson, Sr., President, CEO & Founder, Self Enhancement, Inc.
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Students On the Move
Special Populations Track
Students who are “highly mobile” are at substantially higher risk of poor educational achievement and overrepresentation in our nation’s dropout rates. This session will address issues such as better identification of these populations, the need for education advocacy, how states and local programs can better prepare these students for college and careers, and more.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Annie Blackledge, Casey Family Programs Fellow, U.S. Department of Education, Office of Vocational & Adult Education
* Barbara Duffield, Policy Director, National Association for the Education of Homeless Children & Youth
* Kathleen McNaught, Assistant Director, American Bar Association Center on Children and the Law
* Deborah Denzel, Student, Bennett College for Women
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What the Shouting is All About: Hot Topics in Education Policy & Reform
In this session we will hear the latest from policymakers on both sides of some of the thornier issues in education reform, from focusing resources on lowest performing schools, to integrating student and family supports, to aligning accountability measures, to evaluating leader and teacher effectiveness. This session is recommended for, but not limited to, those who plan to participate in Wednesday's Hill Day.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Raul Gonzalez, Director, Legislative Affairs, National Council of La Raza
* Bruce Lesley, President, First Focus
* Phillip Lovell, Vice President of Federal Advocacy, Alliance for Excellent Education
* Michael Jose Torra, Principal, The Raben Group
* Peter Zamora, Director of Federal Relations, Council of Chief State School Officers
Afternoon Super Sessions (4:15 – 5:45pm)
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Planning for the New Majority
Special Populations Track
Minorities now make up about 35 percent of the country's population, an increase of 5 percent from 2000, as the white population percentage continues to decline, according to 2010 U.S. census estimates. It is believed that minorities will become the new majority by 2050. This session will examine the implications of this demographic shift on educational policies and systems, as well as on the young people themselves, with a focus on traditionally under-performing minority student populations.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Jose Diaz-Balart, Anchor, Noticiero Telemundo
* Dr. Steve Murdock, Professor, Rice University
* Ron Montoya, Former Principal, Valley High School
* Sandra Thorstenson, Superintendent, Whittier Union High School District
* Reverend Sterling Lands, Greater Calvary Baptist Church
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Setting Them Up for Success: Creating a Solid Foundation for Post-Secondary Readiness
Post-Secondary Education Track
Economists, educators, and other experts agree: Most of tomorrow’s jobs will require some form of post-secondary education. So what can we do to ensure post-secondary readiness for all students? In this session, we will examine the roles of all major players in this, including counselors, post-secondary institutions, parents, and more. Also included: the importance of high-quality K-12 curriculum via the Common Core State Standards and more.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Daniel Domenech, Executive Director, American Association for School Administrators
* Christen Pollock, Vice President for Advocacy, College Board
* Karim Kai Ani, Founder, Mathalicious
* Timothy Magner, Executive Director, Partnership for 21st Century Skills
* Jonathan Grant Brown, West Texas AVID Consultant & Master Tutor for the Midland/Odessa Area
Dinner General Session (6:30 – 8:00pm)
Join us for dinner followed by an exciting performance by the Duke Ellington School of the Arts!
Featured Presenters:
- Rand Harbert, Senior Vice President and Chief Agency & Marketing Officer, State Farm
- Jamie Merisotis, President & CEO, Lumina Foundation
Movie Screening: BULLY (8:15 – 10:30pm; Room TBD)
No need to register, but space is limited!
Over 13 million American children will be bullied this year, making it the most common form of violence experienced by young people in the nation. The new documentary film BULLY brings human scale to this startling statistic, offering an intimate, unflinching look at how bullying has touched five kids and their families.
Filmed over the course of the 2009/2010 school year, BULLY opens a window onto the pained and often endangered lives of bullied kids, revealing a problem that transcends geographic, racial, ethnic and economic borders. It documents the responses of teachers and administrators to aggressive behaviors that defy “kids will be kids” clichés, and it captures a growing movement among parents and youths to change how bullying is handled in schools, in communities and in society as a whole.
