Welcome to the 2nd Annual #BlackSELSummit!

Upon arrival, check in at the registration desk located on the second floor of NCCU’s New Student Union Center.  During this hour, breakfast will be served and the Exhibition Hall will be open (located outside of the main auditorium).

• Opening Prayer:
  • Pastor Soboma Wokoma of Legacy Center Church
• Opening Welcome:
  • Dr. Mattocks-Perry of Durham Public Schools
• Welcome to Durham
• Councilman Leonard Williams
• Durham City Council 
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• Song Selection:
  • Nnenna Freelon
  • feat. Shana Tucker

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Kristen Hopkins is an author, international speaker, and social entrepreneur dedicated to the holistic development of youth, young adults, and professionals. As the Founder and CEO of the Dangers Of The Mind, LLC, Kristen Hopkins Global, and the Dangers Of The Mind Education Fund, Kristen has developed and implemented culturally responsive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula, programs, Less Talk More SEL Community Parent Forums and resources in schools, not-for-profits, and corporate organizations. She has brought her teachings to school districts in Haiti, Ghana, and cities across the United States. Ms. Hopkins is an esteemed author of multiple books, curricula, and an intervention kit for in-school suspension and youth detention centers. Hopkins has also established a lifestyle brand, a virtual coaching practice, a clothing line, a podcast, and a team of brand ambassadors who advocate for the DOM movement daily. A fierce visionary, pioneer, and thought leader, Hopkins is often acknowledged for her contributions to the field of educational entrepreneurship. In 2016 she received the “30 Under 30 Award for Women of Excellence in Leadership”. Kristen and her company serve as a founding member of the national Social-Emotional Learning Providers Association, among the leading Social-Emotional providers around the nation. Kristen was a guest panelist on the Inaugural International SEL day in March 2020. She has also spoken at Philips Arena STEM WARS, World Congress Center, and the 50th Anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of America, to name a few. More recently, Kristen’s non-profit launched Black SEL, a social-emotional hub for black people, which includes the Annual Black SEL Summit and The Black Student Experience Project. She looks to continue her mission to empower black and brown communities through SEL and be the voice of culturally responsive and culturally affirming social-emotional resources for disadvantaged youth of this generation and beyond.

Stay Connected:

Instagram: blackselhub

Facebook: blackselhub

Dr. Samuel is a bilingual executive leader with expertise from early childhood through higher education. Dr. Samuel previously served as Deputy Assistant Secretary, Local, State and National Engagement at the U.S. Department of Education and former Executive Vice President of Government Affairs & Partnerships at NWEA. She has informed state policy agendas, assisted with developing cross systems approaches to develop policy solutions to support children and families and leading systems-level change. In her role at NWEA, she led a team working on driving a state and federal education agenda. Prior to NWEA, Dr. Samuel was the Director of Education at the National Governors Association (NGA), supporting high-ranking state officials on the development of policies that impacted health, education, and workforce. In every role, she works with diverse constituents, philanthropies, national and international partners. As a leading voice in education, she has testified before Congress and has been quoted in Bloomberg, Education Week, U.S. News, and the Washington Post on various education topics, and featured on network segments such as Univision, ABC, and CNN. Dr. Samuel presents at numerous education conferences and convenings nationally, internationally and is seen as a global leader. She holds an undergraduate degree from Tuskegee University, a Masters from University of South Florida, and a Specialist and Doctorate Degree from NOVA Southeastern.

Stay Connected:

Twitter: @caselorg

MODERATOR

Dr. Minnie Forte-Brown is nationally recognized for public school advocacy and for board of education leadership. President of the NC School Boards Association, officers of the National School Board Association and the Council of Urban Boards if Education, university professor and other management roles are included on her extensive resume. Forte-Brown was elected to the Durham Public Schools Board of Education in 2004 and served as a member and in vice-chair and chairperson positions until 2020. She taught at NC Central University in the departments of English and Mass Communication until retirement in 2011. She currently serves as adjunct faculty. Her statewide experience includes an appointment to the NC Council of the Status of Women and the NC Gang Advisory Task Force. She is co-founder of the East Durham Children’s Initiative and board member for KIPP:ENC

PANELISTS

DR. RALPH SIMPSON

Deputy Superintendent School Leadership and Improvement,

Clayton County Public Schools

Dr. Simpson is a native of Atlanta, Georgia.  He began his career in criminal justice after receiving a Bachelor of Science Degree in Criminal Justice from the University of West Georgia in 1986.  After working in a maximum-security prison for four years and observing so many individuals who had ruined their lives, he decided that he could become a part of the solution instead of the problem.  He set out to help young people avoid having to serve time in a correctional institution or in the penal system.  He re-enrolled at the State University of West Georgia where he obtained certification to teach middle grades.  He embarked upon his career as an educator in 1991 teaching elementary school for two years and in middle school for three years.  Dr. Simpson experienced tremendous success as a teacher, mentor, and leader.

