By Jheri Hardaway
Staff Writer
RALEIGH, NC – This year’s Color of Education Summit was more than a conference; it was an empowering and necessary gathering of minds that influence our collective future. Centered on the theme, "Preserving Our Legacy: The Power in the Stories We Carry," the event served as a vibrant testament to the belief that the path to educational equity is paved with the narratives of our communities. Educators, policymakers, students, and advocates from across North Carolina came together not just to discuss change but to feel its urgency through the deeply personal stories of struggle, resilience, and joy that define our collective journey.
Flood Center Senior Director Dr. Deanna Townsend-Smith encouraged everyone to embrace vulnerability and connection as guiding practices. Townsend-Smith shared, “Each of us carries a story. Alone, those stories remind us of where we have been. But when we weave them together, they become something greater: a collective story—one of resistance, courage, and hope. I ask each of you to carry forward the tenets of trust, truth, courage, and power, and to turn story into strategy and strategy into transformation.” All of the selected speakers were powerful; additionally, the stories shared amongst the educators were equally important and immensely relatable. The organization aims to annually, “Bringing together educators, policymakers, researchers, students, parents, community members, and other key stakeholders to advance access and opportunity by eliminating racial disparities in education.”
Hosted by The Dudley Flood Center for Educational Opportunity, in partnership with the Public School Forum of North Carolina, Samuel DuBois Cook Center on Social Equity, and the Center for Child and Family Policy at the Duke Sanford School of Public Policy, the summit masterfully bridged the worlds of research, policy, and real-world practice. Dr. Keisha Bentley-Edwards, Associate Professor at Duke University School of Medicine and Director of the Research Collaboratory for Diversity and Inclusion, reminded the audience of the resilience embedded in shared narratives: “The stories we tell and preserve give us the strength to move forward despite the obstacles before us. They anchor us in legacy and propel us toward justice.”
The day was filled with powerful speakers who didn't just present data, they shared their truths, reminding us that every statistic represents a human story. We were challenged to see our own narratives as critical tools for building collective purpose and sparking the transformational change needed to build a healthier democracy. Beyond the main stage, the hallways buzzed with energy. A diverse array of vendors offered invaluable resources, connecting attendees with practical tools and networks to support their work. This seamless blend of inspiration and application is the hallmark of the Color of Education partnership. It creates a space where a teacher, a researcher, and a community organizer can all find common ground and shared purpose.
Leaving the summit, the message was clear: our stories are our power. In a time when educational narratives are often controlled by outside forces, the act of sharing our authentic experiences and building together in person is revolutionary. The 2025 Color of Education Summit was a profound call to action for all of us to honor, preserve, and amplify the legacies we carry within us, for the sake of our students and the future of North Carolina.
