🎟️ Ticket Deadline: May 10th — Secure Your Spot Before It’s Too Late! 🎟️
Speakers
Our speakers will share insights on the rich legacy of Black education in Detroit, highlighting stories of resilience, innovation, and excellence. Expect thought-provoking conversations on equity, social justice, and the future of education through a cultural and historical lens.
Adisa Ababa
Founder, New Urban Paradigm
Adisa founded New Urban Paradigm with a powerful vision: to reimagine how culture, identity, and community are centered in early education. As an educator and community advocate, Adisa saw firsthand how traditional learning environments often overlooked the unique experiences and cultural identities of young children especially in urban communities. She knew that real education is not just about transferring knowledge, but about transforming lives.
Driven by the belief that learning should reflect the uniqueness of every child, Adisa built New Urban Paradigm as a community-based, membership-supported network. Her mission was clear: to create a space where culture is not only acknowledged but celebrated as an essential part of the learning journey.
Rodney David Deal
Vice President of Education and Outreach
Rodney David Deal is the Vice President of Education and Outreach at the Detroit Historical Museum. He is an esteemed person of an enslaved African Americans heritage. His inheritance of resilience, perseverance, and faith are his greatest assets from the blood, sweat, tears, and courage of his ancestors. Mr. Deal is a former schoolteacher and school administrator; he served over twenty years in traditional and non-traditional K – 12 public education. He is an author, curator, sociologist, and vexillologist.
Wytrice Harris
Senior Director, Detroit Promise
Wytrice Harris is the Senior Director of College Success and Partnerships for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Detroit Promise scholarship. She began as a Campus Coach in the program in 2016, and uses her coaching knowledge, and passion for students, to help inform her current work. Wytrice also serves on the executive committee of the Michigan Promise Zone Authority as treasurer.
Before joining the Chamber, Wytrice worked as a Local College Access Network Coordinator (LCAN) for 5 years at a Detroit High School and a College Success Coach for seven years at Wayne State University in a program called Math Corps. She’s a non-traditional college student who turned lots of determination and “some college” into two bachelor’s, two master’s and a fulfilling career.
DaRhonda Evans
Principal - Carver STEM Academy DPSCD
DaRhonda Evans is a dedicated educational leader with over 24 years of service within the Detroit Public Schools Community District (DPSCD). She currently serves as Principal of Carver STEM Academy, where she is leading a new chapter focused on academic achievement, student engagement, and community growth.
A proud product of Detroit Public Schools, Ms. Evans attended elementary, middle, and high school in the city she now serves. Her deep-rooted connection to Detroit fuels her commitment to empowering students and families through equitable, high-quality education.
Kalana Gates
Library Professional
Kalana Gates is a devoted library professional with 19 years of experience, currently serving as a Library Branch Manager at the Detroit Public Library’s Elmwood Park Branch. She has made it her mission to transform the library into a vibrant hub of resources, inspiration, and joy for the entire community.
Rooted in the legacy of Detroit Black Excellence, she brings a deep passion for literacy, family engagement, and creative learning experiences to everything she does.
Dr. Sarah E. Patterson
Campus Principal
Dr. Sarah E. Patterson is the proud Campus Principal of Westside Christian Academy, bringing a unique blend of corporate expertise and educational leadership to her role. A native of Gary, Indiana, she is passionate about empowering Detroit’s youth, many of whom face the same socioeconomic challenges she experienced growing up. After earning her B.S. in Applied Mathematics from Kettering University and working as an actuarial technician, she transitioned into education to make a greater impact, earning her M.A. in Teaching Secondary Mathematics from Wayne State University.
For over a decade, Dr. Patterson has taught Detroit students with a commitment to excellence, believing children deserve educators who recognize their greatness and champion their development in every way possible. She recently earned her Doctor of Education in Leadership from the American College of Education, with research focused on servant leadership and multigenerational team dynamics.
Krystall Okebulu
Director of Program Innovation at the Tuskegee Airmen Museum - Flight Academy
A licensed pilot, drone instructor, and aviation educator, she is passionate about expanding access to STEM and aviation education for underrepresented communities. As a STEM advocate, Krystall leads innovative programming that inspires the next generation of aviators and aerospace professionals.