Feeling that he could be a more effective leader as a school administrator, Dr. Simpson re-enrolled at State University West Georgia for a third time to pursue a Master of Education Degree in Administration and Supervision. To further strengthen his academic portfolio, he completed his Specialist in Educational Leadership in 2002, and earned a Doctorate of Education in Supervision and Leadership at the University of Sarasota in February of 2004. In 2007, he chronicled his challenges as a student in a book entitled, “From Remedial to Remarkable.” 

Dr. Simpson has served as principal at Stone Mountain High School and Miller Grove High School. In June of 2013, he was appointed to turnaround the most challenging high school in the school district, Towers High School. Immediately, he changed the culture and climate of the school by establishing high expectations for teachers and students. He was instrumental in establishing a foundation and creating a high culture of learning for the students in this community while instilling a renewed interest in school spirit. His primary goal for his school was to provide a learning environment “free of distractions, free of disruptions, and providing teachers an opportunity to teach and maximize on the students’ opportunities to learn.  He strongly encourages students to work far beyond expectations and excel in the areas of standardized tests and academic achievement.  Above all, he stressed character and self-motivation as viable tools to achieve personal success.

Under his leadership at Towers, this school experienced tremendous growth and achievement with double-digit gains in Economics, 9th grade Literature and the graduation rate. In September of 2014, Dr. Simpson was recognized as the DeKalb County School District Principal of the Year. Shortly thereafter, he was promoted to the position of Regional Superintendent.

In July 2017, Dr. Ralph Simpson was appointed Deputy Superintendent for the Division of School Leadership and Improvement for Clayton County Public School District.  He came with over twenty years of experience in education. In an effort to empower leaders to maximize their full potential, Dr. Simpson purposes to inspire, encourage, and motivate leaders at all levels. Dr. Simpson consistently provides school and district leaders with a Quote of the Day (QOD) that compels leaders to self-reflect and commit to higher standards. One recent QOD states, “Your commitment to getting better needs to be more important than your commitment to getting better scores.”

Additionally, Dr. Simpson has also been entrusted with consolidating the Division of School Leadership and Improvement with the Division of Curriculum, Instruction, and Assessment to form a cohesive unit to fulfill the Superintendent’s vision of Clayton County Public Schools as a high performing school district. A proponent of Restorative Practices in education. Dr. Simpson brings a wealth of knowledge. His goal is to align resources that address the social, emotional, and intellectual needs of learners, which will in turn produce students who are globally competitive and college and career ready.  Upon Dr. Simpson’s arrival to Clayton County and his passion for mentoring our male students to ensure they are prepared for the real world, Clayton County School District accepted, through Dr. Simpson, the My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Challenge.  The MBK challenge was established by President Obama, who charged local communities to develop an action plan centered on six milestones to tackle the opportunity gaps for young men.  Those milestones are: Getting a Healthy Start and Entering School Ready to Learn; Reading at Grade Level by Third Grade; Graduating from High School Ready for College and Career; Completing Postsecondary Education or Training; Successfully Entering the Workforce; and Keeping Kids on Track and Giving Them Second Chances.  Dr. Simpson’s passion for our students is why the 2018 MBK Summit was successful and over 2,000 of our young males attended this summit.  Comment from a student, “this is awesome, I now know that I can and I will”.  

A graduate of Howard University’s Urban Superintendents’ Academy (The School Superintendents Association).  He is professionally certified in Trauma and Resilience.  Dr. Simpson is involved in a myriad of professional and public service organizations.  Among these are the National Association of Educators, Georgia Association of Educators, DeKalb Association for Secondary School Administrators and Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. In addition to traveling the United States to speak to various colleges and organizations, he is an adjunct professor at Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia.  

