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.
presenters
Dr. John Carlos
Dr. John Carlos is a medaled USA Track and Field Hall of Fame athlete and Olympian. Competing in the 200 meters, Carlos earned the Gold in the 1967 Pan American Games, and the Bronze in the 1968 Olympics. A record setter, Dr. Carlos led San Jose State to its first NCAA championship in 1969 with victories in the 100 and 220, and as a member of the 4×110-yard relay. He also set indoor world bests in the 60-yard dash and 220-yard dash at the 1967 Pan American Games in Winnipeg, Manitoba, Canada. As a youth growing up in Harlem, New York, John Carlos was a gifted athlete and student whose influences and sense of hard work and determination were instilled by his mother and father. It was a local police officer who first prompted a young John to pursue Track and Field as more than just a game of chase with the neighborhood kids. Dr. Carlos credits scholastic encouragement and organized athletics, along with community minded mentors, for keeping him focused, out of trouble, and the foundation for his drive to achieve and succeed.
Omari Amili
Omari Amili is a father of six from Seattle, WA. He works as an independent contractor/educator. Despite being a high school dropout and a product of the school-to-prison pipeline, Omari holds four college degrees and is living proof that young black men can overcome adversity and make something of themselves.
Josias Jean-Pierre
Josias Jean-Pierre is an Author, Motivational Speaker, Educator, and an Entrepreneur. He was born in the Caribbean in the island of Haiti but grew up in Sea-Tac, WA. Jean-Pierre graduated from Highline College with an AA emphasis in communication then went to Northwest University where he received his bachelors degree in communication with a minor in English. He has years of work in youth development equipping youth with tools and strategies to be that agent of change they were created to be. He has spoken in government panels city wide and state wide. His work has got him to travel internationally and equipping other youth in an international platform with tools and strategies to be that agent of change.
Darnell Rice
Darnell Rice is a native of St, Louis Missouri a social entrepreneur, sexual assault survivor, and Founder and Program Director of Embrace a Sexual Assault Initiative which targets Men of Color and Black Boys. Darnell has over 10 years in Behavioral Health Sciences in Arkansas. Darnell is a Alumni of Starting Fellowship New York 2019. Darnell is the Project Manager for the Confess Project. The mission is to target Men of Color and Black Boys. To make sure the next generation breaks the stigma of mental illness and utilize holistic practices for better living.
Professor Michael Tuncap
Born in the village of Aniguak, Guam & raised in Tacoma/ Lakewood, Professor Tuncap has been an dedicated educator for almost 19 years (CP, UW, UC Berkeley, GRCC, Highline, NWIC, SPSCC, UW Tacoma, Sea Central, TCC, Pierce). Tuncap is a proud father, husband & one of the 56 grandchildren of Brigida Acfalle Salas & Catalina Gumataotao Tuncap.
Dr. Conrad Webster
Dr. Conrad Webster is a critical race theorist, writer, organizer, facilitator, professor, and education consultant from Houston, TX. He is the founder of Get Me to The Prom Foundation and Co-founder of the African American Leadership Conference held at Green River College. Conrad recently completed his Doctorate from the University of Washington in Educational Leadership. His dissertation is titled: Where Did my Black Folk Go? The exclusion of African American males out of K-12 classrooms. Conrad currently serves as a College Preparatory Advisor at Auburn Mountainview High School, where he provides high school students with academic and college planning support to equip them with the tools to successfully navigate the college admissions process. His position also includes delivering content resources group mentoring through the Hometown Mentor Program. Committed to academic achievement, Conrad uses storytelling as a form of liberation through education; his work inspires audiences to use their lens to visualize their power to organize
Aaron Modica
Aaron Modica was born and raised in Oakland, CA. He attended the University of Nevada, Reno where he received his MA in Sociology, and the University of Washington, Seattle where he earned his M.Ed in Social and Cultural Foundations of Education. Prior to teaching at Highline College, Aaron worked with the Upward Bound Program and Student Success Services TRIO programs, and the Center for Student Cultural Diversity at the University of Nevada, Reno. Aaron Modica is currently faculty in Sociology at Highline College.
Diego Luna
Diego Luna is Highline College faculty in the American Ethnic & Identity Studies Department. He grew up in small town Northern California and made his way to Seattle via the Bay, Cleveland, OH, and Salt Lake City, UT.
Aaron Garcia
Aaron Garcia raised in White Center, WA for 20+ year. Works for the the White Center CDA, which works to eradicate poverty and eliminate racism by build a vibrant, economically diverse community. Find him on IG at @MeetAaronGarcia
Steven McKinnon
Steven is currently a business instructor at Renton Technical College. Prior toRTC, Steven served as the Chair of Business Management at Fayetteville Technical Community College. Before entering into education Steven spent 15 plus year in upper management in the hospitality industry. Steven has a passion for education and is an advocate for life long learning. As a educator is seeks to use his platform as a means of giving back and to assist in changing lives.
