Theme: From the Pivot to "Pivotal"

This hybrid event themed “Pivotal”, is geared at engaging community leaders, creatives, and humanists on the future of education in the Greater Philadelphia Region. This event brings together participants receptive and open to hearing unconventional ways of learning with leaders presenting new ideas and plans. Join us!

Virtual
2021 Intrepid Ave
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19112
United States

Ben Pietrzyk

Director, Entrepreneur Mentoring, Uncommon Individual Foundation

Benjamin Pietrzyk is a social entrepreneur, professor and program director. As the Director of Entrepreneur Mentoring at UIF, Ben has advised 80+ ventures in the greater Philadelphia area, helping them create hundreds of jobs and raising millions of capital. Through his work, he has learned the best practices of entrepreneurship and uses that expertise to lead the Caruso Challenge, where he teaches problem based entrepreneurship to youth in Philadelphia and Camden, New Jersey. Outside of UIF, Ben co-founded ondawave, a cross cultural organization that executes asset-based community development in the rural Dominican Republic. Currently, ondawave is launching a medical clinic in Angostura that brings accessible and effective care to rural communities.

Chidi Asoluka

English Teacher and Edupreneur

Chidi Asoluka is a dean and English teacher in New York City as well as an edupreneur. Asoluka’s education consulting start-up, Asoluka Company, strives to develop socially and politically-conscious curriculums in schools across the country. This is his 15th year in education.

Melody Wright

Owner and Principal, SAY/DO Strategies

Melody Wright is owner & principal of SAY/DO Strategies, a Philadelphia-based consulting firm specializing in executing targeted, high-stakes messaging campaigns for complex scenarios and projects in business, government, infrastructure and urban development. In all of its work, SAY/DO’s goal is to use its unique expertise to help underrepresented urban populations make more money, or save more money, to support improved quality of life in the big city. Melody is a former utilities leader, and was the youngest and first Black executive to lead Government Affairs for the Philadelphia Water Department.

Tiara Willis

Educator

Tiara Willis was born and raised in Philadelphia, PA and graduated from Albright College with a bachelor’s in international business. Now, 29, she has been living, studying and serving abroad since she was 17 having visited nearly 50 countries, speaking 5 languages and living mainly throughout African countries. Her impact in the local communities visited has grown from a friendly stranger to a committed and engaged teacher. The knowledge and perspective cultivated from the villages visited is now a part of her and has been pivotal in her healing journey. Having experienced and coached people through hardship, Tiara is now an advocate for healing through meditation, yoga and journaling; all lessons learned from her time in villages throughout the continent.