Dr. Simpson is the proud father of two, son Chandler, who is a Junior student at Georgia Tech University and daughter Skyla, who is a tenth grader.  His accomplishments are attributed to determination, diligence, dedication, and tenacity. 

Dr. Simpson’s personal motto is: “If you don’t stand for something, you’ll fall for anything.”   He considers himself as “an ordinary person attempting to do extraordinary things.”

Stay Connected:

Instagram: @DrRalphSimpson

DR. LALANDE EMMANUEL

Vice President for Enrollment & Student Success | College of Biblical Studies

Dr. Emmanuel Lalande has almost 18 years of higher education experience with a focus on creating affordable and accessible avenues for students. Dr. Lalande throughout his career has worked to optimized and streamline enrollment processes, as well as enhance the student experience. Dr. Lalande currently serves as Vice President for Enrollment and Student Success at College of Biblical Studies-Houston in Houston, Texas. Dr. Lalande earned his Doctor of Education in Organizational Leadership from Nova Southeastern University in 2016, his Master of Education in Educational Leadership from Delaware State University in 2009, and his Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Delaware State University in 2005.

Stay Connected:

Facebook: @BiblicalStudies

Twitter: @CBSHouston

Instagram: @college_of_Biblical_Studies

DR. WILLIAM JACKSON

Chief dreamer | Village of Wisdom

Dr. William Jackson is the founder and “Chief Dreamer” of Village of Wisdom (VOW) founded in Durham, North Carolina. Rooted deep in the local context and community transformation, Will with his amazing VOW team has developed a dynamic platform and approach to power building with parents where they engage them in community-based participatory research and art. Their work systematically addresses the negative cognitive implications of racial bias on Black students. A former teacher and current parent, Will has a Ph.D. in educational psychology with a research focus on how Black parents make decisions related to their child’s racial identity and education. Through the work of VOW, he has built a reputation as a local catalyst and emerging national waymaker. He has led his organization on a mission to identify culturally affirming instructional strategies that have been validated by the wisdom of Black Parents.

BRANDON FRAME

Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning | Urban Assembly

Brandon Frame is a visionary leader, social innovator and educator. He is the Founder & Chief Visionary Officer of TheBlackManCan, Inc. an award-winning nonprofit that amplifies the stories of what Black Men and Boys can do. Guided by his vision TheBlackManCan, Inc. has impacted over 10,000 Black Men and Boys across the world, established a MENtor network of over 500 Black Men and built a socially conscious online community that has over 800,000 followers and generates 7 million impressions weekly. Accomplishments and accolades are no stranger to Brandon Frame, but what makes him extraordinary is the humility and servant-leadership that marks his life. Brandon Frame is the Senior Director of Social Emotional Learning at The Urban Assembly where he leads a team to work with districts and schools around implementation, integration and sustainability of Social Emotional Learning. Brandon is also Co-Founder of the award-winning twitter chat #hiphoped and the Author of Define Yourself, Redefine the World: A Guided Journal for Boys and Men of color and the children’s book My First Tie. For his service to his community, Brandon has received the Martin Luther King, Jr. Drum Major Award, Change Maker of the Year, and was named Next in Class in the field of Education by Black Entertainment Television. Brandon’s work has been featured in Black Enterprise, Boston Globe, Essence and he has appeared on CBS, NBC, ABC, HLN and NY1 as New Yorker of the Week. Brandon pursues excellence with impeccable effort in all that he does. He is currently a doctoral candidate at Boston University, a graduate of Morehouse College and resides in Bronx, NY.

Stay Connected:

Instagram: @theurbanassembly

Instagram: @brandonframe

Instagram: @theblackmancan

J STERRETT

Managing Director, Program Support | Teach For America

• Download Lecture Notes Below:

