NSLA Recap: Optimism in a Time of Change

November 26, 2024
5-Minute Read
Julia Gabor, Mindful Founder

How do you top a phenomenal event from 2023? Well, ask the folks over at the National Summer Learning Association (NSLA). I am dazzled, honored, and proud to know the team at NSLA: Natalia Sol, Christi Kobus Rokicki, Lauren Krattiger, Brodrick Clarke, Leslie Gabay-Swanston, and their colleague Terri Ferinde, Ed.D. at Collaborative Communications and her terrific team as well.

And, with the exceptional vision, artistry, courage, and comedy 🎭 of CEO Aaron Philip Dworkin — this event does not disappoint. The Summit is filled with goodness, intelligence, perfect planning, creativity, and real love for the field and for one another, that’s all of us. I am still processing the goodness that occurred at the historic Mayflower Hotel on November 10-13, 2024.

NSLA Team, Partner Appreciation Reception, NSLA Summit, Washington, DC

So, what happened? This team helped 1,000 cross-sector leaders leave the nation’s Capital with so much to consider, in a very serious way. And the message was so inspiring, I wanted to share it.

First, imagine bringing this many leaders to Washington, DC after an insane and historical week in our country following the 2024 election season. This email is not about the results, it’s about what’s ahead. And that’s what the conference was focused on… our work going forward.

Left Photo: Shawn Achor, Happiness Advantage Plenary Session

Right Photo: Dr. Miguel Cardona, Bold And Brilliant Plenary Session, NSLA Summit, Washington DC

At the event, we heard from education leaders, policymakers, U.S. Senators, news correspondents, student leaders, award-winning summer learning executive directors (who provide exemplary summer learning opportunities), the U.S. Secretary of Agriculture, Tom Vilsack, a former foster youth now in the business of providing free and reduced lunch for our nation’s kids, an unforgettable Ted Talk speaker about happiness by Shawn Achor, and a performance from Broadway actor, Leslie Odom, Jr. It was fire 🔥!

Pre-Conference Launch of the Summer Learning Guide: ‘Destination Summer’

At each plenary session, I heard Aaron Dworkin, NSLA CEO, repeat, “We want to build a community, and it will take a community.” And he means it!

Here’s an example of how… At the conference, the NSLA Team makes actual introductions, like, they walk around and say, “Have you met so and so? Do you know this person and that person?” to each participant in the hopes that we connect, share ideas, exchange information, and solve the basic human rights challenges in our education system. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a participant, keynote speaker, vendor, sponsor, or funder, you are invited to be a part of this magic and now, a civic leadership movement focused on summer learning, slide, gap, and building effective summer programs. They are walking the walk, showing equity in every way. It was thrilling.

Tyneisha Gibbs, Aaron Dworkin, Karen Mccann Mcclelland, and Laura Kelly, Destination Learning Session, NSLA Summit, Washington, DC

There were sightings of some amazing movers & shakers and change-makers including Michael Funk, Jodi Grant, Jennifer Bateman, Rebecca Goldberg, Karen Pittman, Gina Warner, Tyneisha Gibbs, Ana Ponce, Stacy Silverman, Erin Skene-Pratt, Troy Selvey, Terry Peterson, Melea Meyer, and Joshua Brady just to name a few. There were 100’s of others that I couldn’t name who are equally as talented, passionate, and making tremendous differences in the lives of kids, families, and communities.

Tyneisha Gibbs and Julia Gabor, NSLA Summit, Washington, DC

The message was clear, no matter what side of the aisle you sit on, summer learning (gap) is a bi-partisan issue. I heard this message about what’s ahead (over and over)

1) Hang on to hope.

2) Advocate locally, stateside or countrywide.

3) It’s going to be a journey and an opportunity.

4) Innovation either comes from necessity or abundance.

5) Work together. We have the same end goal for our kids, we just have different ways of getting there. It was deeper than that, but that’s my takeaway.

I read a Rumi poem this week from another incredible educator, artist, and activist, Tiffany Shlain, and wanted to share it with you, our readers. I wanted to offer a safe place for you – in case you need some of what I got last week. A place to meet, talk, listen, or discuss… this is the place. We are here for you at kid-grit.

Out beyond ideas of wrongdoing and rightdoing, 

there is a field. I’ll meet you there. 

When the soul lies down in that grass, 

the world is too full to talk about. 

Ideas, language, even the phrase “each other” 

doesn’t make any sense. 

The breeze at dawn has secrets to tell you. 

Don’t go back to sleep. 

You must ask for what you really want. 

Don’t go back to sleep. 

People are going back and forth across the doorsill 

where the two worlds touch. 