Welcome

Founded in 2018 by a cross-disciplinary group of Black education leaders convened on Martha’s Vineyard, Innovation For Equity (IFE) remains at the forefront of bringing together inspiring leaders from across the education and workforce sectors, all united in a shared commitment to improving life outcomes for Black learners of all ages. The annual Black Education Forum, hosted by IFE, serves as a dynamic platform to identify significant challenges in this moment, promising innovations in response to these challenges, and opportunities to highlight and support these successes to ensure Black learners thrive.

Join us on August 14th for the 5th Annual Black Education Forum at the historic Old Whaling Church in Edgartown—a powerful convening of educators, employers, investors, policymakers, workforce professionals, philanthropists, entrepreneurs, and advocates committed to advancing equity and opportunity for Black learners. This year’s Forum will once again be moderated by award-winning journalist Michele Norris and will feature an insightful panel of distinguished voices. Following the Forum, we will have a closing reception sponsored by Education Leaders of Color (EdLoC) which will offer space for continued reflection, connection, and community building.
 

Black Education Forum 
Friday, August 14th | 4:00 P.M.-5:30 P.M.

Old Whaling Church
89 Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539

Closing Reception  - co-hosted by EdLoc
Friday, August 14th | 5:30 P.M.-7:00 P.M.

Dr. Daniel Fisher House
99 Main St, Edgartown, MA 02539

2026 Black Education Forum Topic: All Politics is Local in the Age of AI

As artificial intelligence rapidly reshapes how we learn, work, and govern, its impact is not abstract — it is deeply local. From school board decisions and district policies to municipal leadership and community-based organizations, the realities of AI are being shaped in real time by those closest to the ground.

For Black communities, this moment presents both urgency and opportunity. While AI holds the potential to expand access, personalize learning, and drive innovation, it also carries the risk of reinforcing existing inequities if left unchecked. The question is not just how AI is developed — but who is influencing how it shows up in our schools, neighborhoods, and everyday lives.

Local leaders, educators, advocates, and communities are uniquely positioned to shape these outcomes. Their decisions determine whether AI becomes a tool for liberation or a mechanism that deepens disparity.

What does it mean to lead at the local level in an era defined by rapidly advancing technology? How can communities ensure that AI is implemented in ways that reflect their values, histories, and aspirations? And how do we build the capacity of local systems to not only respond to change — but to lead it?

In this conversation, we explore the intersection of policy, place, and possibility — and the power of local leadership to shape a more just and equitable future in the age of AI.
 

Moderator

Michele Norris (Moderator)

Washington Post Columnist; Former NPR “All Things Considered” Host; Founder, The Race Card Project; Author of "Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity"

Michele Norris is an award-winning journalist, author, and columnist known for her candid discussions about race, culture, and communication in America. With a background in radio and television, including hosting NPR's "All Things Considered," Norris is a trusted voice in American journalism. Her book, "Our Hidden Conversations: What Americans Really Think About Race and Identity," offers insightful perspectives based on her personal journey and interviews with influential figures. As a Washington Post Opinions Columnist, Norris sparks important dialogue on current events and social issues, challenging commonly held beliefs and biases. Her work has earned her prestigious awards, including a Peabody Award for her initiative, "The Race Card Project." With her thought-provoking approach, Norris empowers audiences to engage in conversations about complex topics and make a difference in their communities.
 

Panelists

Rich Buery
CEO, Robin Hood

Born and raised in Brooklyn and the son of Panamanian immigrants, Richard R. Buery, Jr. is CEO of Robin Hood, a leading anti-poverty organization that builds, fuels, and advocates for the most impactful organizations and strategies advancing economic opportunity in New York City.

Earlier in his career, Buery served as Deputy Mayor of NYC, where he managed a dozen City agencies and was the architect of Pre-K for All, the City’s commitment to provide free, full-day, high-quality Pre-Kindergarten to every four-year-old. Under his leadership, NYC increased enrollment by 50,000 children in just 18 months. Before Robin Hood, he led Achievement First Charter Schools and managed policy and public affairs for KIPP, the nation’s largest charter school network. Earlier, he cofounded iMentor, which matches high school students with mentors to guide them through college, and served as CEO of the Children’s Aid Society, one of the country’s oldest and largest child welfare agencies, where he founded the Children’s Aid College Prep Charter School. He began his career as a law clerk on the Second Circuit and as an attorney at the Brennan Center.