MODERATOR

Kristen Hopkins

Executive Director & Creator | Black SEL

• Kristen Hopkins is an author, international speaker, and social entrepreneur dedicated to the holistic development of youth, young adults, and professionals. As the Founder and CEO of the Dangers Of The Mind, LLC, Kristen Hopkins Global, and the Dangers Of The Mind Education Fund, Kristen has developed and implemented culturally responsive Social Emotional Learning (SEL) curricula, programs, Less Talk More SEL Community Parent Forums and resources in schools, not-for-profits, and corporate organizations. She has brought her teachings to school districts in Haiti, Ghana, and cities across the United States. Ms. Hopkins is an esteemed author of multiple books, curricula, and an intervention kit for in-school suspension and youth detention centers. Hopkins has also established a lifestyle brand, a virtual coaching practice, a clothing line, a podcast, and a team of brand ambassadors who advocate for the DOM movement daily. A fierce visionary, pioneer, and thought leader, Hopkins is often acknowledged for her contributions to the field of educational entrepreneurship. In 2016 she received the “30 Under 30 Award for Women of Excellence in Leadership”. Kristen and her company serve as a founding member of the national Social-Emotional Learning Providers Association, among the leading Social-Emotional providers around the nation. Kristen was a guest panelist on the Inaugural International SEL day in March 2020. She has also spoken at Philips Arena STEM WARS, World Congress Center, and the 50th Anniversary of the Boys and Girls Club of America, to name a few. More recently, Kristen’s non-profit launched Black SEL, a social-emotional hub for black people, which includes the Annual Black SEL Summit and The Black Student Experience Project. She looks to continue her mission to empower black and brown communities through SEL and be the voice of culturally responsive and culturally affirming social-emotional resources for disadvantaged youth of this generation and beyond.

PANELISTS

Manuhe Abebe

NCCU SGA Student Body President

• Passionate third-year honors college student. With a tireless work ethic and strong analytical and problem-solving skills. Putting skills to use by pursuing a B.S. in Mass Communication at North Carolina Central University with a concentration in Public Relations. Value forming connections with students and professionals and promoting these long-lasting connections through continuous networking and community outreach.

Nicole Pyles

Black SEL Student Advocate | Black SEL

Nicole Pyles is a rising senior at Hillside High school who is a part of multiple organizations including Student government and Theta Phi Delta (a community service based organization) Nicole also maintains straight A’s. Nicole thrives off of putting her best foot forward and being independent which is why she is also an entrepreneur. Nicole is the face of Cole’s Corner, her own baking company. Nicole enjoys playing sports both for school & club teams. Nicole appreciates the opportunities she has been given by the Black SEL program to learn more about her own emotional well-being as well as others.

Olivia Henson

Black SEL Student Advocate | Black SEL

Olivia Henson is an aspiring teenage graphic designer who’s always had the want to learn. While attending Hillside High School in Durham, North Carolina, Olivia has always been a model student. Currently being ranked 5th in her class of 2024 and inducted into the first North Carolinian chapter of the W.E.B. DuBois Honor Society, National Honor Society, and the Freshman Honor Society. Olivia is a great member of her Hillside community through her clubs and organizations as well. From Student Council to sports and her high school sorority, Theta Phi Delta, Olivia has represented what it means to excel.

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• Download Lecture Notes Below:
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Black SEL & The Black Student Experience

National University is breaking barriers in education. As a growing network of nonprofit educational institutions, we’re united in our mission to build a better future for our 41,000 students and more than 3,300 employees. Along with our 75+ career-relevant degree programs and innovative four-week course structure, we also provide meaningful support services designed to help our students succeed in the classroom, at work, at home, and beyond. 

Upcoming Event:

• SEL Inspire_Flyer_BlackSEL version

Stay Connected:

Website: https://www.nu.edu/

• We are excited to host four (4) breakout sessions this year!  Scroll below to learn more about breakout session hosts and session topics.  Each breakout session host has provided a downloadable resource related to their topic.

BLACK SEL AND INNOVATION

AUDITORIUM ROOM B

(Located behind the main auditorium)

• Session Description:

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• The time for innovation is now. Here’s why… The time is now to innovate because the old way is not meeting the needs of all students (and staff too). In this breakout session, come hear why the time is now to shift away from antiquated practices, which are rooted in deficit thinking. You will learn how to begin recognizing and responding to the unmet needs of Black youth. Importantly, you will hear practical strategies of how to meet the unmet needs of Black youth through innovative practices. You will leave this session energized, inspired, and ready to move towards action.

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• Dr. Byron McClure is a National Certified School Psychologist and Founder of Lessons For SEL, where he uses research, human-centered design thinking to build empathy, ideate, co-create solutions, and design equitable resources that put the needs of children front and center. He formerly served as the Assistant Director of School Redesign at a high school in Southeast, D.C., where he was responsible for leading and reimagining what Social Emotional Learning looked like within an inner-city community. 

