Breakout Sessions (Group A)
Friday, May 9 | 11:15 am - 12:30 pm
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Freeing the Leader Within: Identity, Immunity to Change, and the Journey to Liberation
Facilitator(s): Dr. Amanda Aiken
Location: Palomino 1
Session Description: In the pursuit of transformational leadership, it’s often our unseen internal barriers—not external circumstances—that hold us back. ""Freeing the Leader Within: Identity, Immunity to Change, and the Journey to Liberation"" invites participants to explore how deeply held beliefs, shaped by identity and lived experiences, create resistance to growth and change. This interactive session leverages the Immunity to Change framework to uncover the hidden commitments and assumptions that limit our leadership potential. Participants will engage in reflective exercises to examine the intersection of identity and immunity, gaining clarity on how internalized narratives—rooted in race, gender, culture, or other facets of identity—impact their decision-making and aspirations. Through small group discussions and guided self-inquiry, participants will discover the freedom that comes with identifying and overcoming these barriers. They will also develop actionable strategies to align their leadership with their authentic selves, building a foundation for collective impact and systemic transformation. Rooted in Surge’s ethos of collective care and action, this session is a space to reflect, reimagine, and reconnect with the leader you are meant to be. Participants will leave equipped with tools to dismantle their immunity to change and empowered to lead with authenticity, courage, and a deep sense of liberation. Join us as we explore the power of identity in leadership and the pathways to becoming more free, impactful, and visionary leaders in service of our communities.
Twice as Hard, Half as Far: Black Women, Workplace Politics, and Thriving on Our Terms
Facilitator(s): Lula Defersha
Location: Arabian A
Session Description: "The phrase "work twice as hard to get half as far" is a lived reality for many Black women navigating leadership roles. Despite our contributions, we often face pay inequities, workplace bias, performance scrutiny, and political dynamics that impact our career progression. This session will provide a space to explore these challenges while equipping participants with tangible strategies to reclaim power, advocate for themselves, and redefine success on their own terms. Through interactive discussion, career strategy mapping, and real-world scenario analysis, participants will gain practical tools to navigate workplace politics, negotiate from a place of strength, and position themselves for growth. We will explore: 1) The politics of perception: How stereotypes and biases impact Black women in leadership. 2) Compensation and career advocacy: Strategies for negotiating salary and promotions effectively. 3) Sponsorship vs. mentorship: Building networks that propel your career. 4) Thriving vs. surviving: Shifting from endurance to sustainable leadership. This session will empower attendees with a clear framework for career navigation and advocacy while creating a supportive space for shared experiences and solutions."
Decentering Work, Centering Life: I Don't Work. I Fundraise.
Facilitator(s): Dana Mitchell(DC23)
Location: Palomino 3
Session Description: "This session will provide participants with liberatory time-management practices that disrupt white supremacy culture, decenter work, and center liberated living. During the session, participants will: 1) Be introduced to a liberatory time management theory and reflect on the theory that guides their current time management practices. 2) Compare a daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly plan that centers liberation to a plan that centers work and / or white supremacy culture. 3) Practice *freedom dreaming* by drafting a list of the life categories that are essential or most important to them (i.e., marriage, ministry, motherhood, etc.). 4) Calculate how much of their time is devoted to work in comparison to how much of their time is devoted to the other life categories (“life + leisure”). 5) Reflect on and confront the thinking that led to their current time-management practices. 6) Using session tools to continue *freedom dreaming* and begin their liberatory time-management planning by implementing the session theory and practices.
