8:30 a.m.

Networking Breakfast

Location: Main Stage Area

9:20 a.m.

Opening Laugh & Welcome
Community Healer Kiran Baghat of Beyond The Stem opens the space with a wellness activity centered around laughter followed by a welcome from TCI’s President and CEO, Ashley Kenneth, and introduction to our opening keynote speaker.

Location: Main Stage

9:45 a.m.

Opening Keynote: Sheba Williams of Nolef Turns
Hear from Collective Work coalition member Sheba Williams, whose organization Nolef Turns was born to be a support system for those with court and justice involvement, but quickly evolved into a day-to-day fight for removing the policies and stigmas around a past conviction.

Location: Main Stage

10:15 a.m.

Breakout Session 1

Healthcare for All Virginians Coalition Highlight: Next Steps to Invest in the Health and Well-being of Virginia’s Children
Good health is essential to thriving communities. Find out what opportunities are within reach and where our collective voices will be needed to defend hard-won progress at the state and federal levels.

Location: Room 1
Speakers: Emily Moore, Voices for Virginia’s Children; Victoria Richardson, Virginia Poverty Law Center; Tsion Tesfaye, The Commonwealth Institute; Moderated by Freddy Mejia, The Commonwealth Institute

Resource Equity, Desegregation, and Creating Great Public Schools for Every Child
Over the past few years, community advocates in partnership with education champions in the legislature have made progress — winning historic investments in our P-12 schools, with more of it distributed in an equitable way. Find out what threats lie ahead in the new federal landscape and learn about new opportunities for greater resource equity and strategies for desegregating our public schools in Virginia.

Location: Room 2
Speakers: Genevieve Siegel-Hawley, Virginia Commonwealth University School of Education; Levi Goren, The Commonwealth Institute; Briana Jones, The Commonwealth Institute

Tax Justice for Families: What to Expect in 2025 at the Federal and State Levels
Next year will be a big year for tax policy at the state and federal levels. Donald Trump’s Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which primarily benefited the wealthy, is set to expire in 2025 and state lawmakers will need to deal with the impacts of the debate, as well as decide whether to prioritize working families or millionaires during the 2025 General Assembly session. Learn more about what is at stake and how you can make your voice and priorities heard.

Location: Room 3
Speakers: Kris Cox, Center on Budget and Policy Priorities; Jonathan Huskey, State Revenue Alliance; Moderated by Megan Davis, The Commonwealth Institute

Skills Building: Tips when Testifying Before the General Assembly
There’s power in sharing your story. Join Victor McKenzie, Jr. for this interactive skill-building session and learn how to share compelling testimony that is rich in experience and strengthened by research and analysis. Victor is the Executive Director of The Substance Abuse & Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia (SAARA). He is a previous candidate for the Virginia House of Delegates, and has several years of nonprofit leadership and advocacy experience.

Location: Atrium
Speakers: Victor McKenzie Jr., The Substance Abuse & Addiction Recovery Alliance of Virginia (SAARA)

11:15 a.m.

Collective Dreaming, Collective Action
We believe a better future is possible, which can be challenging during uncertain times. Join Collective Work, TCI’s racial and economic justice coalition, and Team TCI for an interactive session that will highlight our collective strengths and envision a future where everyone thrives.

Location: Main Stage
Facilitated by Ashley Kenneth, The Commonwealth Institute and the Collective Work Coalition

12:00 p.m.

Lunch

12:30 p.m.

Breakout Session 2

Breaking Through the Noise: Immigrants Make Virginia Better
We know that our immigrant neighbors are a vital part of every community across the state, yet harmful rhetoric and policies stand in the way of being a more welcoming and inclusive commonwealth. We’ll explore what’s at stake at the federal level and highlight opportunities at the state level to better support our neighbors.

Location: Room 1
Speakers: Monica Sarmiento, Virginia Coalition for Immigrant Rights

PreTrial Justice Coalition Highlight: Challenges and Opportunities in our Pretrial System
What does pre-trial justice mean and what would achieving justice mean for our communities? The PTJC will discuss the harms of pretrial detention and over-surveillance as well as the need for better data, share long-term goals, and explore opportunities to further justice within the legal system during the upcoming legislative session.

Location: Room 2
Speakers: Kenneth Hunter, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; Taj Mahon-Haft, The Humanization Project; Dominique Martin, New Virginia Majority; Maisie Osteen, Legal Aid Justice Center; Moderated by Kami Blatt, The Commonwealth Institute

Skills Building: Tips when Meeting with Legislators
Learn how to make the most of your meetings with lawmakers and their staff to ensure your priorities are heard. Each legislative session, thousands of people visit lawmakers to talk about thousands of issues. Lawmakers and staff often have limited time to meet. In this session, learn best practices to make sure you make the most of each visit.

Location: Room 3
Speaker: Andrea Tetreault, Chief of Staff for Delegate Marcus Simon

1:30 p.m.

Resistance: What We’ve Learned and Where We Go from Here
There are big fights ahead at the state and federal level. Ashley Kenneth, Dr. LaKeisha Cook (Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy), Sookyung Oh (Hamkae Center), and Lea Whitehurst-Gibson (Virginia Community Voice) will join in a conversation about lessons learned during the previous Trump administration, and how we can join together and look ahead to build a commonwealth that works for all of us.

Location: Main Stage
Speakers: Dr. LaKeisha Cook, Virginia Interfaith Center for Public Policy; Sookyung Oh, Hamkae Center; Lea Whitehurst-Gibson, Virginia Community Voice; Moderated by Ashley Kenneth, The Commonwealth Institute

2:30 p.m.

Breakout Session 3

Safer Communities: Community and School-Based Perspectives
We know there is no singular solution to eradicating youth violence. In this session, we will explore ways to intentionally engage with and invest in our communities’ youth through school and community-centered programs designed to uplift their well-being and development.

Location: Room 1
Speakers: Chlo’e Edwards, New Virginia Majority; Dominique Martin, New Virginia Majority

How to Advocate: State Budget 101
The state budget is one of the most important bills lawmakers consider each year. The funding decisions in the budget impact how well our schools are funded, how low-income people can access health care, and more. This session will highlight how budget decisions are made and how you can navigate this complex process so that your budget priorities are heard by the right decision makers.

Location: Room 2
Speakers: Megan Davis, The Commonwealth Institute; Briana Jones, The Commonwealth Institute

Fines and Fees Coalition Highlight: The Exorbitant Cost of “Justice”
Court-imposed fines and fees often keep people with limited financial resources tethered to the criminal legal system and push them further into poverty. We’ll look at the work advocates have been doing to make meaningful reforms and the path forward to make change this year and beyond.

Location: Room 3
Speakers: Shakil Ali, Help Me Help You; Emily King, Fines and Fees Justice Center; Pat Levy-Lavelle, Legal Aid Justice Center; Moderated by Kami Blatt, The Commonwealth Institute

Skills Building: Tips when Working with the Media
Want to learn how to communicate with the media effectively, feel more comfortable in interviews, and have strategies to handle difficult questions? Katie Baker, principal at the media relations and direct mail firm Muckraker Strategies, will lead this interactive skill-building session.

Location: Atrium
Speaker: Katie Baker, Muckraker Strategies

3:30 p.m.

Cutural Close-out
Elizabeth Lastellanos Remoro, LEP O, closes us out with a special dance as we we honor the invaluable contributions of our immigrant neighbors, recognizing that it’s their diverse stories and vibrant cultures that fuel the heartbeat and success of our communities.

Location: Main Stage

3:45 p.m.

Networking Happy Hour

Location: Atrium