A life member of the Council of Foreign Relations and a Fellow of Pahara and the British American Project, Buery serves on several nonprofit boards and public commissions and is a Public Service Fellow at NYU Wagner. He has also taught at Yale, Baruch, NYLS, and NYU Tandon. A graduate of Yale Law and Harvard College and a recipient of the Ellis Island Medal of Honor, Buery lives with his wife and sons in Manhattan.

Sondra Samuels
President and CEO, Northside Achievement Zone
 

Sondra Samuels is the President & CEO of the Northside Achievement Zone (NAZ). In partnership with parents, students, non-profits, schools, and staff, Sondra is leading a revolutionary culture shift in North Minneapolis that is focused on ending multigenerational poverty through education, family stability, and racial equity. The NAZ Collaborative, made up of more than 40 partner nonprofits and schools, is working toward a single goal — to support and prepare low-income North Minneapolis children of color to succeed in high school, college, career, and life. NAZ has scaled up in support of over 1,000 parents and 2,000 students as they turn the social service model on its head and lead the creation of a college-bound culture throughout the community.

Ms. Samuels is a 26-year resident of North Minneapolis and a national leader committed to anti-racist, results-based accountability. She and her team work tirelessly to ensure the integration of effective cradle-to-career solutions across the NAZ Collaborative, to scale and sustain results across North Minneapolis, and to achieve the systems and policy changes needed for NAZ families and scholars to truly share in the prosperity of the Twin Cities Region. Under her leadership, NAZ was named a federal Promise Neighborhood, achieved membership status of the StriveTogether Network, and has become a nationally recognized model for comprehensive place-based solutions for community transformation and systems change.

Sondra co-founded the Education Partnership Coalition, comprised of seven place-based, cradle-to-career organizations across Minnesota, which secured over $23M in state funding over a seven-year period to collectively support over 100,000 students in achieving academic and life success. She also serves on the Minneapolis Federal Reserve’s Inclusion Advisory Board, the Leadership Team of Generation Next, the HealthPartners Board of Directors, and the Great MN Schools Board of Directors.

Sondra graduated from two historically Black Universities, receiving a B.S. degree from Morgan State University in Baltimore, MD, and an MBA from Clark Atlanta University in Atlanta, GA.

Mayor Andre Dickens
Mayor of Atlanta, Georgia
 

Andre Dickens is the 61st Mayor of Atlanta, now in his second term after securing his place as the unifying leader for Atlanta's future.

He has made his mantra, "Atlanta is a group project," his mission. This reflects the Mayor's belief that the city's greatest progress comes from collective effort -- government, business, faith leaders, philanthropic and civic partners, and residents all working together toward common goals.

During his first term, Mayor Dickens led a period of historic investment in Atlanta's people and neighborhoods. His focus on youth opportunity produced the largest Summer Youth Employment Program in city history, with nearly 20,000 young people employed over four years. Also, during this time, Atlanta Public Schools achieved the district's highest graduation rate ever.

Affordable housing and the fight against homelessness are cornerstones of his agenda. Under Mayor Dickens' leadership, Atlanta has ranked among the nation's top 5 cities in affordable housing production. And the Mayor has addressed homelessness with the single largest investment in this city's history. 

Now, in his second term, the Mayor is working to eliminate Atlanta's "tale of two cities." He's launched the Neighborhood Reinvestment Initiative. This is a whole-of-government strategy that starts with seven historically disadvantaged communities. The NRI directs resources and policy to address the needs of residents and builds on efforts started during the Mayor's first term. The ultimate goal is to make Atlanta the best place for families to thrive and raise every child.

Mayor Dickens holds degrees from both the Georgia Institute of Technology and Georgia State University.

In every arena, the Mayor champions a vision for Atlanta where opportunity is shared and no one is left behind. 

Additional Panelists coming soon!

Location

Sponsors and Supporters

  

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