Stay Connected:

Twitter: @SchoolPsychLife

Instagram: @bmcclure6

BLACK SEL IN YOUR DISTRICT

ROOM 2201

(Located on the second floor, to the right of the elevators)

• In this session school stakeholders will learn how Windsor Public Schools is transforming school culture and building coherence around High Quality SEL. We’ll learn how they are organizing their district around SEL, in addition to how they are leveraging student data to increase the SEL skills of their educators, students, and families. #weareWINdsor
•  

Stay Connected

BLACK SEL AND MUSIC

ROOM 2202

(Located on the second floor, to the right of elevators)

TOPIC: Exploring social-emotional learning in music, through an unapologetically Black lens. 

• Pierce Freelon is a Grammy-nominated musician, author, and educator from Durham, North Carolina. He is the co-creator of Beat Making Lab, an Emmy Award-winning PBS web series and is the writer, composer and co-director of the PBS animated series The History of White People in America, an official selection of the Tribeca Film Festival. His Grammy-nominated Children’s Music album Black to the Future has been featured on NPR, Billboard and MSNBC. Little, Brown Books for Young Readers published his debut children’s picture book, Daddy-Daughter Day in 2022. Freelon is a former Durham City Councilman, a husband and a father of two based in Durham, North Carolina.

• Stay Connected:
• Twitter: @PierceFreelon
• Facebook: @PierceFreelon
• Instagram: @PierceFreelon

Black SEL and Music

BLACK SEL AND EQUITY

AUDITORIUM ROOM A

(Located behind the main auditorium)

Topic: Intersection of Equity and SEL

• Educational data has historically revealed numerous equity gaps for Black students. Educational equity is centered around what our students’ need; thus, we must understand the importance of supporting their educational success not only for academic performance but also for their social emotional well-being. Discussion will focus on four indicators of success for students: cultural identity, relevance, relationships, and rigor that will create a healthy education experience for Black students.
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• Deborah L. Keys Write is the Founder & National Board Governance & Equity Consultant for The Write Keys 2 Consulting, LLC. Deborah uses her highly sought-after skills to provide customized, well- developed leadership skills through training for board/superintendent teams; delivers effective board governance best practices; creates thought-provoking, laser-focused board retreats that address board conflict and culture; educational equity vs equality through the lens of governance in the public-school setting; and facilitates conversations about racial equity.
• The last several years Deborah has worked with dozens of school districts providing customized board governance training with a focus on educational equity and dismantling racial inequities. In addition, Deborah is a weekly content contributor (Thursday) on the WURD Radio Station, The Source, in Philadelphia sharing information on urban education and effective board governance practices through the lens of equity and inclusion. Deborah has over 20 years of non-profit association experience that includes leading programming in conferences; facilitating relationships with superintendents and school board members through collaborations with AASA The School Superintendent Association and Howard University. This partnership resulted in an Urban Superintendents Academy where she taught board/superintendent relations modules for aspiring urban superintendents around the nation.
• Within the last five years, Deborah has worked with districts in 13 states providing equity leadership training and professional development for governance teams. This has led to partnerships with the California School Boards Association as an equity consultant through the Nicole Anderson and Associates firm where we address equity at all school system levels to ensure sustainability. 
• Deborah received her bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University in Michigan. As a trained facilitator, she developed a systemic governance training process that assists school boards and superintendents in becoming effective governance teams (through the Michigan Association of School Boards). She was also selected as Michigan’s first scholar to represent the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) that supports individuals from under-represented identity groups in the association community, to advance into the ranks of leadership in the association profession.

Stay Connected:

Twitter: @Keys2Write

Black SEL and Equity

• During this hour, lunch will be served and the Exhibition Hall will be open
• (located outside of the main auditorium). 
• Please use this time to take our Pre Survey by scanning the QR code below.

