| Plenary Session | Date & Time | Description |
| Opening Session A Vision for a Summer Learning Sea Change |
Tuesday, Nov. 13 8:30 am – 10:00 am |
On the occasion of the National Summer Learning Association’s 25th anniversary, a new vision is emerging around how we collectively harness the power of summer to help every child grow. This State of the Field address will reflect on where we’ve been as a field, celebrate the country’s most exemplary summer programs and offer a new blueprint for a summer learning sea change in America.
Featured Speakers:
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| Youth Sparks! Kansas City Young Audiences |
Tuesday, Nov. 13 3:45 pm – 5:00 pm |
According to the Arts Education Partnership, the arts are an essential part of a complete and competitive education for all students, regardless of where they live or go to school. And when the arts are at the heart of summers, young people soar as they do at Kansas City Young Audiences. Their programs serve approximately 100,000 students annually, and for many, it is their first brush with the arts. Enjoy two inspired performances by their Main Street Theatre and Dance Troops and a thought-provoking plenary discussion that captures the voices, passions, and ideas of young people around why summers really matter. |
| Shaping Inclusive Practices for Every Child to Grow | Wednesday, Nov. 14 8:30 am – 9:45 am |
Every child. Every summer. Whether it’s learning to build a rocket, exploring a local museum, or catching up on reading skills, every child deserves enriching summer experiences to reach their full potential. How do we ensure no child falls through the cracks during the critical summer months? In this plenary, notable community figures shine a light on special populations of students and what’s needed to shape inclusive, welcoming summer opportunities specifically for foster children, students with varying abilities and girls of color in STEM.
Featured Speakers:
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| Closing Keynote Address Hill Harper, J.D. |
Wednesday, Nov. 14 1:45 pm – 2:45 pm |
Hill Harper, J.D. is an award-winning actor, currently starring as Dr. Marcus Andrews on TV’s #1 new drama The Good Doctor on ABC. Harper has earned seven NAACP Image Awards for his writing and acting and is a 4-time New York Times best-selling author. His most recent book is the groundbreaking Letters to an Incarcerated Brother , which speaks to the current mass incarceration crisis; it was released to critical acclaim and nominated for several awards. Harper is an entrepreneur and humanitarian. He founded the Manifest Your Destiny Foundation, a non-profit dedicated to helping underserved youth succeed through education, mentorship, and grant programs.
Harper was born in Iowa City, IA, the son of two doctors – his father, a psychiatrist and his mother, an anesthesiologist. He graduated magna cum laude as valedictorian of his department with a Bachelor’s Degree from Brown University and cum laude with a Juris Doctorate degree from Harvard Law School. Harper also holds a Master’s Degree in Public Administration with honors from Harvard University’s Kennedy School of Government. Harper travels worldwide as a motivational speaker, addressing current affairs and life-awakening topics to a wide array of audiences. |