KEYNOTE SPEAKER – Friday, February 7, 2025, 6 PM ET
Dr. Meredith Anderson, Director of K-12 Research, UNCF
Black Parents Matter: Making Your Voice Heard in Schools
In a system that often overlooks the perspectives of Black parents, your voice is more crucial than ever. Dr. Meredith Anderson will guide parents through practical ways to advocate effectively within schools, from building strong partnerships with educators to utilizing innovative strategies for staying involved. Drawing on insights from her research, Hear Us, Believe Us: Centering African American Voices in K-12 Education, this keynote will empower you with approaches to ensure your insights and values are recognized, creating a stronger, more inclusive educational experience for your child. Join this session to learn how to be an active, influential force in your child’s academic journey.
SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 8, 2025
9:00 AM – EST
In a world that constantly demands more, Black mothers often carry the weight of everyone’s needs on their shoulders. This panel focuses on reclaiming self-care as essential—not optional. Join us to explore practical strategies for prioritizing your well-being, setting boundaries, and embracing the power of “no.” This conversation will empower you to thrive to be the best version of yourself for your family.
10:00 AM – 10:15 AM: BREAK
10:15 AM – 11:15 AM – Panel
Black parents face unique challenges in raising children to navigate a world impacted by injustice. This panel brings together experienced voices to discuss actionable strategies for building resilience, confidence, and self-worth in Black children. Learn ways to help your children understand and confront racism while empowering them to pursue their dreams without limitations.
11:15 AM – 11:30 AM: Break
11:30 AM – 12:15 PM – Seminar
Safety in Curation: Identifying the Dangers Emerging from Tech + AI and Creating that Digital Safe Space
Our new era of emerging technology and AI can have a dangerous impact on children, especially Black children. With generative AI and deepfakes, it’s difficult to tell what is real and what isn’t. To address AI’s impact on culture, we have to start with having tough conversations and then create that safe space to celebrate culture authentically. We must explain what AI is, the dangers of it, and how it can marginalize culture. We must find safe, authentic spaces where Black culture can be celebrated, not stereotyped. Recent Nielsen data reveals that despite being the demographic that consumes the most media and TV, Black audiences still feel misrepresented or underrepresented in mainstream media. Children are at a crucial time in their lives when they are figuring out their cultures, identities, and who they are. It’s important that the Black culture and content Black children consume is authentic and told from the point of view of Black storytellers.
12:15 – 12:45 PM: Lunch Meet & Greet
12:45 – 1:30 PM – Seminar
Not Our Parents’ Parenting: Breaking the Cycle of Parenting Trauma
Not Our Parents’ Parenting: Breaking the Cycle of Parenting Trauma is a workshop designed to help Black parents recognize, address, and move beyond the traumas of their own childhoods, fostering a new approach to parenting. This workshop offers a compassionate space for Black parents to reflect on how past generations’ survival-driven approaches impact current parenting practices and explore ways to create a healthier, more supportive environment for their children. Through guided reflection, group discussions, and actionable strategies, participants will learn to identify the patterns they want to break, understand the effects of trauma on family dynamics, and build nurturing practices that affirm and strengthen their children’s identity and self-worth. By reclaiming and redefining what parenting means within a culturally rich and trauma-informed framework, Black parents can create legacies of love, respect, resilience, and empowerment.
1:30 – 2:30 PM – Panel
Raising a neurodiverse child comes with distinct joys and challenges, and Black parents often face additional barriers in seeking support and resources. This panel will explore the intersections of autism and neurodiversity within the Black community, offering guidance on navigating the educational system, accessing mental health resources, and advocating for your child. This discussion is designed to provide tools and reassurance for parents on this unique journey.
2:30 PM – Closing
