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Olga Martinez Hickman

Dr. Olga Martinez Hickman is the Executive Director of Bachman Lake Together, in Dallas, Texas. She supports cross-sector partnerships aimed at redesigning systems and strategies to enhance high-quality early childhood education for all children, regardless of background. She has more than two decades of relevant education and experience, including supporting statewide leadership, place-based and system-change initiatives. Her areas of expertise include equity and excellence, parent leadership, and place-based opportunities. Dr. Martinez Hickman is a product of public education. She began her

Travis Williams Sr.

Travis Williams is a proud native of Jacksonville, FL, where he resides with his wife and their children. Currently, Travis is President and CEO for LIFT JAX, an initiative of leading business, philanthropic, and community leaders working to revitalize the urban core and eradicate generational poverty in Jacksonville. This work is accomplished through strategic investments in projects ranging from redeveloping a neighborhood grocery store and facilitating mixed-income infill housing strategies to spearheading business corridor development and improving infrastructure of parks and greens spaces

Ja'Nel Lavon Jamerson

Ja'Nel Jamerson, Ed.D., is the CEO of the Flint Center for Educational Excellence, an organization dedicated to building an educational ecosystem that works for all children in Flint, Michigan. With more than a decade of experience in building collaborative partnerships across various sectors to tackle complex community issues, he has served in multiple leadership positions, including as the Executive Director of Educare Flint and the Flint & Genesee Literacy Network. Dr. Jamerson serves as a board member of the Michigan League for Public Policy and Vice Chair of the Michigan Early Childhood

Katherine (Keri) Randolph

Keri Randolph serves as Executive Director of Chattanooga 2.0, the cradle-to-career collaborative of Chattanooga-Hamilton County, Tennessee. Previously, Keri served as Chief Strategy Officer for Metro Nashville Public Schools where she launched the district vision of Every Student Known and oversaw investment of more than $600 million. She designed and led strategic initiatives including Navigator, high-impact tutoring, summer learning, and University You. She also served as the Assistant Superintendent of Innovation in Hamilton County Schools and as the Vice President of Learning at the

Ashley Harris Philippsen

Ashley Harris Philippsen is the Executive Director at ImpactTulsa, a nonprofit dedicated to ensuring over 100,000 Tulsa youth are on a path toward economic mobility by 2030. Her career spans over 15 years, and no matter the role, she has demonstrated a deep commitment to cross-sector collaboration to shift power, resources, practices, and policies so more people have access and opportunities for choice-filled futures. Recognized as one of the Obama Foundation’s MBK Alliance Model Communities, her work at ImpactTulsa stands out for its evidence-based success and transformative community impact

Salvador Lopez

Salvador specializes in designing and facilitating place-based, cross-sector collaborations that drive meaningful social change. His leadership focuses on visualizing data and developing system-level strategies to address disparities and enhance outcomes for all individuals. Currently, Salvador serves as the President of KConnect, an elected Trustee at Grand Rapids Community College (GRCC), and the Chair of Advocates for Latino Student Advancement in Michigan Education (Alsame). In these roles, he leverages his skills and passion for community development and equity to create lasting impact

Alicia Robinson

Alicia Robinson is a visionary leader committed to transforming education and empowering women. As the Senior Director of Community Engagement and Partnerships at Summit Education Initiative (SEI), she spearheads collaborative efforts to drive systems change across the cradle-to-career continuum, ensuring that education is accessible and impactful at every stage of life. Her leadership is instrumental in crafting innovative policies and programs that uplift communities and create lasting change. In addition to her work at SEI, Alicia is the Founder of Limitless Ambition, a non-profit

Sonali Nijhawan

Sonali Nijhawan has committed her life’s work to developing service leaders and growing national service programs. Most recently, Sonali developed and led Stockton Service Corps (SSC) as Executive Director of a 6-year, $12M first-of-its-kind place-based service initiative launched by Mayor Michael Tubbs to address Stockton’s most critical needs by activating evidence-based national service programs. Sonali began her career in public service in her hometown of Chicago, where she served as an AmeriCorps Member with City Year Chicago. Inspired by the students, families, and the AmeriCorps

Edgar Chavez

Edgar Chávez, the proud grandson of farmworkers and an immigrant, is the Executive Director of Hayward Promise Neighborhoods (HPN) at California State University, East Bay. He manages a $30 million federal cradle-to-career investment in his childhood neighborhood. With over 15 years of experience in K-12 and postsecondary settings, Edgar has led college and career initiatives for first-generation and immigrant students in Bay Area communities like East Palo Alto and East San José. He also serves on the steering committees of regional and state collaboratives, including the California Promise

Zeevelle Nottingham-Lemon

Zeevelle "Z." Nottingham-Lemon is Founding Executive Director of Cherry Hill Strong, the non-profit community quarterback organization working with residents and other community stakeholders to lead equitable revitalization in Baltimore city's Cherry Hill community by employing the Purpose Built Communities model. Z., a West Baltimore native and resident, has over 15 years of experience in community development including placed-based programs. Before her appointment at Cherry Hill Strong, Ms. Nottingham-Lemon worked at University of Maryland Baltimore County’s Choice Program for 10 years