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Thank You Sponsors and Vendors!

Platinum Sponsors

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:

  • Dr. Patrick Rice, President, The Black Advocacy Education Coalition

  • 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:

  • Dr. Laretta Henderson, Dean of the College of Education, Eastern Illinois University

  • Legal Updates by David J. Braun, J.D., Miller, Tracy, Braun, Funk & Miller, Ltd

  • 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 â€‹

Breakout Session Presenters

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