Previous Event Materials

This year the ELC Critical Conversations Conference will include discussions about the relationship between thriving, healthy communities and schools. We welcome artists, teachers, assistant principals, principals, higher education professionals, community leaders, activists and all who hope to develop pedagogical tools for collective action.

Saturday, March 1, 2025, 8:30am – 4:30pm

Keynote Speaker: Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons

Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons is Black feminist educator and thought leader whose work embodies the intersection of education, advocacy, and transformative leadership. Her work amplifies marginalized voices, creating inclusive spaces for dialogue, and advancing social justice initiatives. Kristal possesses experience in K–12 education, higher education, and nonprofit management. Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons is a native of Chicago, Illinois and a graduate of DePaul University, where she earned her B.A. in Women’s Studies and Political Science. She earned her M.A. from Washington State University in American Studies, her Ph.D. from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill in Education-Culture, Curriculum and Change, and a graduate certificate in Women’s Studies from Duke University. She serves as professor of educational leadership and educational leadership doctoral program director at Virginia State University. Prior to this role, she served as an associate professor at Virginia State University, assistant clinical professor at Florida State University, visiting assistant professor at Florida A&M University, and assistant professor at Tallahassee Community College. In her academic leadership, she has effectively shaped and influenced curriculum, fostered positive academic experiences, and curated high-quality face-to-face and online course work. She also has a breadth of academic leadership focusing on social foundations of education, women’s and gender studies, and distance learning pedagogy.

In addition to her extensive experience in academia, Kristal has been involved with the CDF Freedom Schools program over the last two decades. In 2020, Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons was named national director of the CDF Freedom Schools program. Beginning as a Servant Leader Intern, Kristal went on to serve as the project director and co-founder of the CDF Durham Freedom School site, a CDF Freedom Schools partner at North Carolina Central University. She co-founded North Florida Freedom Schools site, three different CDF Freedom Schools sites at Florida A&M University, a local church and school district. Kristal has also served as the co-founder and co-executive director of the CDF Freedom Schools site at Virginia State University. Her expansive work and leadership within CDF Freedom Schools movement is supplemented by the historic perspective she cultivated in focusing her academic scholarship on the 1964 Freedom Schools movement.

In addition to her academic and professional accomplishments, Kristal received her 200-hour certification from Hot House Yoga RVA, a Yoga Alliance certified teacher training school in 2021. She has been an active yogi since 2003 and is passionate about curating inclusive wellness spaces to increase Black women and girls’ in developing their yoga practices. Kristal is committed to helping the youth make connections between education, liberation, storytelling and yoga. Kristal also enjoys serving her community through her various service organizations. She is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Incorporated (Petersburg Alumnae Chapter), The Links, Incorporated Petersburg (VA) Chapter, and the Rotary Club of Petersburg where she serves as the 2024-2025 president of the lunch club.

All Day Activity

“Putting the ‘WE’ in Weaving: Collective Quilting Project” | 8:30 am – 3:30 pm | Fabric Design and Video Recording | School of Education Building (SOEB) 114 Auditorium

Throughout the day, participants will be invited to design a fabric square for a collective ELCCCC quilting project. Participants will be asked to create a symbolic representation of their learning from the conference and/or connection to the conference’s theme: “Grounded and Growing: Collective Work to Strengthen Education and Communities.”

Participants are also invited to record a short video (less than 30 seconds) sharing about their fabric square, what it represents, and how it connects to the ELC Critical Conversations. While the fabric squares will be quilted together later by the ELCCCC 2025 committee members, our hope is that this quilt will serve as our legacy, an artifact, symbol and ongoing reminder of our meaning-making, resource sharing, and weaving together of knowledge from this conference.

