Resisting By Reimagining

DOM Education Fund

Durham Armory

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Thank you for your interest in the Black SEL Summit! Ticket sales have now closed. Stay tuned for upcoming updates and opportunities. For more information, visit blacksel.org/summit.

<h2>Black SEL Summit 2025: Resisting by Reimagining</h2><h4> </h4>

<h3>One Day. Three Bold Moments. One Black Future.</h3> For three years, the Black SEL Summit has been a two-day gathering of bold conversations, Black brilliance, and collective healing. This year, we're doing things differently—but no less powerfully.2025’s theme is Resisting by Reimagining—a direct response to burnout, disconnection, and the need to move differently in order to thrive. We’re compressing the summit into one transformational day rooted in impact, culture, and vision.You’re invited to join us on Thursday, September 25, 2025, for a full day of activation, imagination, and celebration.

<h3>Your Day at a Glance:</h3> 🔹 10AM — Black SEL Hub Launch Ceremony Be part of the public unveiling of the first-ever Black SEL Hub - a prevention-focused, culturally grounded space designed to affirm, uplift, and empower Black students and communities through intentional social-emotional learning. With the theme “Resisting by Reimagining,” this initiative -strategically launching at a historically Black high school, invites us to challenge harmful norms and envision new models of wellness, leadership, and liberation in education.Location: Hillside High School: 3727 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27707🔹 11AM — “Resisting by Reimagining” Convening Tune into a high-energy, culturally grounded conversation on how we use imagination as a tool for resistance—from the classroom to community organizing. This event features a live student panel featuring <a href="https://blacksel.org/advocate" title="https://blacksel.org/advocate" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Black SEL Advocates</a>, overview of Youth Participatory Action Research (YPAR), and interactive SEL activites facilitated by Black SEL practitioners and grounded in the <a href="https://blacksel.org/framework" title="https://blacksel.org/framework" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Black SEL Framework</a>.Location: Hillside High School Auditorium: 3727 Fayetteville Rd, Durham, NC 27707🔹 6PM — Dressed to Defy: The Annual Black SEL Gala Fashion is more than flair—it’s resistance. Join us in honoring the legacy of Black creativity and defiance through a formal celebration of fashion, freedom, and forward-thinking. Expect music, storytelling, and unforgettable looks inspired by the Harlem Renaissance and the spirit of survival during the Jim Crow era. Come dressed like your ancestors are watching.Location: The Durham Armory: 212 Foster St. Durham, NC, 27701

<h3>Why This Summit Matters:</h3><h3> </h3>We’re not just talking SEL—we’re living it. Through community, creativity, and culturally grounded strategies, we’re reshaping how Black students and adults thrive socially and emotionally. This year’s theme builds momentum for 2026: Resistance Fuels ReSELience. Don’t just witness the movement—be the movement. We invite YOU to help shape this transformative event.Through the Inclusion of Community Stakeholders and Civic Engagement- two Pillars of the <a href="https://blacksel.org/framework/" title="https://blacksel.org/framework/" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Black SEL Framework</a>, the Black SEL Summit creates a powerful space that fosters community involvement and shared leadership to address social issues. We invite you to not only attend the Black SEL Summit, but also to engage more deeply:<ul><li>Nominate a changemaker for a <a href="https://https://unitedwayofthegreatertriangle.submittable.com/submit/5c5648a0-0278-4f0a-8df3-74f4d5bf3809/2025-black-sel-summit-award-nomination" title="https://https://unitedwayofthegreatertriangle.submittable.com/submit/5c5648a0-0278-4f0a-8df3-74f4d5bf3809/2025-black-sel-summit-award-nomination" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">Black SEL Award</a></li><li>Partner with us in launching the next chapter of this movement! Email us at <a href="" title="" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">info@blacksel.org</a></li></ul> And don’t forget to <a href="https://mailchi.mp/b0ba130d372d/social" title="https://mailchi.mp/b0ba130d372d/social" target="_blank" data-msys-clicktrack="0" rel="nofollow noopener noreferrer">subscribe to our newsletter</a> for the latest summit updates and announcements. <h4>Let’s resist by reimagining what’s possible—together.</h4>

<h3>Please Note: All ticket purchases are non-refundable and non-transferable. By completing your purchase, you agree to these terms.</h3>

Morning

Join us for the official launch of the nation’s first intergenerational Black SEL Hub at Hillside High School—a bold new space for culturally grounded prevention, healing, and leadership.

The morning begins with a welcome and Hub Launch, featuring remarks from Black SEL leadership, school partners, and a blessing from a local faith or cultural leader. Afterward, take a guided tour of the Hub—in person or virtually—and hear firsthand how this space is designed to affirm, uplift, and reimagine what’s possible for Black students and communities.

Press welcome. Media Q&A to follow.

Black SEL Hub Tour & Launch

Afternoon

Step into a live, interactive experience that brings the Black SEL Framework to life. Facilitated by Black SEL youth advocates and team members, this webinar invites you to explore what it means to resist by reimagining—from the lens of students, data, and daily practice.

You'll hear directly from Black youth on the power of being seen in schools, dive into community-rooted research on mental health and education, and participate in a hands-on Black SEL activity led by a trained facilitator.

We’ll close with powerful reflections and a call to action on how to stay connected to the Black SEL Hub throughout the year.

All are welcome—students, educators, families, and community partners. Let’s build the future we deserve, together.

Black SEL Convening

Evening

Fashion has always been a form of resistance, a language of legacy. At this year’s Black SEL Gala: Dressed To Defy, we honor the brilliance and boldness of Black style as a tool of resistance and remembrance. From Harlem Renaissance elegance to the defiant dignity of the Jim Crow South, this night is a tribute to how we’ve always used fashion to tell our stories, claim our space, and imagine freedom.

Expect powerful looks, live music, and moments that remind us—we are our ancestors’ wildest dreams. Come dressed to defy.

Dressed To Defy- Annual Black SEL Summit Gala

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Resisting By Reimagining

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