registration
Registration for the 2022 Summit is now closed.
Email us if you have any questions.
In order to create the best possible environment for growth, learning, and empowerment, please take note of the following:
- Please expect to stay for the entire summit
- Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided
- Both students AND adult chaperones need to register
- Please be prepared to be an active participant
- Any disruptive or disrespectful behavior during the summit, including excessive cell phone use, will not be excused
Although we have allowed 8th grade students to attend in previous years, the summit is now reserved for high school students only.
You are in for a tremendous day of enlightenment and fellowshipping. You young men deserve this day and this day is for you to be recognized as assets in our communities. Our mission at the summit is to have you leave knowing that you, your fellow classmates, and other young men of color have the ability to put posturing aside and work together to combat all stereotypes and perceptions.
I acknowledge that I have read the above statements, understand the summit’s expectations and mission, and am ready to engage and succeed!
Frequently asked Questions
Registration
Do I need to register for the summit?
YES. ALL ATTENDEES, BOTH STUDENTS AND ADULT CHAPERONES, MUST REGISTER TO ATTEND
When I tried to register, it said that registration had closed. Is there a waitlist I can get on?
Unfortunately, we are unable to have a waitlist for the summit. Registration is capped at our capacity plus 30 percent, which takes into account the substantial number of no-show attendees on the day of the summit.
I forgot to register/registration is closed. Can I just show up to the summit?
Only registered students will be guaranteed admittance to the summit. If an unregistered student shows up on the day of the summit, they will be required to wait in the will call area until all registered students have been processed. In the event that there is still space available after all the registered students have been admitted, unregistered students will be admitted in the order that they arrived. After we have reached capacity, any remaining unregistered students are required to leave the campus for liability purposes.
Attendance
Why can’t middle school aged students attend?
Although we have allowed 8th grade students to attend in previous years, the summit is now reserved for high school students only for the following reasons:
Maturity level: The planning committee strives to bring presenters and topics to the summit that speak to current events and issues important to young students of color. As many of the topics discussed revolve around the dense and multi-faceted issue of social justice, many middle school students do not have the comprehension level needed to both engage in, and respect, this dialogue.
Behavior: Attending the summit requires students to have the strong personal responsibility and critical listening skills that are more common in older students; we simply do not have the staff or the ability to continuously monitor individuals who need to be reminded consistently to behave appropriately.
How long is the summit?
The summit is an all-day event, from approximately 8:00am to 4:00pm.
What if I arrive late?
We cannot facilitate late arrivals. Our registration and check-in tables open at 8:00 am sharp and close promptly at 9:15 am when the keynote speaker begins. IF YOU ARRIVE AFTER 9:15 AM, EVEN IF YOU HAVE REGISTERED, YOU WILL NOT BE ABLE TO ATTEND THE SUMMIT.
Cost, Location, and Programming
How much does it cost to attend?
The summit is FREE to attend.
Where is the summit?
The student summit is located in the Student Union Building (Bldg 8) on the Highline College campus, with adult chaperone programming located in Building 7. Individual student workshops are held in various classrooms on campus; students are escorted by summit volunteers to and from these classrooms.
Do I need to bring my own food?
No. Breakfast, lunch, and snacks will be provided for you.
What workshops will I be attending?
Workshops will be assigned as students are processed through the registration table the day of the summit.
I want to see a particular workshop presenter. How can I ensure a seat in his specific workshop?
To ensure equal workshop sizes, students are assigned a workshop. Students are not able to choose their workshops. However, workshop presentations are thoroughly screened by the Black & Brown Summit Planning Committee to ensure each workshop is equally informative, engaging, and impactful.
For Adult Chaperones
I’m an adult chaperone for a school/organization but I don’t know which students I’m bringing yet. Can I just hold some spots?
No. All attendees (both students and adults) must be registered individually to attend. We can NOT hold spots under any circumstances.
I’m a chaperone and some of the registered students I was supposed to bring can’t come. Can I substitute different students in their place?
No. If a student or adult has registered but is unable to attend, they cannot substitute another individual.
As a chaperone, will I stay with my student throughout the day?
No. Adult chaperones/attendees and students are on different activity tracks in different buildings. The summit is for the students and part of the impact of the summit comes from being able to have real, open dialogue. Please respect this space and understand that you will be reconnected with your students at the close of the summit.
I’m a chaperone who is bringing multiple students. Can I send you a list of the students attending instead of registering them all?
We greatly appreciate attendees or adult chaperones registering themselves and/or their students. Having attendees or chaperones directly enter their information increases accuracy, so we politely ask that you register attendees individually.
I want to see a particular workshop presenter. How can I ensure a seat in his specific workshop?
As the summit is geared focused and created for high school aged males, chaperones are not permitted to sit in on these workshops; adult chaperones are able to view the keynote speeches remotely but have a fixed adult chaperone agenda in an adjacent building.
This is a valuable, transformative event that I want to be a part of. How can I get involved?
If you would like to volunteer at next year’s Black and Brown, please contact Rashad Norris or Rickitia Reid.
My students received a t-shirt/lanyard/giveaway item. Do adult chaperones also receive giveaway items?
Unfortunately, adult chaperones are ineligible to receive giveaways. As Highline absorbs the entire cost of the summit, we decided to limit giveaways to students to increase the quality and quantity of items they receive.
Will all my students stay together if I bring a group of students?