From Control to Collaboration: Elevating Youth Voice Through Adult Allyship
Facilitator(s): Kawanza Billy(DC22), Marcus Wilson(DC22)
Location: Arabian B
Session Description: What does it truly mean to share power with young people—and are we, as adults, ready to let go? In this interactive session, participants will explore how traditional leadership models often silence youth voice and how intentional adult allyship can shift that dynamic. This session will equip adult allies—educators, nonprofit leaders, mentors, and caregivers—with actionable strategies to move from control to collaboration. Participants will examine internal and systemic barriers to power-sharing, reflect on their own practices, and leave with concrete methods to elevate youth agency through co-creation, shared leadership, and advocacy. Whether you're a seasoned educator or just beginning to explore the role of allyship, this session invites you to rethink how you lead with—not for—BIPOC youth, and how to foster inclusive environments where their voices are not only heard, but centered.
Managing Change: Slowing Down To Light the Path for Others Lessons from a High Growth Org
Facilitator(s): Jonathan Chaparro(CHI17), Amy Cisneros(CHI24)
Location: Palomino 2
Session Description: At it's best, managing change is about honoring disruption and emotion. This session will use Braven's Innovation Team as a case study in change management. Braven is a national organization focused on fueling upward economic mobility for First-Generation, Pell-Eligible college graduates. On the path to increased scale, the Innovation Team was tasked with launching a new operating model that required Braven team members to operate with new identities, new roles and responsibilities, and new mindsets. Participants will walk away with a framework for introducing change in a cross-functional context that honors the disruption, emotion, and opportunity inherent in any significant change initiative.
Breakout Sessions (Group B)
Friday, May 9 | 1:45 pm - 3 pm
Leading with Purpose: Reclaiming on Your 'Why' and Reimagining Your Leadership Impact
Facilitator(s): Ashley Kerri Peel(TLC23, DC24)
Location: Palomino 1
Session Description: This session will help participants reconnect with their personal "why" (their core motivations and values) and use that understanding to establish leadership goals that will drive change and impact in their organization.
From Aspiration to Actualization: Uncover The Self-Preservation Systems That Keep You Stuck
Facilitator(s): Dalonte Burns(CHI21, TLC23)
Location: Palomino 2
Session Description: Every great party has three essential ingredients that determines the vibe: The DJ, The Dance Floor, and the Dance. But what happens when the vibe is off? In this interactive session, we will flip the script on these party essentials and embark on a journey of self-reflection and growth. The DJ represents your limbic brain, setting the emotional rhythm. The dance floor reflects your inner saboteurs, the patterns that hold you back. And the dance represents your behavior and choices, shaped by these internal forces. By interrogating these elements, participants will uncover the self-preservation systems that keep them stuck in unwanted rhythms. Using the Immunity to Change framework by Robert Kegan and Lisa Laskow, participants will uncover the complexities of their responses and behaviors, learning how the limbic brain and inner saboteurs act as ""DJs,"" setting the tone of their internal ""party"" and driving the gap between aspirations and actions. By distinguishing between adaptive and technical challenges, participants will gain practical tools and strategies for personal and professional growth. By the end of the session, they’ll leave equipped to align their leadership actions with their highest aspirations. Whether your “party” is a staff meeting, one-on-one, or a tough feedback session, this session will give you the tools to lead with clarity, connection, and conviction. Let’s get your party lit—no more dry meetings, stale dynamics, or missed opportunities for impact. This session is designed to help leaders close the gap between who they aspire to be and how they show up daily. Participants will explore their inner saboteurs—automated mental patterns that trigger stress, self-doubt, and frustration—and interrogate their behavioral immune systems to understand why change often meets resistance.
The Power of Vulnerability: A Path to Ascension for BIPOC Men
Facilitator(s): Michael Johns(CHI16), Dr. DuJuan Smith, Ph.D(CHI15)
Location: Palomino 3
Session Description: This session is designed to provide BIPOC men with a transformative space to reflect, connect, and grow together. The journey of ascension requires courage, openness, and community, and this session will guide participants through a process of exploring vulnerability as a source of strength. Participants will engage in activities that center their personal experiences, encouraging reflection on their current states of being and the impact of the current political and social climate in the U.S. Through collaborative discussions and creative modalities such as journaling, participants will share and receive tools, best practices, and strategies for self-care and communal support. The session will emphasize the importance of mutual accountability, with participants co-creating systems to sustain their connections and rise collectively in the decade ahead. This is a space for empowerment, inspiration, and the building of pathways toward discovery and growth.
