Conference Breakout Sessions

Life After DEI? What Did We Do Before DEI? We EDUCATED!

Dr. Kalvin DaRonne Harvell, Professor of Sociology - Coordinator of the Dr. Henry J. Bowers Focus Group, Henry Ford College

Room 208

We should not spend unnecessary time eulogizing Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion efforts. The work of education is still at hand. Students still face food insecurity. Students still read below grade level. College students often don't have the funds to buy books until the fifth week of a 16-week semester. There is much to learn from the history of Black educators who imagined creating spaces for learning and teaching with the backdrop of violence challenging their audacious commitment to education. From their stories, we can reimagine equity in ways that rely on innovation, critical inquiry, and student-centric pedagogies rather than symbolic gestures and empty words of fairness. Disrupting cries of injustice, this presentation seeks to engage the principle of Kujichagulia (self-determination) and create an action plan situated in the historic lessons of Black educators.

Brick By Brick In The Emerald City: Empowering A Community To Achieve College And Career Success

Jen Samora, Manager of College Success, Michigan Hispanic Collaborative (MiHC)

Room 300

This session highlights how MiHC supports students at every stage—from high school through college and career success. Using a “brick by brick” approach, we prepare students to thrive academically, professionally, and personally. Our foundational bricks—Engage, Mentor, Equip with Resources, Advocate, Launch, and Develop—guide students through each step of their journey. In this session, we’ll explore how these bricks come together to create strong pathways for growth and achievement. By building these bricks with intention, we’re shaping an Emerald City of opportunity—empowering students to reach their full potential and succeed in college, launch meaningful careers, and strengthen their communities.

Meeting Students Where They Are: Driving Equity Through Innovation

Courtney Smith, CEO & Founder, Detroit Phoenix Center

Room 310 A

Detroit Phoenix Center’s Youth Up Mobile Unit is a youth resource center on wheels that brings essential wraparound services—such as food, hygiene kits, school supplies, and technology access directly to Detroit students. By removing barriers like transportation and under-identification, the Mobile Unit meets young people where they are: at schools, in neighborhoods, and at community events. Co-led by youth, this innovative model builds trust and stability, helping students focus on school and prepare for life after graduation. While the Unit’s first phase centers on wraparound services, it also lays the groundwork for integrated college advising and career readiness programming. In this session, participants will learn how wraparound services support postsecondary success, explore youth-led strategies in action, and visit the Mobile Unit onsite to see how equity-driven innovation can strengthen student support systems across Detroit.

How To Build Team Leadership Through Shared Values

Jill Marecki

Program Director, Detroit Regional Dollars for Scholars

Room 310 B

Strong leadership and healthy work culture don’t just happen—they are intentionally created and nurtured. In this session, we will share how Detroit Regional Dollars for scholars has built culture around shared ways of being and core values, with team buy-in at the center. Through reflection and dialogue, participants will explore their own leadership practices and consider the ways in which we show up as individuals influences not only team dynamics, but also the students we serve. Attendees will leave with practical strategies to engage teams in shaping culture, align values with daily actions, and lead in ways that create lasting impact for students.

Career And Postsecondary Success In The 21st Century Workforce

Brad W. Minton, Postsecondary Success Navigator, Wayne RESA

Room 330

Building Stronger Futures Through Community Partnerships

Christopher Schmidt, Co-Dean, College of Health Science, Baker College

Room 208

When colleges partner with their communities, everyone benefits, students, families, and employers alike. This session will explore how Baker College has built meaningful partnerships that not only enhance student learning but also address critical workforce needs and support community well-being. From veterinary technology students providing free spay/neuter surgeries in partnership with shelters and humane societies, to medical assistant apprenticeships with Munson Healthcare and MI Works, to physical therapy and occupational therapy programs engaging with local schools, nonprofits, and health fairs, our students are gaining hands-on experience while directly impacting their communities. These initiatives reduce costs, strengthen student outcomes, inspire future college-going students, and help fill high-demand healthcare roles across Michigan. Participants will leave with practical ideas and strategies for forging community partnerships that create shared value, support college access, and open brighter futures for students.

Roadmap2Opportunity

Zachary Evans, Strategy Manager for Higher Education Innovation, Michigan College Access Network

Room 300

Strategies for using Roadmap2Opportunity throughout sectors to increase career path awareness and build a college-going culture.

