Black and Brown Excellence Summit Inspires Students, Staff

On a day that was filled with personal stories, moments of connection and inspiration, the Issaquah School District recently hosted its first-ever Black and Brown Excellence Summit for high school students. About 70 teens from across the district gathered to hear three keynote speakers, a panel and a selection of six workshop leaders. While this type of conference is new to the ISD, districts across the country have hosted summits like this one for many years. 

Aaron Reader, the opening keynote speaker, shared a bit of his own story growing up in East Oakland, where he said he dodged bullets, gangs and labels. “They called us ‘quarters,’ because they said we wouldn’t live past 25," Reader said. “I showed up. I survived.” Even more importantly, he said, he created.  

Reader called for students to stand with confidence in everything they do, to know that they will each create something special, and to understand that their individual voices are necessary. 

“You are your ancestors’ wildest dreams,” Reader said. “Think about the legacy you want to leave behind ... If you don’t tell your own story, somebody else is gonna tell it for you.” 

Gibson Ek 11th grader Emma A. said the summit “created this passionate environment with remarkable speeches and classes. Opportunities to attend events like these are rare most of the time, but the Black and Brown Student Summit shared something important: community.” Emma said the speakers “gave astonishing perspectives on topics that aren’t often shared. I went into the summit with high expectations and left with a notebook filled with notes, quotes, and reflections; it truthfully did not disappoint.” 

Students shared feedback in an exit survey at the end of the day. 

“I’ll take away the stories and ideas the speakers gave me, especially the one about finding my purpose,” one student wrote. Other student comments in response to the question “What is one thing you learned or will take away from today’s summit?” included: 

• “There are more people than one might realize in everyone’s corner. Those rooting for you may not always be obvious.” 
• “That I’m worthy and to not let anyone stop me from shining.” 
• “That we are all seen and important.” 
• “Consistency and purpose is key.” 
• “Being held back because of the color of your skin does not mean you can’t create a new path to success.” 
• “That your voice matters and that your dreams hold value.” 

Speaker Erin Jones also shared highlights of her own story with the students. Adopted by white parents, Jones and her family lived in the Netherlands for part of her childhood, and she learned to speak four languages by the time she was a teenager. An athlete, an educator and an author, Jones was the first Black woman to run for Superintendent of Public Instruction in Washington state – and the first Black woman to run for any state office, she said. 

“It’s not about where you start; it’s about where you finish. I started out abandoned in a hospital, and look where I finished,” Jones said. She told the story of one day when the wife of the President of Egypt visited her school, and had lunch with Jones and other students.  

“I said, ‘I’m 9 and I’m learning Hebrew and Arabic, and someday I’m going to broker peace between Israel and Palestine,’” Jones recalled. “ ... I failed, obviously, but (we should have) big dreams, remember?” That day, the president’s wife responded “Erin, you are a change-maker.” 

Speaking to the adults in the room, Jones emphasized that encouraging words from adults matter so much to young people that they can alter their path forever. “That day changed my entire life,” Jones said.  

What stood out most about the summit for Alaina Sivadasan, Executive Director of Equity, Belonging and Family Partnerships, was the joy of connection, affirmation, and being in a space created for students.  

“They didn’t just listen to powerful keynotes — they saw themselves in the workshop presenters, the panelists, and the facilitators,” Sivadasan said. “That kind of representation matters deeply. It builds confidence, affirms identity, and creates a sense of belonging that lingers far beyond the day. The Summit was more than an event — it was a joyful, transformative experience for our students.” 

The district received a grant that helped cover the cost of the summit, and is seeking funding to pay for hosting another conference next year.

“I’m grateful our district hosted this important event to help inspire students and affirm their identities through sharing knowledge, stories and experiences by community leaders who students can authentically relate to and also see themselves reflected in,” Superintendent Heather Tow-Yick said.  “Creating this space helps our district come alongside the many outstanding school systems across the country that offer similar experiences for their students.” 

Sydne Mullings, one of our School Board Directors and also a panelist, said it was a fantastic day. “I was honored to emcee an event that brought together such bright, motivated students from across the district. The energy in the room was electric and the level of engagement was truly inspiring.” 

Professor Michael Tuncap, who was born in Guam and grew up in the Tacoma area, is a consultant with Relevant Engagement who has done significant work in education, racial equity, mentorship and more. Like Reader and Jones, Tuncap shared his story with our students. He underscored the importance of relatives, both immediate and in the larger sense. Calling everyone in the room “familia,” (family), He quickly created a sense of closeness among everyone in the room. Tuncap chanted and asked those in the room to sing back or call back after him. Then, he told them what the words they sang meant.  

“In the beginning, where I came from is my mother and her mother and her mother,” Tuncap said. Throughout the rest of his talk and performance, he asked the students to share big dreams with one another – hopes for their future selves and for those who are younger than them. Helping to make the dreams more tangible, he asked them to write each one down on a notecard. 

“My homework for you is to take that card and introduce yourself to one of the adults in the room who can help you make your dreams come true,” Tuncap challenged. He closed by sharing traditional necklaces from the Pacific Islands with students and adults in the room. 

One of the event organizers, Equity and Family Partnership Specialist Sharon Roy, said the event filled her heart. “The summit was an amazing experience for students and us adults as well. When you feel like you belong and see people who get you, it’s way easier to dream big and see possibilities,” Roy said. “The day started quiet and reserved.  This was a new experience, and the students did not quite know what to expect.  By the end of the summit, students were engaged, laughing and connecting — full of joy.”

 

Professor Michael Tuncap speaks during the district's first Black and Brown Excellence Summit.

 

Panelists at the summit included, from left, School Board Director Sydne Mullings, who is also Marketing General Manager of the Americas for Microsoft; ISD Executive Director of Special Services Dr. Sharine Carver; Business Partnership Manager at AT&T Sergio Palomino, who is also an ISD alum and a FIFA Football Agent; University of Washington Decathlete Jami Schlueter; and Senior Director of Information Solutions for the Seattle Mariners Oliver Roy.

 

In photo at top, students and staff gather for a photo at the end of the summit.