Program

8:30 – 9:00 am – Registration & Breakfast, SOEB Lobby
9:00 – 9:05 am – Welcome and Conference Overview, Dr. Tiffanie Lewis-Durham, ELC Assistant Professor, UNCG School of Education, SOEB 120
9:05 – 10:05 am – Keynote Address: Mind Stayed on Freedom: Education for Liberation through the CDF Freedom Schools® Movement, Dr. Kristal Moore Clemons, National Director Children’s Defense Fund (CDF) Freedom Schools®, SOEB 120
10:05 – 10:10 am – Transition

10:10 – 11:10 am – Breakout Session A (please choose one of these three sessions)

Growing our Possibilities: College Students with Disabilities Championing the Post Secondary Education Movement – This session explores the importance of the post-secondary education movement, and how K-12 teachers can prepare students with intellectual disabilities for the possibility of college as an option after high school.
Brandon Baldwin, UNCG Alumni
Dr. Lalenja Harrington, ELC Assistant Professor, UNCG School of Education
SOEB 102

Building Bridges, Removing Barriers – The session will emphasize the importance of existing communities taking the time to know and connect with their new neighbors – refugees and immigrants, and the power of community collaboration in making their transition smoother and more welcoming.
Natacha Nikokeza, Senior Program Coordinator Community Centers, UNCG Center for New North Carolinians (CNNC)
SOEB 104

Mastering the 3 Es in Community: Engaging, Equipping and Encouraging Others – Turning Everything Around (T.E.A.) is a non-profit dedicated to providing strategic support and connections to resources for the Triad community. The organization also hosts the T.E.A. Time Teen Mentoring Program. This program provides a safe and supportive space for teenagers to engage in mentorship sessions, discussions, and activities aimed at personal and academic growth. In this session, participants will engage in an interactive presentation that aligns with Mastering the 3 Es in Community: Engaging, Equipping and Encouraging Others.
Lisa McMillan, Founder and Executive Director of Turning Everything Around (T.E.A.)
SOEB 106

11:10 – 11:20 am – Transition

11:20 am – 12:20 pm – Breakout Session B (please choose one of these three sessions)

Creating Community for Queer and Trans Youth – Queer and trans youth thrive when they feel a sense of belonging and community, but many face isolation due to rising censorship and limited school resources. This session will explore why community is essential for LGBTQ+ youth, how to foster affirming spaces, and ways to work within and beyond the school system to provide support. Together, we’ll reflect, share strategies, and find creative ways to build connections that make a lasting impact.
Rachel Hopkins, President/Founder Transcend Alamance
SOEB 108

Strengthening Cultural Wellness – Cultural wellness incorporates a sense of awareness, understanding, and respect for our own selves as well as others. Holistic well-being is incomplete without cultural wellness. This interactive session will help you explore the variety of cultures that have influenced you and highlight the benefits you can reap from all of your cultural experiences.
Shahnaz Khawaja, Associate Director Spartan Well-Being, UNCG Student Health Services (SHS)
SOEB 110

How Immigration Policy Impacts Families and Children – This session will address the legal complexities of the US immigration system and recent changes that impact students and families. Participants will explore the challenges immigrants face, including language differences, identification and documentation, tuition costs and residency, family separation, and the psychological toll these experiences can have on children. Educators will gain insight and empathy for immigrant students and their families and leave better equipped to understand and address the needs of their diverse student populations.
Jodie Stanley, International Support and Language Access Coordinator Human Rights Department, City of Greensboro
SOEB 118

12:20 – 12:30 pm – Transition

12:30 – 1:30 pm – LUNCH

1:30 – 1:45 pm – Transition

1:45 – 2:55 pm – Conference Reflection: Where Do We Go from Here? – In this session, participants will be invited to individually reflect on lessons, barriers, and potential actions to take with them after the conference. After participants individually reflect, they will be invited to share with other participants to process and resource share. At the end, participants will receive resources to work towards strengthening education and community.
Shavonne Oliver, ELC Graduate Research Assistant (GRA), UNCG School of Education
Luis Garay, Director of the Gender and LGBTQIA Center, Elon University and ELC PhD Student, UNCG School of Education
SOEB 120

2:55 – 3:05 pm – Closing Remarks
Dr Tiffanie Lewis-Durham, ELC Assistant Professor, UNCG School of Education
SOEB 120