• Bettie Ray Butler, PhD is an Associate Professor of Urban Education and the Director of the  M.Ed. in Urban Education program at The University of North Carolina at Charlotte. Dr. Butler is  also the Associate Editor for the Journal of African American Women and Girls in Education (JAAWGE), a research journal devoted to advancing scholarship and praxis. She currently serves  as a Content Specialist for the National Technical Assistance Center on Transition: The  Collaborative (NTACT:C) where she leads initiatives centered around culturally responsive  practices. Dr. Butler earned her doctorate in Curriculum and Instruction with a focus on Urban  Education and her master’s in Political Science with a concentration in Public Policy/Public  Administration and Race and Education at Texas A&M University (College Station, Texas). She  has a Bachelor of Arts degree from North Carolina Agricultural & Technical State University in  Political Science and Criminal Justice with a minor in Journalism and Mass Communications. She  currently teaches both core and specialized courses in the Curriculum and Instruction Ph.D.  program at the University of North Carolina Charlotte. She has also taught undergraduate and  master’s level courses that center on equity and diversity in education and teacher preparation. Dr.  Butler has nearly 20 years of scholarly experience in the area of social justice and education  reform, as well as, 18 years of teaching and presenting on diversity in education using an  interdisciplinary approach. Dr. Butler has facilitated numerous professional development  workshops, led multiple national webinars, presented at international and national conferences,  and published several peer-reviewed journal articles, book chapters, toolkits, and policy reports. Her publications have appeared in nationally recognized publishing outlets such as Teachers  College Press, Routledge, Peter Lang Publishers, and Emerald Group Publishing; and her work  featured in academic journals, such as, Journal of Negro Education, The Urban Review, Theory  into Practice, Multicultural Perspectives, Teachers College Record, and The Journal for Multicultural Education (recipient of the 2019 Emerald Literati Award for Outstanding  Paper/Article). She is the lead editor of the book Mentoring While White (2022) and co-editor of  the book Unsilencing Youth Trauma (2022). Broadly, her larger interdisciplinary research interests focus on issues of culturally responsive practices (i.e., instruction, classroom management,  leadership, advising/mentoring, and transition planning). More specifically, Dr. Butler’s  specialized area of interest is in restorative practices. Through this work she uses a restorative  philosophy to improve school/institutional climate, reduce educational disparities and positively  impact academic and socioemotional outcomes.  

• Black SEL and Allies panel is designed to explore conversations and tactics that can be used across a variety of identities that consider themselves allies of Black SEL. We’ll talk to community leaders, practitioners and service providers about strategies for self-identified allies, and their role in helping to sustain SEL in Black communities.

• As we explore these questions, think about three personal responsibilities:

1. Would you consider yourself an Ally in your current role?
   What does allyship mean to you?
   What immediate action steps can take to engage allyship in Black SEL further?

• Let’s get ready for Black SEL and Allies.

MODERATOR

• David is the Chief Executive Officer of the Urban Assembly. He started with the UA in 2014 as the Director of Social-Emotional Learning, where he created the Resilient Scholars Program (RSP), a unique approach to integrating SEL into curriculum and classroom practices across the UA network. RSP has grown into a national program, serving schools and districts in Los Angeles, Houston, Syracuse, and other cities. As the Senior Director of Strategy, David led the expansion of the organization into a model provider of school support, with an emphasis on innovation and equity in public education. In 2021, David received the Champion of Equity Award from the American Consortium for Equity in Education. David sits on the board of CASEL and is an author of The Educator’s Practical Guide to Emotional Intelligence, and a co-author of the textbook, Challenges to Integrating Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Programs in Organizations. He is a Civil Affairs Officer in the Army Reserve and holds an M.Ed in Educational Psychology from Fordham University.

• STAY CONNECTED:
  • Twitter: @dadams_sel  @theurbanassembly

PANELISTS

Bryan Perlmutter

President | Piece by Piece Strategies

• Bryan is a national leader in youth engagement holding expertise in organizational development, campaign development, communications, and leadership development. He received his Masters in Public Administration, Nonprofit Management, and Policy from NYU Wagner School of Public Service. He is the founder and former Executive Director of Ignite NC/Ignite NC Action Fund, as well as part of the founding team of the Southern Vision Alliance. These NC-based organizations have become national models for youth engagement, including two feature case studies on their best practices for youth civic engagement. Bryan has more than a decade of grassroots organizing and campaign experience. From 2012-2014 he was the communications and development director for the Youth Organizing Institute – where he was able to help win policy change around school discipline. Bryan has appeared on Chris Matthews on MSNBC, MTV, and PBS regarding racial justice and voting rights. He was a successful plaintiff in a 2016 lawsuit challenging NC gerrymandering. He was the winner of the 2016 Mario Savio Youth Activist award hosted at Berkeley. He was the commencement speaker at the 2014 NC State University graduation for the non-profit studies department. Bryan served for two years on the steering committee of SOLVE (Southern Leaders on Voter Engagement) and was previously on the advisory board of LaunchProgress PAC. He is on the board of the Cypress Fund, The Southern Vision Alliance, and the membership board for the Southern Partners Fund. Bryan is a graduate of NC State University, where he received a BS in business administration and a minor in nonprofit studies. Bryan currently resides in Durham, NC where he loves to host brunch and spoil his dog.