TUESDAY, MARCH 20
Breakfast (7:00 – 7:45am)
Morning General Session (7:45 – 10:00am)
Join us on Tuesday morning for a general session focused on the economic impact of the dropout crisis, which will also include the role of business and education partnerships in ensuring tomorrow’s workforce is ready for tomorrow’s (and today’s) jobs.
Confirmed Speakers:
- Maria Bartiromo, Anchor, CNBC’s Closing Bell
- Alberto M. Carvalho, Superintendent, Miami-Dade County Public Schools
- Daniel Hamburger, President & CEO, DeVry
- Dennis Maple, President, ARAMARK Education
- Larry Merlo, CEO, CVS Caremark Corporation
- Dr. Charlie Nelms, Chancellor, North Carolina Central University
- Stuart Thorn, President & CEO, Southwire
- Bob Wise, President, Alliance for Excellent Education
Morning Concurrent Sessions (10:15 – 11:45am)
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It's Simple as ABC: Keeping Students on Track for Success
Data Track
Teachers have long remarked that all students can learn—if only they will come to school, and come on time, be attentive and engaged, and commit effort. In this session, participants will hear from national and local experts and practitioners regarding the importance of attendance, behavior and course-passing indicators, and the implications for districts, schools and students.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Lyndsay Pinkus, Director, National and Federal Policy Initiatives, Data Quality Campaign
* Hedy Chang, Director, Attendance Works
* Joanna H. Fox, Deputy Director, Capacity Building, Everyone Graduates Center at Johns Hopkins University
* Dr. Martha Abele MacIver, Research Scientist, Center for Social Organization of Schools, Johns Hopkins University
* Doug Elmer, Director, Diplomas Now, Johns Hopkins University
* Maria Santos, Deputy Superintendent for Instruction, Leadership and Equity in Action, Oakland Unified School District
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Developing Tomorrow’s Workforce through STEM
Few would debate the need for stronger emphasis on Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math (STEM) in today’s global marketplace. Participants in this session will explore the roles that educators and STEM experts must play to engage more of our nation’s youth in these growing arenas, and will hear about programs making an impact.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Dr. Bernard A. Harris, Jr., Astronaut and President, The Harris Foundation
* Camsie McAdams, Director, STEM, DC Public Schools
* Claus von Zastrow, Director of Research & Chief Operating Officer, Change the Equation
* Taahira Thompson, Student, McKinley High School
* Leroy Tripette, Education Manager, Intel
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Good Teacher, Bad Teacher: What is Quality Teaching?
After a review of the strong research in this area, hear from a cross-section of authentic teacher voices, as well as an overall system view. How do we evaluate and support the teaching profession, and what does this mean for students?
Confirmed Speakers:
* Kate Walsh, President, National Council on Teacher Quality
* Dr. Susan Marks, Superintendent, Norwalk Public Schools
* Tameka Petticolas, Special Education Teacher, DC Public Schools
* Brian Thompson, Teacher, Cardozo Senior High School
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Opportunity Youth: Reconnecting & Recovering Students
Special Populations Track
Millions of young people are out of school and out of work, and are costing the nation billions of dollars in lost productivity and increased social services. But they also represent an opportunity for the nation to tap the talents of millions of potential leaders and productive workers at a time when America’s skills gap is significant.
Confirmed Speakers:
* John Bridgeland, President & CEO, Civic Enterprises
* Dorothy Stoneman, Founder & President, YouthBuild
* Bobbi Silten, Chief Foundation Officer, GAP, Inc.
