P4D @ BEN 2025

Join two of our star volunteers, Chantel Smith and Sharan Samagh at the OCSB’s Black Employee Network Conference as they tackle this year’s theme: Affirming Black Voices through Opening Doors, Building Bridges, and Nourishing New Beginnings to Foster Collective Strength. They will be facilitating a workshop titled Fostering Black Student Agency and Excellence in the Classroom.

This workshop invites K–12 educators to reflect on a vital question: How can we ensure Black students feel seen, heard, valued, and empowered to academically thrive in the classroom?

This engaging 30-minute session will equip educators with practical, evidence-based strategies to cultivate student agency and independence. Participants will explore the critical link between culturally responsive teaching and the academic success of Black students. The workshop focuses on how educators can intentionally design learning environments that empower all students, especially Black learners.