Goals: 1) To create an empowering environment where BIPOC men can explore vulnerability as a tool for personal and collective growth. 2) To foster meaningful connections by promoting open dialogue and thoughtful reflection on shared experiences. 3) To equip participants with actionable strategies and community-based accountability systems to sustain their ascension beyond the session.
Restoring Justice: Honoring Student Rights to Build Equitable Schools
Facilitator(s): Ashley Ogbonna(DC23)
Location: Arabian A
Session Description: This interactive session invites education leaders to critically reflect on their own practices and policies in recognizing student rights. Participants will examine how systemic harms in schools often mirror inequities found in broader institutions like the criminal injustice system. Through guided discussion and collaborative activities, attendees will explore culturally responsive reflections that center student dignity, honor their rights, and promote equitable policy development. This session will empower leaders to shift toward transformative practices that uplift and affirm all students, especially those historically marginalized.
Creating Connections: Family-Centered Approaches in Community Schools
Facilitator(s): Dr. Leslye Salinas (OAK21)
Location: Arabian B
Session Description: This session focuses on the transformative power of family engagement in driving the success of community schools. By leveraging family-centered strategies, participants will explore ways to foster deeper connections, improve student outcomes, and strengthen community bonds. This interactive session will provide attendees with practical tools and reflective practices to create equitable and inclusive environments where families feel empowered as partners in education.
Breakout Sessions (Group C)
Saturday, May 10 | 9:10 am - 10:25 am
Culturally Responsive Leadership: A Guide to Dismantling Systemically Racist School Practices
Facilitator(s): Aquabah Gonney
Location: Palomino 2
Session Description: "CALLING ALL DISRUPTORS! Are you ready to challenge yourself, your team, and your organization to dismantle school practices that perpetuate racism? It may sound like a daunting task, but if you are a disruptor, this is what you do! As the former principal of a turnaround school in Chicago, Illinois, I had to disrupt mindsets, systems, ideologies, and structures to build the type of school my students and community deserved. Utilizing the approach of Mary Rice-Boothe in her Edutopia article on Culturally Responsive Leadership, I created a 3-step process to dismantling racist school practices by working personally, interpersonally, and institutionally (Rice-Booth, 2022). Join me as we unpack the 3-step process to identify, understand, dismantle, and reform the very systems that uphold white supremacy and racist ideology.
Empowering Persistence: Family and Community as Pillars for First-Generation Latina Student Success
Facilitator(s): Dr. Martha Alicia Castillo
Location: Arabian B
Session Description: This interactive session explores how first-generation Latina students succeed through the power of cultural wealth, family, and community engagement. Grounded in original research, it highlights how aspirational, familial, and navigational capital shape college persistence and resilience. Participants will learn to identify these assets in their settings and apply tools and strategies to support equitable, culturally sustaining transitions. Together, we’ll reimagine student success through an asset-based lens.
Battling Burnout: Managing for Sustainability and Results
Facilitator(s): Nancy Hanks
Location: Arabian A
Session Description: Burnout among leaders in education is at an all-time high, with school and system leaders, especially those of color, leaving the profession at record rates. This workshop acknowledges the challenges of leadership in demanding environments and presents practical, sustainable management practices to help leaders achieve impactful results while preserving their well-being and that of their teams. Through individual reflection, dynamic group discussions, and interactive exercises, participants will: Learn how to incorporate equitable, sustainable, and results-driven practices into their management styles. Identify their comparative advantage to determine which tasks to own, delegate, or deprioritize. Practice effective delegation strategies using actionable tools, such as the Delegation Cycle, that boost team engagement and mitigate leader exhaustion. By the end of the session, attendees will leave with a renewed sense of purpose, practical tools to implement immediately, and a commitment to managing for sustainability and equity while combating burnout fatigue.