• STAY CONNECTED:
  • LinkdIn: Bryan Perlmutter

Deborah Keys Write

Founder & National Board Governance Consultant | The Write Keys 2 Consulting, LLC

• Deborah L. Keys Write is the Founder & National Board Governance & Equity Consultant for The Write Keys 2 Consulting, LLC. Deborah uses her highly sought-after skills to provide customized, well developed leadership skills through training for board/superintendent teams; delivers effective board governance best practices; creates thought-provoking, laser-focused board retreats that address board conflict and culture; educational equity vs equality through the lens of governance in the public-school setting; and facilitates conversations about racial equity.
•  
• The last several years Deborah has worked with dozens of school districts providing customized board governance training with a focus on educational equity and dismantling racial inequities. In addition, Deborah is a weekly content contributor (Thursday) on the WURD Radio Station, The Source, in Philadelphia sharing information on urban education and effective board governance practices through the lens of equity and inclusion.
•  
• Deborah has over 20 years of non-profit association experience that includes leading programming in conferences; facilitating relationships with superintendents and school board members through collaborations with AASA The School Superintendent Association and Howard University. This partnership resulted in an Urban Superintendents Academy where she taught board/superintendent relations modules for aspiring urban superintendents around the nation.
•  
• Within the last five years, Deborah has worked with districts in 13 states providing equity leadership training and professional development for governance teams. This has led to partnerships with the California School Boards Association as an equity consultant through the Nicole Anderson and Associates firm where we address equity at all school system levels to ensure sustainability.
•  
• Deborah received her bachelor’s degree in Management and Organizational Development from Spring Arbor University in Michigan. As a trained facilitator, she developed a systemic governance training process that assists school boards and superintendents in becoming effective governance teams (through the Michigan Association of School Boards). She was also selected as Michigan’s first scholar to represent the American Society of Association Executives (ASAE)’s Diversity Executive Leadership Program (DELP) that supports individuals from under-represented identity groups in the association community, to advance into the ranks of leadership in the association profession.

• STAY CONNECTED:
  • Twitter: @keys2write

Irene Godinez

Founder, Executive Director | Poder NC

• Irene Godínez is a North Carolinian of Mexican heritage. Irene is the Founder and Executive Director of Poder NC Action, a values-based 501(c)(4) organization. Poder is running one of the most robust Latinx voter outreach program in the state and has distinguished itself with its innovative mail program.

• Irene was previously the Co-Executive Director at LEAD NC Institute where she sought, encouraged and cultivated a new generation of community and civic leaders for North Carolina. In 2016, Irene served as the North Carolina Latino Vote Director with the Hillary for America Campaign. Irene’s work at issue-based nonprofits, coupled with her campaign experience crystallized her mission – to seek equitable political representation for underserved communities and to create a civic leadership pipeline of Black and Brown youth.

• Irene has over 15 years experience in nonprofit management, community mobilization and engagement, lobbying, coalition-building, advocacy, media relations, and strategic communications. Irene has worked for local, state, and national organizations on advancing immigrant and reproductive rights, from El Pueblo, Inc. and New American Leaders and Planned Parenthood Health Systems (now Planned Parenthood of the South Atlantic).

• Irene is an active volunteer and has served on various boards and committees, including: the American Civil Liberties Union of North Carolina and Student Action with Farmworkers, to name a few. Irene lives and plays in Raleigh, NC with her loud 4 year old, Emerald and her partner of 20 years, Jonny.

Jim Vetter

Leadership Team | Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States (SEL4US)

• Jim Vetter has over 25 years of experience supporting diverse communities domestically and globally in promoting social and emotional health and well-being. As a founder and leadership team member of the Social Emotional Learning Alliance for the United States (SEL4US) works to  improve the lives of young people and adults by empowering local champions to advocate and advance high quality, equity-focused social and emotional learning in their schools and communities. Jim is also the Executive Director of the Social-Emotional Learning Alliance for Massachusetts (SEL4MA). In addition, Jim serves as Associate Director of Health and Technology at Education Development Center, where he designs and implements online and in-person training and coaching related to SEL and mental health. Jim previously served as Director of Programs and Services at the Open Circle SEL program; consulted on curriculum revisions and online professional development for the Second Step program for preschool through middle school; and consulted with numerous schools and districts on implementation of social and emotional learning. 

