If you’re heading to SXSW EDU this March, make sure to check out sessions led by some of New Profit’s current and alumni entrepreneurs.

March 7

CodePath.org

Session: “The Next Generation: Tech Students Discuss Work”  March 7, 11 a.m.-12 p.m. CST

Gen Z continues to disrupt the future of work and the shift in power to the early career worker is more apparent. The tech industry still faces the racial reckoning and struggle on how to not only recruit, but retain, talent from underrepresented backgrounds. Join this panel of students from Oregon State University and Florida International University on what they’re focused on when looking for their first job.

Speakers: 

• • Kat Kime, Codepath.org
  • Anthony Pena, Florida International University
  • Morgan Richardson, CodePath.org

Highlander Institute

Session: “Power to the Families: Doing School Differently” March 7, 2:00-3:00 p.m. CST

Meet the leaders who are disrupting systemic inequity in Central Falls, RI: an urban school district just one square mile wide serving over 90% students of color. Leaders from Central Falls’ community and district are collaborating to flip the script on power and agency in student learning during the disruption of COVID. They are doing this through community-led learning hubs, transformative curriculum, and a vision for reinventing their educator pipeline.

Speakers:

• • Malika Ali, Highlander Institute
  • Tatiana Baena, Central Falls School District
  • Travis Pillow, CRPE
  • Simona Simpson-Thomas, Freedom Dreams LLC

Aurora Institute

Session: “Aurora Institute/CompetencyWorks PCBE Meet Up”  March 7, 5:00-6:00 p.m. CST

Join us to connect with Aurora’s network to learn more about the field of student-centered learning and K-12 competency-based education. Learn how communities of innovative practice are fundamentally rethinking education through learner-centered, competency-based pathways and personalized learning. Our mission is to drive the transformation of education systems and accelerate the advancement of breakthrough policies and practices to ensure high-quality learning for all.

Speaker: 

• • Susan Patrick, President and CEO, Aurora Institute; Co-Founder, CompetencyWorks

March 8

Highlander Institute

Session: “Design-Reflect-Iterate: Practices That Empower” March 8, 3:00-4:30 p.m. CST

Schools face intense pressure to address unfinished learning as well as the trauma & disengagement experienced by many students in SY 20-21. Highlander Institute’s coaching approach integrates critical social, emotional, & academic supports through our Culturally Responsive-Sustaining Framework & Student Experience Survey. Learn more about key data insights & implementation results demonstrating how we can disrupt deficit-oriented structures & restore students’ natural confidence & competence.

Speakers:

• • Malika Ali, Highlander Institute
  • Karina Rodriguez, Highlander Institute

March 9

Eye to Eye

Session: “Mentorship Matters: Empowering Those with Learning Differences” March 9, 11:30-11:50 a.m. CST

Whether you are part of the 20% that learns differently (LD) or the 80% who are allies, we need 100% of us to rethink our approach to learning differences. David Flink will offer strategies for helping students own their LD identities, discover community and achieve equity through advocacy, accommodations and allies. He will share his story as someone with ADHD and dyslexia, as well as stories from Eye to Eye, the nonprofit he founded that views LDs as superpowers rather than deficits.

Speaker:

• • David Flink, Eye to Eye

Springboard Collaborative

Session: “Can Education Move Beyond Silver Bullet Syndrome?” on March 9, 3:30-4:30 p.m. CST

EdTech has been a booming industry that has only accelerated under COVID-19. But the proliferation of technologies hasn’t led to enough improvements in student outcomes. EdTech needs a culture of continuous improvement where platforms can use the best available learning science, data, and tools to do internet-scale experimentation. Learn from those that are already driving this work forward about how to build effective partnerships between investors, designers, and researchers.

Speakers:

• • Michelle Brown, ComminLit Inc.
  • Kumar Garg, Schmidt Futures
  • Alejandro Gives de Gac, Springboard Collaborative
  • Heejae Lim, TalkingPoints

Rise

Session: “The Impact of Student Loan Debt on Black Students” March 9, 5:00-6:00 p.m. CST

In the US the net wealth of a typical Black family is around one-tenth that of a White family; and Black college graduates owe an average of $25,000 more in student loan debt than White graduates. While there are many discussions on the need for debt cancellation, there have been few conversations being had on national stages about how student loan debt truly impacts the lives of Black families and the lifelong sacrifices they make to attain the American Dream.

Speakers:

• • Jemere Calhoun, Rise
  • Amari Fennoy, NAACP
  • Mary-Pat Hector, Rise, BYV, Equity for All
  • Chelsea Miller, Freedom March NYC

Interested in connecting with the New Profit team at SXSW? Learn more about our panels and event here.