Where HBCUs, Policymakers, and Community Leaders come together to shape impact.
Impact on the Hill — HBCU Edition
Impact on the Hill — HBCU Edition is a convening designed to elevate the role of Historically Black Colleges and Universities as policy influencers, civic partners, and engines of economic and social progress.
This gathering brings together campus leaders, alumni, students, government officials, and community partners to explore how HBCUs help drive state, federal, and local solutions that strengthen communities across the country.
VirtualAgenda
9:00 – 9:30 AM | Arrival & Welcome
Breakfast Bar + Networking Activation
Participants connect, meet partners, and engage with light sponsor activations designed for conversation and relationship-building.
9:30 – 9:40 AM | Opening Statements
Welcome — “Why We’re Here”
A shared framing of HBCUs as policy partners, community anchors, and leaders in impact-driven innovation.
9:40 – 10:05 AM | Signature Keynote
Where Policy Meets Community Impact
A forward-looking keynote on leadership, opportunity, workforce pathways, health, agriculture, and civic participation.
10:10 – 10:45 AM | Fireside Conversation
Leadership, Opportunity & Ecosystem Impact
A conversation exploring lived leadership experiences, collaborative execution, and community-centered outcomes.
10:50 – 11:30 AM | Policy Labs — Rd 1
Small-Group Working Sessions
Participants choose one focus area:
- Workforce & Entrepreneurship Pathways
- Athlete Wellness, NIL Literacy & Career TransitionCommunity
- Development & Economic MobilityHealth, Wellness & Public Service Pipelines
- Agriculture, Land & Sustainability Innovation
11:35 AM – 12:00 PM | Strategy Rooms — Rd 2
Solution Mapping & Coalition Building
Cross-role strategy conversations that identify short-term actions and long-term partnership opportunities.
12:00 – 12:40 PM | Lunch Experience
Community Lunch Bar + Activation
Curated seating, relationship-focused conversation, and sponsor activations positioned as impact-aligned opportunities.
12:45 – 1:20 PM | Fireside Conversation
Partnership in Practice — From Idea to Execution
Real-world examples of collaboration, lessons learned, and alignment across institutions and communities.
1:25 – 2:10 PM | Action Lab
From Conversation to Commitments
Participants identify collaboration, follow-up engagement, and initiative pathway for each Days 2–3.
2:10 – 2:30 PM | Closing Circle
Reflections & Day 2 On-Ramp
Shared insights, transition framing, and preparation for deeper policy and partnership work.
Sponsored -Virtual Happy Hour
A relationship-focused networking experience hosted by a sponsor — designed for connection and leadership conversation.
IN-Person | Streaming Agenda
Day 2 delivers our first in person day to dive deeper into policy, strategy, and partnership execution — translating conversations into pathways, collaboration models, and next-step commitments across institutions, communities, and government partners.
8:00 – 9:00 AM | Doors Open
Light networking, conversation prompts, and early-morning meeting room availability for teams and delegations.
9:10 – 9:35 AM | Day 2 Kickoff Keynote
Keynote: Policy to Practice — Turning Momentum Into Action
A forward-looking keynote on how institutions, partners, and communities turn ideas into implementation and measurable impact.
9:40 – 10:05 AM | Signature Keynote
Keynote: Where Policy Meets Community Impact
A forward-looking keynote on leadership, opportunity, workforce pathways, health, agriculture, and civic participation.
9:40 – 10:20 AM | Fireside Conversation
Workforce & Entrepreneurship — Pathways to Opportunity
A leadership-focused conversation exploring talent pipelines, entrepreneurship ecosystems, and mobility across HBCU-connected communities.
10:25 – 10:50 AM | Policy Labs — Round 1
Applied Policy & Impact Workshops
Small-group working labs focused on:
- Workforce & entrepreneurship acceleration
- Athlete leadership, NIL literacy & career transition
- Health & wellness ecosystems
- Agriculture, land & sustainability innovation
- Civic leadership & public service pathways
10:55 – 11:20 AM | Strategy Sessions — Round 1
Execution Mapping & Partnership Design
Teams identify near-term activation steps, collaboration models, and cross-institution partnership opportunities.
11:20 – 11:30 AM | Transition Block
Time for hallway conversations, connection moments, and sponsor touch-points.
11:30 AM – 12:10 PM | Fireside Conversation
Health & Human Impact — Care, Access & Community Well-Being
A conversation exploring health workforce pathways, wellness leadership, and community-centered care.
12:15 – 12:40 PM | Policy Labs — Round 2
Second Series of Working Labs
Participants continue applied policy conversations with a focus on alignment and implementation.
12:45 – 1:10 PM | Mid-Day Connector Social (Sponsor-Hosted)
Policy & Partnerships Mixer
A relationship-driven connection space hosted by a sponsor — designed for collaboration, alignment, and conversation.
1:15 – 1:55 PM | Fireside Conversation
Technology, Innovation & Community Infrastructure
Exploring innovation tools, accountability systems, and technology-aligned impact initiatives.
2:00 – 2:25 PM | Strategy Sessions — Round 2
Execution Pathways for Day 3 & Beyond
Participants map partnership actions, contacts, and next-step collaboration routes.
2:30 – 2:55 PM | Policy Labs — Round 3
Final Working Lab Series
Synthesis-focused conversations that clarify priorities and engagement pathways.
3:00 – 3:40 PM | Fireside Conversation
Civic Leadership, Policy Influence & Community Voice
A reflective leadership conversation on governance, participation, and shared responsibility in impact work.
3:45 – 4:10 PM | Closing Strategy Segment
Commitments We Carry Forward
Participants identify one collaboration, one conversation to continue, and one initiative lane leading into Day 3.