* Patty Stonesifer, Chair, White House Council for Community Solutions
* Hashim Yonis, School Administrative Manager, Minneapolis Public Schools
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Post-Secondary Completion: Preparing All Students for a Global Economy
Post-Secondary Education Track
The America’s Promise Grad Nation campaign and the Lumina Foundation share a common goal of increasing American college completion rates and preparing our students for the jobs of the future. In this session, find out how businesses, post-secondary institutions, community-based organizations, and other important players are partnering in smart ways to realize this goal for all students, including those with traditionally low completion rates.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Jim Applegate, Vice President for Program Development, Lumina Foundation
* Jeremiah Newell, Director of Multiple Pathways, Mobile Area Education Foundation
* Braulio Colón, Executive Director, Florida College Access Network
* Dr. Scott Evenbeck, Founding President, The New Community College at the City University of New York
(CUNY)
* John Wilcox, Executive Director & COO, Corporate Voices for Working Families
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Safeguarding the Success of Our Rural Youth
According to 2007 figures, 19 percent of all American public school students reside in rural areas, a significant piece of the student population that requires attention in the form of policies, research, and practices that can help ensure these students are high-achieving. This session aims to explore the highest-priority issues relevant to ensuring student success in rural locales.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Andrew Hysell, Vice President for Policy and Advocacy, Save the Children
* Linda Irwin, NETCO Director, The Niswonger Foundation
* Dreama Gentry, Director of Externally Sponsored Programs, Berea College
* Ekoo Beck, Board Member, America's Promise Alliance
* Scott Jordan, Fisheries & Wildlife Teacher, CRCS Outdoors Program, Cuba Rushford Central Schools
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Sustaining Youth Initiatives in Tough Economic Times
In these tough economic times, budgets are shrinking at the same time that children and families need more support. But in many communities, multiple sectors are working together in new ways to ensure their youth supports aren’t compromised. In this session, experts will share strategies that have been implemented to provide, grow and sustain programs for young people.
Confirmed Speakers:
* Sara Toland, Senior Manager for Workforce Readiness, Corporate Voices for Working Families
* Elizabeth Gaines, Director of Policy, Forum for Youth Investment
* Doug McDurham, CEO, Communities In Schools of the Heart of Texas
* Jenifer Holland, Program Manager for Training & Technical Assistance, The Finance Project
* Annette Grays, Director, Community Engagement, United Way of Southeastern Michigan
Closing Lunch General Session (12:00 – 1:30pm)
Please join us to close out the Summit and reflect on what’s been accomplished and what still needs to be done.
Confirmed Speakers:
- George Lucas, Chairman, The George Lucas Educational Foundation
- General Colin Powell, Founding Chairman, America’s Promise Alliance
Afternoon (Optional) Post-Conference Activities
Grad Nation Communities Meeting (2:00 – 4:00pm)
This session is open to all Grad Nation Community teams. It will provide an opportunity for these teams to network and engage in meaningful conversation around community engagement efforts to help increase high school graduation rates. Richard C. Harwood, President of the Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, will be the featured speaker for this interactive session. Called "one of the great thinkers in American public life," over the past 20 years, Harwood has become a leading national authority on improving America’s communities, raising standards of political conduct and re-engaging citizens on today’s most complex and controversial public issues. He is the president and founder of The Harwood Institute for Public Innovation, a catalytic nonprofit dedicated to helping people imagine and act for the public good. Harwood’s unique voice stirs up a desire to make a difference using the “turn outward” approach – a guide to making public life more hope-filled. He has inspired thousands of people to step forward and take action rooted in their community and stay true to themselves with easy steps designed to get even the most cynical moving. Harwood whole-heartedly believes that you can stay true to yourself and have impact.
Hill Day Prep (4:00 – 5:00pm)
If you are participating in Hill Day, at this session you will receive your briefing materials, confirm your meetings, and gather with your state and community delegations to prepare for your meetings with Members of Congress and their staff the following day (3/21).
WEDNESDAY, MARCH 21
Hill Day (Off-site)
Hill Day is a half-day activity during which visits will be organized for Grad Nation Summit participants to the offices of their Senators and Representatives in the nation’s capital. This is a special opportunity for attendees to share their views on what matters most to their communities. Congressional offices always value hearing from constituents, so this is a great opportunity for attendees to make their voice heard. Prior to the visits, a congressional briefing will take place, during which Members of Congress and their staff will share the latest on legislative progress toward education reform, areas of alignment, as well as "sticking points."