Student Showcase: Knowledge in Full Expression
By Leah Dobson | Photos Josh Egel
The Student Showcase was a powerful close to the 2025 Spring Symposium and a true embodiment of this year’s theme: Black Love is Joy–Healing–Hope. This final day put student achievement on full display—love in motion, community in action, and students standing in their brilliance. Students traveled from Seattle and several other schools across the Bay Area to present their learnings. The ceremony opened with a heartfelt welcome by CEO Chris ‘Baba C’ Chatmon reminding us of the why to celebrate Black joy, heal together, and carry radical hope forward through our youth.
A highlight of the day was a presentation from the Crowns Curriculum team, who shared how their culturally responsive, A-G-approved curriculum continues to affirm identity, spark purpose, and cultivate a deep sense of self-worth among Black students. Their message was clear: when our students are led by people who reflect them and love them deeply, transformation happens—not just in classrooms, but across whole communities.
The students projects from over 25 schools, elementary through high school, spoke volumes. From thought-provoking research on authors like Michelle Alexander who wrote The New Jim Crow, to music playlists curated to uplift and educate, to original fashion designs rooted in cultural pride—each presentation was a reflection of intentional learning, creative expression, and deep cultural awareness. You could see it in their eyes—the fulfillment, the ownership, the joy.
Samba Funk closed out the day bringing rhythm, laughter, and connection into the room. At first, the drums felt unfamiliar to some. But within minutes, students were dancing, smiling, and stepping together in sync. It was the perfect metaphor for the weekend: stepping out of hesitation and into joy, supported by community and the heartbeat of culture.
Spring Symposium 2025 was truly an event to remember. Words that echoed throughout the day included inspiring, uplifting, and healing. This weekend reminded us that while the road ahead may be uncertain, we are never alone. We move through it together—carried by our creators love, by community, and by the next generation, who are already leading us forward.
