White House Initiative for Black Americans and Discovery Education Presents: Power Up

Archived Information

White House Initiative for Black Americans and Discovery Education Presents: Power Up

Contact:   Press Office, (202) 401-1576, press@ed.gov
Event Date 1 :
October 12, 2023 - 5:00pm to October 13, 2023 - 3:00pm

The Power Up Series is a partnership between the White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence, Equity, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans (Initiative) and Discovery Education that consists of a collection of national, local, and virtual engagements in the Black community. Thanks to the Initiative and Discovery Educations partnership, the Power Up Series provides opportunities to share federal resources with local Black communities directly from the source through information, innovation, and inspiration.

This inaugural event of the Power Up Series will take place at the J. Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center in Georgia and is hosted in partnership with Color Farm Media. This is a two-day event, including a career fair on day one where students will have access to explore career paths in which the Black community is currently underrepresented. Through a variety of panels and breakout sessions, you will hear directly from different federal agencies and external partners about the resources available to advance equity and economic opportunity in the Black community.

Event 1
Who :
  • Alexis Holmes, executive director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence, Equity, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans, U.S. Department of Education
  • LaWanda Toney, senior advisor, Office of Communications and Outreach, U.S. Department of Education
  • Donna Harris-Aikens, deputy chief of staff, U.S. Department of Education
  • Erika Alexander, actress & co-founder, Color Farm Media
  • Stacey Abrams, former minority leader, Georgia House of Representatives
  • Caroline Heldman, executive director, The Representation Project
  • Devon Horton, superintendent, DeKalb County School District, Ga.
  • Calvin J. Watts, superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Ga.

The full agenda for Power Up: Georgia can be found here. Open press portions are noted below.

What :

White House Initiative for Black Americans and Discovery Education Presents: Power Up
When :

THURSDAY, OCT. 12, 2023
5-5:30 p.m. ET, Welcome and Opening Remarks

  • Alexis Holmes, executive director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence, Equity, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans
  • Calvin J. Watts, superintendent, Gwinnett County Public Schools, Ga.
  • Ronique Hicks, senior director of Strategic Partnerships, Discovery Education

5:30 - 6:15 PM ET Youth Engagement

  • Erika Alexander, actress & co-founder, Color Farm Media
  • Alexis Holmes, executive director, White House Initiative on Advancing Educational Excellence, Equity, and Economic Opportunity for Black Americans

FRIDAY, OCT. 13, 2023
2-3 p.m. ET, Fireside Chat: Representation Matters

  • Stacey Abrams, former minority leader, Georgia House of Representatives
  • Erika Alexander, actress & co-founder, Color Farm Media
  • Caroline Heldman, executive director, The Representation Project
Where :

Alvin Wilbanks Instructional Support Center
437 Old Peachtree Rd., N.W.
Suwanee, Ga. 30024

Media interested in covering any open press events should RSVP by registering here.

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