Mothers of the Movement: A Panel for Parents, Caregivers, and Guardians of BIPOC Youth
Facilitator(s): Sybrina Fulton, Dr. Mahalia Hines
Location: Palomino 1
Session Description: Motherhood is an ever-evolving practice of protection, healing, resistance, and hope. In this powerful panel, timed in honor of Mother’s Day Weekend, we invite you to join two extraordinary leaders, Dr. Mahalia Hines and Sybrina Fulton, as they reflect on what it means to mother in the movement. Through personal storytelling and shared wisdom, they’ll explore the dual roles of caregiver and changemaker—how they’ve led families and communities through grief, injustice, growth, and transformation. Together, they’ll offer a blueprint for sustaining leadership rooted in love, modeling wellness and healing for BIPOC youth navigating today’s hostile climate. This conversation is for anyone raising or mentoring young people of color and seeking to lead with both strength and tenderness.
Breakout Sessions (Group D)
Saturday, May 10 | 10:35 am - 11:50 am
Let Them Cook: Growing Creative Capacity to Design the World We Deserve
Facilitator(s): Terrence Pruitt(CHI19) & Nayesha Pruitt(CHI23)
Location: Palomino 2
Session Description: If we are to create and design the world we deserve, we must recognize that it is a creative process that requires key skills and muscle memory to do so with high fidelity and efficacy. In this session, leaders (world designers) will learn to facilitate & design community-based Design Labs that support communities to localize change, build collective capacity for change, & strengthen communities. Leaders in this session will gain much-needed support in their journey toward building the creative and design-based muscles and skills necessary to turn concepts, ideas, and practices into actual policies, programs, structures, & experiences in their communities. Let's strengthen our collective ability to build the world that we deserve.
The Leadership Recess: Reimagining Leadership Through Purposeful Play and Reflection
Facilitator(s): Tamara Johnson(DET25) & Nigena Livingston(INDY22)
Location: Palomino 3
Session Description: This interactive session reimagines professional development as a space for joy, movement, and community. Through playful, reflective activities, leaders will explore how movement can serve as rest, how joy can be resistance, and how shared experiences can shift perspectives on leadership challenges and triumphs. Participants will leave with practical strategies to infuse wellness into their leadership practice and build authentic connections—not just around educational issues, but around joy.
Root and Reimagine: Transforming Systems Using Theory, Practice & Proximity
Facilitator(s): Dr. Natalie C. Neris (CHI17)
Location: Arabian B
Session Description: In a world that too often demands linear solutions to nonlinear problems, leaders of color in education must cultivate systems awareness to drive meaningful change. This session explores Systems Thinking as a transformational leadership tool, equipping participants with the mindset and frameworks necessary to identify patterns, leverage interconnectedness, and intervene strategically to shift outcomes for students, communities, and organizations. Rooted in Emergence Theory and Adaptive Leadership, this session will move beyond traditional problem-solving approaches and into the complex, dynamic nature of systems change. Participants will learn how to recognize leverage points, anticipate unintended consequences, and design strategies that honor complexity rather than simplify it. Using case studies, group exercises, and real-world applications, this interactive workshop will engage attendees in reframing challenges, mapping systems, and designing interventions that lead to sustained impact.
Reimagining Hiring: Search Committee Strategies and Practices for Selecting Talent from an Anti-Oppressive Lens
Facilitator(s): Stephanie Castellanos & Melanie Pagán
Location: Arabian A
Session Description: This workshop is designed specifically for leaders who interview and select candidates. Together, we will explore how oppressive practices commonly exist within hiring processes, and discuss actionable strategies for interrupting bias and the -isms when we interview and select candidates. Whether you’re a search committee member or talent and recruitment leader – let’s uproot and grow as leaders with immense responsibility to our team, organization, and vision for a more just and equitable world.
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