STAY CONNECTED:

• • Jim Vetter can be reached at jvetter@sel4us.org or https://www.linkedin.com/in/jbvetter/ 

SEL4US Social Media

• • Web:sel4us.or
  • Twitter: @SEL4USA
  • Facebook: sel4us
  • Instagram: @SEL4US
  • LinkedIn: sel4us

Joshua Vincent

Executive Director | Southern Vision Alliance

• Joshua brings two decades of experience as a political and community organizer in the US South. Prior to joining our team, he coordinated Black organizing capacity-building programs as National Director for the Education Not Incarceration Network and Field Director for Black Men Build. He has also coordinated a number of Black civic engagement programs, including serving as State Coordinator for Civic Engagement and GOTV for the North Carolina NAACP in 2012 and as Lead Organizer and Deputy State Coordinator with Obama for America during the 2008 campaign. He got his start as an HBCU student organizer, serving as one of six student protesters arrested in NC House Speaker Thom Tillis’ office opposing the state’s voter suppression bill. Joshua brings a commitment to grounding organizing in culture—as a way to build holistic, sustainable movement ecosystems and connect with new, often disaffected communities. He holds a Master’s in History with a concentration in Jazz Studies from North Carolina Central University and a second Master’s from California State University, East Bay in Music. As a trained jazz trombonist and producer, he has worked with Grammy award winning poets, vocalists, and producers, such as J. Ivy, Tarrey Torrae, and Buckwild; worked on the score for the second season of Aaron McGruder’s The Boondocks; performed at the Newport Jazz Festival and Detroit’s International Jazz Festival. He currently resides in Raleigh

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• • Instagram: @Liberated_Mind

Tolulope O. Omokaiye, MBA

Founder & Chief Executive | EVOLVE Mentoring

Executive Director |  My Brother’s Keeper, Wake County

Chairwoman | Raleigh Transit Authority

• Tolulope O. Omokaiye, MBA is a graduate of North Carolina Central University, where she received her Bachelor’s in Business Administration in 2006. After college she worked as a Marketing and Channel Manager for Newell Rubbermaid.  While obtaining her Master’s in Business Administration from Meredith College in 2011 she founded, EVOLVE Mentoring.  EVOLVE Mentoring, Inc. teaches youth and young adults life skills like financial management, entrepreneurship, personal health, and social responsibility to assist in their evolution from youth to well-rounded adult.  EVOLVE has impacted thousands of youths, young adults and families in the Triangle NC area and now leads President Barack Obama’s My Brother’s & Sister’s Keeper initiative in Wake County through EVOLVE.
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• Tolulope continues to blaze trails by serving as the first woman and Person of Color to Chair the Raleigh Transit Authority. Tolulope is certified in Executive Nonprofit Leadership from Duke University and Community Development from UNC Chapel Hill’s School of Government. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated, Leadership Triangle and lends her expertise and knowledge to numerous projects in North Carolina that span the scope of youth, education, entrepreneurship, and construction. 
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• Tolulope O. Omokaiye, MBA has been honored as 2018’s NCCU 40 Under 40 honoree and Triangle Business Journal’s Women in Business honoree; was awarded Triangle Business Journal’s 40 Under 40 and featured as the News & Observer’s Tarheel of the Week in 2017; in 2016 Spectacular Magazine’s Women of the Year: Emerging Leader, Radio One’s Triangle Trailblazer and the National Financial Literacy Educators Council in 2016 for her work with youth and young adults.

STAY CONNECTED:

• • mbkwakeco.org
  • Twitter: @EvolveMentoring
  • Facebook: Evolve Mentoring, Incorporated

• Download Lecture Notes Below:
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• Black SEL and Allies

Closing remarks from Executive Director and Black SEL Creator, Kristen Hopkins.  

Exhibition hall will be open from 3pm-4pm.  The Summit portion of the event will end at 4pm.  The Gala portion of the event will take place at 7pm at the NCCU New Student Union Center (same location).