Join Us!

Celebrate what is possible in public education when we place students at the center

Join educators and education enthusiasts from around the Bay Area for an evening of inspiration, celebration, and inquiry. Together we are asking:

• • What does a hopeful school look and feel like for students from marginalized communities?

  • How do we cultivate hope while working within systems that often feel resistant to change?

• • In what ways can we center student identity, voice, and agency in building the schools they deserve?

• • How can hope be a form of resistance and a driver for educational justice?

This event features Lead by Learning partner educators and leaders and the ways they are reshaping education and educational systems through the transformative power of collaborative inquiry.

Connect, recharge, and join us in cultivating hope. Delicious food will be served, including gluten-free, vegan, and vegetarian options.

Evening Highlights

5:00 – Light dinner and networking reception

5:45 – Evening kick-off and keynote by Vallejo City Unified School District Superintendent Rubén Aurelio, followed by flash talks from featured educators and leaders

7:30 – Celebratory toast and dessert, followed by The Anna Richert Legacy Award in Education Leadership

Flash Talk Presentation Strands:

• Designing for Equity: Structures That Sustain Change
• Partnership in Action: The Power of Youth Voice

• Hope in Practice: Retaining Strong, Fulfilled Educators and Leaders

We are thrilled to offer Free Admission for Educators.  If you are currently a classroom teacher, school staff member, librarian, school psychologist, site leader, after-school professional, or an education professional employed by a school or district, please register for a complimentary ticket through Eventbrite. Please note that tickets are non-transferable and valid only for the registered educator.

For community members, education enthusiasts, and supporters who are not currently working as educators, paid, $20 tickets are available for purchase through the University Storefront. Your contribution helps us keep this event free for educators and ensures we can continue to offer high-quality, community-rooted programming.

The event will be hosted at Northeastern University, Oakland, in the historic Julia Morgan Student Union. 

Flash Talk presenters will be sharing their stories from 8 Bay Area districts and a variety of roles in education: classroom educators, teacher librarians, expanded learning leaders and staff, teacher leaders, site leaders, and superintendents.

🌟 San Leandro Unified School District: Paulette Smith, Anh Reyes, Laurie Benway, Jeannette McNeil, and Virginia Quock

🌟 Oakland Unified School District: Jared Crayton-Thomas, Priscilla Parchia, Robert Hand, Abel Guzman and Allegra Mitchell

🌟 Shoreline Unified School District: Ginny Geoghegan

🌟 Tamalpais Union High School District: Jacob Gran and Kelly Lara

🌟 San Lorenzo Unified School District: Ashley Thomsak and Deja Escalera

🌟 Alameda Unified School District: Kirstin Snyder

🌟 Vallejo City Unified School District: Brenda Garcia and Joey Sutherland

🌟 West Contra Costa Unified School District: John Henry Evans

Consider making a donation in addition to your ticket! 

• A $20 donation helps cover the cost of a ticket for another guest.
• A $50 donation helps support the event and expand access.
• A $100 donation fuels future events and community impact.