Ian Zamora
Ian Zamora (he/him/his) is 1.5 generation man of Philippine descent. He comes from California, specifically, the Bay Area where he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Teaching with a minor in Asian American Studies from San José State University and his Master of Arts from University of San Francisco in Higher Education and Student Affairs. Ian has worked in multicultural affairs for the past few years doing work in both multicultural/cross-cultural centers as well as gender and sexuality resource centers. Central to his work is both Critical Hope and Hip Hop as he believes that we should create tangible conditions for students deal with situations in their lives and to live out as their whole selves in the different spaces they are present in.
Alan Jones
From Newport News, VA and I also have roots in Aurora, CO. Played professional football on various levels and I currently work at Washington State University, as a Senior Advisor 2 in the office of Student Financial Services. Co-Chair of the Inland Northwest Juneteenth Coalition (www.INWJC.org) based in Spokane, WA ; and also a key member of the African American Graduation Celebration, which is held in Spokane annually. Member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Inc., have a Bachelors of Arts degree in Communications, minor Marketing (Univ. of Wyoming) Currently working of Masters in Sports Management.
Maurice E Dolberry
During his 22 years as an educator, Maurice E Dolberry has been a teacher, coach, and an administrator in grades PK through 20. He currently runs A Line in the Sand, LLC, an educational consulting and research service, and also coaches high school wrestling in Seattle. Originally from Ypsilanti, Michigan, Maurice is a hip-hop head, a sci-fi nerd, and a long-time dog owner. He earned a B.S. in biology from Howard University, a M.Ed. in education from Florida Atlantic University, and a PhD in education from the University of Washington.
Tarris Batiste
My name is Tarris Batiste. I received my Bachelor’s Degree in Criminal Justice from Georgia State University, the following year I received my MBA from J.Mack College of Business. While attending college I was student athlete (football) and was honored to be nominated twice for team captain with the Georgia State football team which lead to accolades such as Auto-National Defensive Player of the Year in 2015 and Georgia Power player of the year. Though I excelled on the field I felt my purpose led me to help youth off the field as well. Whether it was community service or volunteer work, Passion pushed me to a leadership role of starting my own nonprofit (circle of advancement) which was all about unifying and uplifting others to advance in life. My goal is to have a career where my passion for people can shine. I thrive in positive environments and aim to create the same for my business associates. I am a capable and ambitious individual who is focused on changing the trajectory of young people's thinking. I hope to be an asset to your company and look forward to helping others around me.
Dr. John R. Mosby
A staunch advocate for student success, Mosby serves in various capacities within higher education, developing new programs and services, and has served on numerous committees addressing the areas of fiscal and institutional planning, accreditation, educational policy, enrollment management, equity and access at both the local and statewide levels.
Ivan L. Harrell II., Ph.D.,
Ivan L. Harrell II., Ph.D., serves as the President of Tacoma Community College (TCC) in Washington state. Having a passion for community college education, Dr. Harrell strives every day to lead a group of professionals in providing the best environment, programs and services students need to complete their academic and career goals. Prior to TCC, Dr. Harrell most recently served as the Executive Vice President of Academic & Student Affairs at Georgia Piedmont Technical College. Before Georgia Piedmont, he served as the Vice President of Success at Lone Star College, Dean of Student Services at Anne Arundel Community College, Coordinator for Student Affairs at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College, and Assistant to the Vice President at Tallahassee Community College. Dr. Harrell has written or co-written a number of scholarly articles and book chapters. He has also served as a presenter at numerous local, regional and national conferences and seminars. He is most proud of his work around improving the success of students of color, particularly Black men, first-generation college students, as well as students who come from traditionally marginalized backgrounds. Dr. Harrell completed his doctor of philosophy degree (Ph.D.) at Florida State University, where he defended his award-winning dissertation, titled, “Using Student Characteristics to Predict the Persistence of Community College Students Enrolled in Online Courses.” He holds a master’s degree (M.Ed.) from Vanderbilt University, and a bachelor’s degree (B.A.) from Wittenberg University. A native of Oberlin, Ohio, Dr. Harrell was a first-generation student who began his career in community colleges at Tallahassee Community College. Inspired by the diverse, intelligent and hard-working students he met at Tallahassee, Dr. Harrell decided to dedicate his career to advance the community college mission. His goal, as a higher education leader, is to support as many community college students possible to achieve their academic and career goals.
Dr. Darrell L. Cain
Dr. Darrell L. Cain is a well-known educator who utilizes education as an opportunity conduit. He grew up in the city of Gary, IN, and is a first-generation college student. Cain, holds a doctorate in Education Leadership & Policy Studies from Virginia Tech University. He has held various positions in higher education over the past 17 years including, but not limited to, the Vice President for Academic Affairs and Dean of Academic Affairs. In his current position, he serves as the Vice Chancellor for Student Affairs at Ivy Tech Community College. He has also held several teaching positions and currently teaches in the graduate school at the University of Maryland University College. Dr. Cain has over 12 years of teaching and research experience and an author of numerous published articles. His research interest is centered on the Pedagogical Implications of Teaching and Learning with Technology, Student Retention and Success, and Learning Outcomes Assessment.