Education Is Medicine: Reframing College Access Through A Public Health Lens

Brittney DeSouza-Williams, College Prep Coordinator, University Prep High School

Room 310A

What if we approached education the way we approach public health? In Detroit, where systemic inequities impact both health and academic success, education must be seen as more than a pathway , it’s a prescription for healthier futures. This interactive session explores how education functions as a social determinant of health and how public health tools like barrier mapping, upstream thinking, and data driven prevention can transform the college access pipeline.Participants will engage in hands on activities to map student barriers, examine local data through a public health lens, and design equitable, healing centered interventions. This session is for educators, access professionals, and youth advocates who want to build systems that don’t just support students, they heal them.

How To Support The Budding Social Media Influencer

Danielle Bean Jackson

Career Counselor, Wayne RESA

ROOM 310 B

Are you unsure of how to respond when your student expresses an interest in becoming a social media influencer? Do you see this as an unrealistic career goal? Let's come together to explore this interest, student motivation, and strategies to support.

A Dream Deferred: Helping Students Pivot When Dreams Shift

Cayla Valentine, Director of Student Support, College Career Beyond | Midnight Golf Program

Winston Coffee, Director of College, Corporate & Community Engagement, College Career Beyond | Midnight Golf Program

Room 330

For many students, the road to and through college is not as straightforward as planned. Sometimes, reality doesn’t meet expectation: a campus isn’t the right fit, financial barriers arise, or a chosen major no longer feels right. These critical moments, which we call pivots, can determine whether a student successfully enrolls, persists, or disengages. This interactive session will explore practical tools and strategies for helping students navigate pivots without losing sight of their mission to earn a college degree. Participants will learn how to support students at both stages: helping high school students navigate access challenges and guiding enrolled students through college pivots. We’ll discuss how to identify early warning signs, have tough but supportive conversations, and reframe a pivot as progress, not failure. Participants will also learn how to interpret student-informed data to guide these critical conversations and support better outcomes.

Neurodivergent Students And Success At Eastern Michigan University

Dr. Sally Burton-Hoyle, Professor, Eastern Michigan University

Room 208

The session will focus on neurodivergence and students at the high school level who may be considering attending college. The seminar will cover the following:  Academic and life skills necessary for a college setting  The changing role of parents when a student with a disability is a university student  Residential life vs commuting to college  Accommodations and Federal Educational Privacy Act (FERPA)  Deciding where to attend college.  Questions?

Empowering Student Success Through AI-Integrated Classrooms

Dr. Naketa Jones, Senior Instructional Designer, Baker College

Room 310 A

At Baker College, we are reimagining the learning experience by integrating artificial intelligence thoughtfully across all disciplines. Our commitment ensures every student gains not only hands-on experience with AI, but also the ability to use it ethically and responsibly within their career field. Central to this approach is the CREATE Framework—emphasizing Critical, Responsible, Engaged, Adaptive, Transparent, and Ethical AI use. This session will highlight how AI is being used not as a shortcut, but as a partner in learning, strengthening writing, communication, data analysis, and critical thinking while preparing students for an evolving workforce. Faculty model responsible use, demonstrating how AI can enhance rather than replace the learning process. By embedding AI throughout curricula, Baker advances its Student-First Engagement Framework, ensuring equitable access to transformative technologies. Participants will leave with practical strategies for responsibly adopting AI in higher education while safeguarding academic integrity and aligning innovation with student outcomes while and preparing graduates to thrive in an AI-driven workforce.

Defying The Gravity Of Transition: Reimagining Student Support for College Success

Zachary Evans, Strategy Manager for Higher Education Innovation, Michigan College Access Network

Room 310 B

As students transition into higher education, they often encounter invisible barriers that traditional systems were not designed to address. Just as the Emerald City needed people with courage, heart, and wisdom, our higher education systems must evolve to center holistic and emotionally supportive practices. Drawing on Michigan College Access Network’s Theory of Change, this session explores how professionals can support a shift from siloed, transactional models to people-centered systems that honor the full humanity of students. In the session, we will examine research informed strategies for embedding trauma-informed principles into advising, student services, and cross-functional partnerships. Participants will reflect on how to drive systemic change while recognizing that systems are built—and can be rebuilt—by people committed to belonging, care, and equity.

"What Are You Saying?" How To Talk To Gen-Alpha About Continuing Education

Bryan Howard, Program Director, Winning Futures

Room 330

Generation Alpha (2010–2025) is growing up with screens, AI, and constant connectivity—making them the most tech-savvy and diverse generation yet. This session will explore who they are, how they differ from Gen Z, and what truly resonates with them when thinking about their future. Attendees will gain practical strategies to engage Gen Alpha and their families with authentic, research-driven communication that builds trust and inspires them to explore continuing education pathways.