One of the values of the summit is to encourage meaningful conversations and create new friendships. In order to facilitate this, students are assigned to workshops by individual rather than by school. Some students in you group may end up in the same workshop by chance, but it is highly unlikely that you student group will stay together for the entirety of the summit.
keynote speaker
Rashad Norris: Founder/President, Relevant Engagement LLC
Rashad received his BA in Marketing Communication with a Minor in English from the University of Puget Sound where he also played basketball. He earned his Master’s in Public Administration from the Evergreen State College. As the founder of Relevant Engagement Consulting LLC, he partners with State of Washington (DYHS) Department of Child, Youth and Families Services Community, Reentry and Parole Programs Juvenile Rehabilitation by conducting culturally relevant healing sessions with incarcerated teens as a part of the youth's re-entry process.
In addition to his work he has extensive experience in creating black and brown male engagement programs and services, and providing proven youth of color engaging strategies. He has been asked to lead workshop sessions for professional development with teachers and administrators from local and state school districts regarding student engagement practices. Rashad also delivers motivational presentations that uplift young people in the community through keynote addresses, seminars, professional development workshops, and conference presentations to adults working in the education system. He has a proven track record and history of being called to inform, teach, and put into practice the work that he has created to help him engage effectively using DEI content. He possesses a Social Justice, Anti Racist, and Equity minded approach that has gifted him the ability, creativity, and communication style to create spaces for authentic dialogue and tangible outcomes that reaches diverse audiences.
presenters
Louis Davis Jr
Louis Davis Jr. was born & raised in Tacoma WA. He is the owner of OnSight253Fitness & a Mental Health Coach.
Kendrick Glover
Kendrick Glover is the Executive Director of GloverEmpowerMentoring-GEM which is a nonprofit that works with youth and young adults with a focus on social/emotional well-being through effective Case Management and Mentoring.
Josias Jean-Pierre
Josias Jean-Pierre is a speaker, coach and an Amazon best selling author. He has been featured in major publications such as Yahoo Finance, LA Wire, LA Wire 30 under 30.
Javen Pitt
With a Ph.D in lived experience, Javen Pitt is a testament of turning tragedy into triumph. Childhood traumas led him to enter the criminal justice system, spending 4 years in the TDCJ. Now Javen, is on the forefront of impacting the youth in Seattle working for a non profit organization providing insight into the offender mindset and helping guide them to choose a different path. He is a prolific speaker who uses his real life struggles to change the lives of others.
Neaners Garcia
Jose “Neaners” Garcia is the founder and executive director of the non profit organization Hope for Homies. As a migrant kid, he didn’t have the same opportunities as other kids around him, like not getting the chance to attend school, English being his second language, and constantly getting into trouble. Despite his hopes and dreams of being a basketball player and doing big things, instead he ended up being a living example of the school to prison pipeline as he ended up doing more than 18 years behind bars. He fought the odds and now he lives to speak hope into the lives of the youth in his community.
George “Conscious” Lee
Social media sensation Conscious Lee isn’t your typical Professor or Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion instructor. And you don’t want him to be. With over 2 million followers on social media, as well as being named in YouTube Black Voice Creator Class of 2022 “TheConsciousLee” has a virtual presence that impacts many. This intellectual debating, hip hop dancing, thought-provoking, and workshop facilitating keynote speaker proves that Black intellectuals don’t have to play respectability politics to deliver a message that resonates.
Malaelupe Samifua
Malaelupe is the eldest son of Savai'inaea Malaelupe Alosio Samifua, Sr. (Nua ma Se'etaga, Samoa) and Anita Vili (Vailoa, Samoa). He was born in Honolulu, Hawai'i and moved to the Seattle area as a young kid. He grew up in South King County (White Center/Burien) where his passion for education and community service began. He is an advocate for youth and young adults and education equity. He is a local worship pastor at his church and loves singing, cooking and playing volleyball.
Michael Tuncap
Born in Aniguak, Guam and raised in Tacoma, WA, Tuncap co-founded the UW LEADERS program, the WA State Diversity Equity in Hiring & Professional Development, UW Student Ambassadors Program, & the Men of Culture Academy. Professor Tuncap taught Ethnic Studies at UC Berkeley & at the Evergreen State College, Humanities @ SPSCC, Sociology @ Northwest Indian College, Diversity & Global Studies @ Highline, English at Shoreline, Tacoma Community College & Evergreen, Ethnic Studies & Communications at TRIO UB for Lincoln, Mount Tahoma, Foss & Clover Park High Schools & the College of Education at UWT. He is published in Matamai: the Vasa in Us (2010), Pacific Voices Talk Story (2003) & Breathing Stories 2 Life (2012).
Summit DJ: Ismail Yusuf
Ismail Yusuf is a first-generation Ethiopian/Somali-American creative, community builder, entrepreneur and tech consultant. Growing up between the 206 and 253, he graduated from Thomas Jefferson HS and Highline College in 2009 and 2011, respectively. During his time at Highline, he was heavily involved in the Multi-Cultural Services department as a student employee of the Inter-Cultural Center. This experience inspired him to attend the best HBCU in the land, Alcorn State University in Southwest Mississippi. Upon his return to Seattle, he journeyed into the tech space as a technical recruiter and diversity leader, co-founding and leading the Black employee network at Zillow Group and establishing partnerships with HBCUs across the country. He lives by the mantra, "Het Dee, Dai Dee" or "Do Good, Get Good" because as his mans Tony always says, "You ain't making moves unless you moving."