Aaron Reader
Aaron Reader serves as the Dean of Students at Renton Technical College. He is a motivational speaker, spoken word artist and an actor. Aaron holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Counseling Psychology. His 11 years of experience in higher education demonstrates his ongoing commitment to the success of young professionals and his drive to elevate our educators. Recognized nationally for his ability to motivate and inspire people; Aaron's honesty will challenge you and push you to levels of self-understanding and growth. He has trained thousands of students and professionals on topics ranging from self-worth, to educational leadership. His engaging and interactive style will keep your audience entertained and inspired to make change.
Rashad Norris
Rashad currently devotes his time as the Director of Community Engagement at Highline College, where he travels to elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, community centers, libraries, and youth educational conferences to speak with youth and young adults about the importance of READING, EDUCATION and the PROCESS available to them to attend a higher education institution. He has been working in the Higher Education field for the 10 plus years. Rashad focuses on teaching youth and young adults’ life skills that will help them become more confident in their abilities and help them navigate in today’s stressful environment. He encourages youth and young adults through the importance of Reading, to have higher expectations for themselves, to respect others, and to value education.
Steve Primas
Steve Primas, MSW has a sincere desire to assist youth to discover their desired potential with a coach approach in achieving their personal goals. He currently works as a social worker in the Tacoma Public School system to assist educators on how to work with students and understand childhood trauma, as well as to partner with parents to bridge the gap between the parents and educators. His role within the school is to ensure that every student is treated as an investment. He serves on Project Peace in Pierce County, geared to improving the relationship between law enforcement and communities of color. He is passionate about inspiring youth to become leaders, thus teaching Social Service and Criminal Justice courses at Pierce College.
Winston Bell
Mental health therapist that specializes in Emotional fitness for young men of color and athletes. Currently offering classes in schools and universities addressing behaviors.
Holy Chea
Holy Chea is the Pierce County Program Quality Manager for School's Out Washington (SOWA). At SOWA, Holy works to support youth development organizations through coaching and training services to ensure that young people have the best learning experiences through healthy relationships. Holy's approach is to lead with equity and integrate high-quality Social Emotional Learning skills in all aspects of his work.
Nicholas Jeffreys
My name is Nicholas Jeffreys, recently graduated from The Evergreen State College with a Major in Sociology and Organizational Development. For the last two summers I have worked for the Upward Bound Summer institute of Math and Science as a student success coordinator. While attending Evergreen I had the pleasure of doing an internship with Metro Parks in Tacoma to help create more diverse and equitable hiring practices and internship solutions for youth of color in the Tacoma and surrounding areas. One of my career and life goals is to make education and resources more accessible for all people regardless of race, ethnicity and identity. Another is to help men of color from all walks of life navigate and combat toxic masculinity so they can reach their divine potential. My most recent accomplishment is being offered a fulltime position at the Metro Politian Development Council as a Youth Educational Advisor, to ensure that students have an equal opportunity to access education.
Stefan Agyeman
Stefan received his Associates of Arts from Highline College, BS in Communications and Media Studies from the University of Washington, Seattle and his MPH in Health Management from New York Medical College. He currently works as the Community Benefit Specialist for MultiCare. In this role he partners with community members, healthcare organizations, and other community stakeholders in order to complete MultiCare’s Community Health Needs Assessment and monitor all of MultiCare’s community benefit work. Prior to joining MultiCare, Stefan worked at Montefiore Medical Center (New York) as a Community Health & Operations Organizer in the School-Based Health Program. In this role, he partnered with community-based organizations and the New York City Department of Education to coordinate disease prevention programs, education workshops, youth development programs and outreach initiatives.
Stefan is passionate about reducing barriers to health and increasing access to health services.
Reggie Rogers Jr.
Reggie Rogers Jr. grew up in South Seattle and attended Washington State University. There he would obtain his bachelor's in sociology (2012) and a Masters in Education Leadership (2016). Reggie is also a member of Omega Psi Phi Fraternity Incorporated through the Chi Alpha Alpha Chapter and currently works for a non-profit organization called Treehouse, where he works with youth in the Federal Way area.
Dennis Denman
Dennis currently works as an Associate Director in the Center for Student Engagement & Leadership at Edmonds Community College. Originally from Los Angeles, California, he has been working in Washington State higher education for the past nine years, working in various roles such as Student Activities, Housing/Residence Life, and Multicultural Student Services. When he is not being the life of the party, he works tirelessly to advocate for students and helps get them to graduation day (literally).
