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2025 SCHEDULE
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Thursday, April 24
4:30 pm - Conference Registration
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center in front of Heritage Hall 1
Conference Registration
Available from 4:30 pm to 6:30 pm
6:00 pm - Reception
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center, Heritage Hall 2
Light Food and Cash Bar
Live Jazz Band
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Friday, April 25
7:30 am - Registration/Continental Breakfast
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center in front of Heritage Hall 1
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8:00 am - Welcome and Opening Remarks
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center in front of Heritage Hall 2
Presenters:
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Dr. Patrick Rice, President, The Black Advocacy Education Coalition
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Representatives from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign
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9:00 am - Keynote Presentation
Breaking Barriers: Improving Educational Opportunities and Success for Students and Educators
Presenter: Sharon Desmoulin-Kherat, Ed.D
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10:00 am - Breakout Sessions
Title: From Compliance to Excellence: How Special Education Case Managers Improve Teacher Retention and Student Outcomes
Presenter: Dr. Michael Robinson, Proximity Learning
Location: Heritage Hall 1
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Title: The Kid in the Back of the Class: Using AI to Create Inclusive Classroom Environments
Presenter: Dr. Keshia Swaringam
Location: Heritage Hall 3​
Title: The Future of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion
Presenter: Sherese Johnson, Certified DEIB Specialist, SHRM-CP, M.B.A., B.S.B.
Location: Heritage Hall 4​
Title: Trauma-Informed Approaches to Social-Emotional Learning
Presenter: Dr. Mary Camper, CEO of Reestablishing Hope Inc.
Location: Heritage Hall 6
11:00 am - Breakout Sessions
Title: Empowering Youth to C.A.R.E
Presenter: Aisha Huisar
Location: Heritage Hall 1
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Title: DEI - Shifting from Polarizing Vocabulary to Intentional Positive Outcomes for All
Presenter: Jamar Scott
Location: Heritage Hall 3
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Title: Equity in Education: Addressing Disparities in Communities and the Classroom
Presenter: Marcella Woodson, Principal Owner of Marcella Woodson Consulting, LLC
Location: Heritage Hall 4
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Title: Self-Aware or Self-Resisting: Are You Fostering Positive Equity in the Classroom?
Presenter: LeRoy Peters, Founder and Chief Education Officer of The 7th University, LLC
Location: Heritage Hall 6
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12:00 pm - Lunch
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center in front of Heritage Hall 2
Presenters:
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Dr. Laretta Henderson, Dean of the College of Education, Eastern Illinois University
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Legal Updates by David J. Braun, J.D., Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd
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Rose Gidraph
1:00 pm - Breakout Sessions
Title: Developing Culturally Responsive, Strength-Based Interventions through Family Engagement
Presenter: Heather L. Watson, LCSW
Location: Heritage Hall 1
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Title: Exploring Self-Directed Equity Programming: Pilot Program between Cahokia Unit School District, Student First Consulting Group, and the Black Educational Advocacy Coalition
Presenter: Locha Brooks
Location: Heritage Hall 3
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Title: Academic Health: Using Representation to Promote Mental Wellness in the Classroom
Presenter: Charese Munoz, Creator, “Lunacorn Unacorn”
Location: Heritage Hall 4
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Title: Community Connectors: School-Business Stakeholder Alliance
Presenter: Anni Keane, Founder, “Nobody Ages Out (NAO) Youth Initiative” at You Gotta Believe
Location: Heritage Hall 6
2:00 pm - Community Forum
Location: I Hotel & Convention Center in front of Heritage Hall 2
Presenter: Dr. Pam Manning
3:00 pm - Close ​