Guests are invited to check in, pick up event materials, and enjoy a light continental breakfast while connecting with fellow attendees, partners, educators, and HBCU representatives before the program begins.

Welcome: Dr. Keith Lezama

Opening Remarks: Dr. Keith Lezama, Founder & CEO, Building Bridges Education, with members of the Board and Advisory Team.

Dr. Sara Bleich, Vice Provost for Special Projects, Harvard University, will provide an overview of the Harvard & the Legacy of Slavery Initiative, including its work to confront Harvard’s historical ties to slavery and advance truth, repair, and accountability. She will also highlight impactful HBCU partnerships and opportunities to build meaningful, sustainable relationships that connect history, education, and shared responsibility.

Featuring the Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the research arm of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF)

The Dr. N. Joyce Payne Research Center, the research arm of the Thurgood Marshall College Fund (TMCF), will share the findings from Proof of Promise: The Lasting Value and Impact of an HBCU Education; the nation’s largest study of HBCU alumni.

This presentation explores how HBCUs transform access into opportunity, opportunity into achievement, and achievement into lasting impact. Drawing on groundbreaking research, the plenary session examines the enduring influence of an HBCU education on belonging, persistence, leadership, purpose, and the lives of students, families, and communities across generations.