4:30 – 5:45 PM | Sponsored Happy Hour
Leadership & Executive Connection Mixer
An elevated networking experience focused on relationship-building and strategic conversation.
Meeting Rooms — Available Throughout the Day
Booked in 1 hr 10 min blocks for delegation meetings, partner conversations, coalition planning, and collaboration sessions.
IN-Person | Streaming Agenda
Day 3 is focused on action, relationship-building, and execution mapping. Delegations, students, partners, and sponsors move from conversation to commitments — advancing pathways continued beyond the convening.
8:30 – 9:00 AM | Breakfast & Delegation Check-In
Morning Welcome & Preparation
Participants gather, confirm schedules, and prepare for track-based engagement across Hill visits, student activation, and partnership alignment.
9:00 – 9:25 AM | Opening Brief
Today Is About Action
A shared framing that connects the work from Days 1–2 to the execution, alignment, and commitments being advanced on Day 3.
Parallel Tracks Begin
TRACK 1 — Hill-Building & Legislative Engagement
9:30 – 10:00 AM | Hill Visit Prep Huddles
Message Alignment & Briefing Review
Delegations align priorities, talking points, and community-impact framing.
10:10 AM – 12:20 PM | Congressional & Legislative Visit Block
Small-Group Delegation Meetings
Member and staff briefings, relationship-building conversations, and issue-focused discussions.
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Hill Debrief Circle
Reflection & Opportunity Mapping
Delegations share insights, alignment moments, and follow-up opportunities.
1:15 – 2:00 PM | Leadership Roundtable (Invite-Only)
Institutional Leadership, Policy Influence & Community Partnership
A closed-door dialogue focused on long-horizon collaboration, trust-building, and shared leadership alignment.
TRACK 2 — Student- Athlete Focused Activation Track
9:30 – 10:10 AM | Student Fireside Conversation
Leadership, Identity & Public Purpose
A lived-experience conversation on agency, responsibility, opportunity, and impact.
10:15 – 10:40 AM | Skill Sprint
From Campus Leadership to Civic Pathways
Students explore pathways into public service, entrepreneurship, policy, and community work.
10:45 – 11:25 AM | Student-Led Leadership + Civic Pathway Circle
Peer-Led Dialogue & Reflection
Students define where they lead, how they serve, and what they want to build next.
11:30 AM – 12:05 PM | Student Action Lab
Lead Where You Stand
Participants identify a leadership commitment, community-impact action, and mentorship connection.
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Student & Alumni Connector Lunch
Cross-campus networking and relationship-building.
1:15 – 2:00 PM | Applied Practice Breakouts
Service • Policy • Entrepreneurship Pathways
Students develop a next-step activation roadmap in their chosen area of focus.
TRACK 3 — Sponsor Partnership & Capital Alignment Track
9:30 – 10:10 AM | Partnership in Practice Fireside
Collaboration, Trust & Impact-Aligned Execution
A real-world conversation on ethical partnership and community-centered value creation.
10:15 – 10:40 AM | Sponsor Impact Dialogue
Listening-Forward Partnership Discussion
Shared space focused on outcomes, stewardship, and community benefit.
10:45 – 11:25 AM | Capital & Collaboration Strategy Rooms
Teams identify partnership pathways and concept pilots across key impact areas.
11:30 AM – 12:05 PM | Coalition Mapping Session
Who Belongs at the Table?
Partners identify missing stakeholders and regional alignment opportunities.
12:30 – 1:00 PM | Sponsors & Partners Connector Lunch
Relationship-driven networking and cross-partner introductions.
1:15 – 2:00 PM | Execution Mapping — Capital & Partnership Commitments
Teams define near-term actions, responsible leads, and follow-up cadence.
2:15 – 3:00 PM | Collective Synthesis
What We’re Building Forward
All tracks reconvene to share key wins, pilot initiatives, and scheduled next-step commitments.
3:00 – 3:30 PM | Closing Reflection & Network Continuity
From Convening to Collaboration
What the Convening Focuses On
Policy Conversations Rooted in Community-Based Lived Experience
Workforce and Entrepreneurship Pathways for Students and Alumni
Health | Wellness | Public-Service Leadership Development
Policy Conversations Rooted in Community-Based Lived Experience
Local | Regional Economic Mobility and Innovation
Agriculture | Land | Environment | Sustainability Initiatives
Civic Engagement | Leadership Pipelines | Government Partnerships
Why This Matters
HBCUs are more than academic institutions; they are community anchors. Their students, alumni, and leaders shape neighborhoods, industries, and policy conversations every day.
This convening recognizes HBCUs as partners in governance and opportunity-building, helping bridge the gap between education, community needs, and long-term impact.
Who Participates
HBCU Presidents & Executive Leadership
Academic | Policy | Health | Agriculture | Innovation Leaders
Alumni Associations & Student Representatives
Local | State | Federal Government Partners
Civic Organizations & Community Impact Leaders
Private and Philanthropic Partners aligned with Community Progress
Our Goal
To strengthen alignment between HBCUs and the communities they serve — creating pathways where policy, education, leadership, and opportunity intersect for real, measurable impact.
Sponsorship Activations
Sponsoring this HBCU Edition connects partners to institutions that serve as pillars of community leadership, workforce development, and policy-driven impact. Supporting this convening is not just an event investment — it is a commitment to strengthening the ecosystems surrounding HBCUs, including students, families, alumni, local economies, and civic networks. Sponsors help advance initiatives that create pathways to opportunity, leadership, and community resilience across state, local, and national landscapes.
Join our Current & Past Speakers, Sponsors & Supporters
Join an Impact on the Hill Opportunity Sessions
Sign up for an upcoming info session to learn more about the convening, participation opportunities, and how HBCUs and partners can engage. Sessions are offered twice each week starting February 4th, 2026.
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