Rooted in Purpose: The Broad Network Gathers in Los Angeles for Forum 2026
Over two days in January, alumni of The Broad Center at Yale SOM gathered for an annual reunion that fosters community, strengthens ties, and encourages sharing of new ideas and perspectives.
Every year, The Broad Center at Yale SOM (TBC) hosts its Forum, a reunion for alumni of its several education leadership programs. The 2026 Forum took place in Los Angeles, where the center’s work originally began. Its theme, “Rooted in Purpose, Rising in Leadership,” offered alumni an opportunity to discuss their commitment to transformative work in education and their role in navigating an increasingly complex landscape for public schools. Held January 15-16, the Forum convened more than 250 alumni of The Broad Academy (TBA), The Broad Residency (TBR), The Broad Fellowship for Public Education Leaders, The Broad Fellowship (TBF), and the Broad Master's in Public Education Management (TBM).
Coming Home to Los Angeles
The Forum opened with a spoken word poetry reading by Samantha Reyes, Los Angeles’ 2025 youth poet laureate. Met by a standing ovation, her poem, titled “The Heart of Los Angeles,” invited listeners to explore themes of belonging, purpose, and shared identity, and to meditate on how those concepts connect to the physical spaces we call home.
“It felt like the right time to gather in LA, and to be in community and fellowship with the Broad network in the place where it all began,” said Katina Grays (TBR 2012-14), deputy director of TBC. To honor its origins, the center commissioned a special commemorative tote bag featuring the art of local artist Usen Gandara. Gandara’s design collaged the city’s landscapes, natural features, and history into a story of forward progress.
Yale SOM Dean Kerwin K. Charles, who spoke at the Forum after a series of West Coast alumni receptions earlier that month, acknowledged TBC’s formative roots in Los Angeles and said that Yale, as the center’s new home, seeks to honor this foundation. “I extend my deepest thanks and appreciation to you all for the grace, hope, and enthusiasm with which you welcomed us and with which you now assist us in getting TBC at SOM to its current position,” he said.
As Natasha Trivers (TBF 2022-23), the Anita and Joshua Bekenstein ’80 B.A. Executive Director of The Broad Center at Yale SOM, took to the stage, the “Broadies” in the audience rose to their feet to welcome her with heartfelt applause. Trivers shared her strategic vision, inspired by TBC’s rich history of resistance, excellence, and community. As the center deepens its roots within the Yale community, she said, she plans to continue cultivating a strong network through signature programs, support research to improve educational outcomes and influence policy, and elevate the center’s profile at SOM.
Navigating LA’s Complex Educational Ecosystem
On the Forum’s first day, attendees learned about the remarkable complexity of public education in Los Angeles: Los Angeles County’s educational ecosystem encompasses 80 public school districts serving nearly 1.3 million students, as well as more than 300 independent public charter schools. A panel of four city education leaders spoke about the challenges and opportunities of working within one of the nation’s most intricate educational landscapes. Speakers included Alberto Carvalho, superintendent of Los Angeles Unified School District; Yolie Flores (TBA 2019-20), president and CEO of Families in Schools; and Ana Ponce (TBA 2014-16), CEO of Great Public Schools Now. The conversation was moderated by Caprice Young (TBA 2019-20), superintendent and CEO of Navigator Schools.
Flores emphasized the transformative power of family engagement in driving equity, encouraging leaders to “align with the people with the same integrity, passion, and urgency as you.”
“What happens when families demand more?” she said. “Equity stops being aspirational, and it becomes operational.”
Carvalho likewise challenged educators in the room to embrace their power to create change: “You have the power to change America… So go out there, follow science, follow knowledge, and, above all, follow passion,” he said.
Solidarity as Strategy for Collective Impact
The next morning’s opening session brought together leaders from education and philanthropy to examine how collaboration, solidarity, and collective responsibility can strengthen systems-level problem-solving. The panel featured Connie Chung Joe, president and CEO of Asian Americans/Pacific Islanders in Philanthropy; Sharhonda Bossier, CEO of Education Leaders of Color; Davonte Green, director of community investment and engagement at California Community Foundation; and Jesse Melgares (TBM 2022-23), CEO of the Accelerated Schools. Grays moderated the conversation.
Guided by the idea that going far requires going together, panelists shared examples of collaborative approaches that led to sustainable outcomes and explored how partnership, mutual accountability, and collective care can address current challenges.
“Collaboration is built on trust,” Chung Joe said. “The more challenging the issue the deeper that trust needs to be. When building coalitions, the process is just as important as the impact.”
Bossier acknowledged the difficulty of this work while emphasizing its necessity. “The most important thing we're doing is being honest that it’s hard,” she said.
Deep Dives into Critical Challenges
On Friday afternoon, alumni chose from 10 breakout sessions on diverse and timely topics. Sessions offered perspectives on cutting-edge education leadership research on topics such as navigating leadership transitions and rethinking career readiness in an AI-driven world. They also explored practical tools for workplace challenges like teacher retention.
Josh Czupryk (TBR 2016-18), founder of the job board Josh’s K12 Jobs Blast, led a session on teacher-retention strategies at a moment when the nation faces a teacher exodus. Czupryk shared how leaders can conduct “stay conversations” that help teachers feel seen, heard, valued, and excited to remain in their roles.
Several sessions explored how leaders can harness AI thoughtfully in education. Alan Cheng (TBF 2024-25), a high school superintendent in the New York City public school system, partnered with Playlab AI co-founder Yusuf Ahmed to share the city’s teacher-centered approach to AI innovation. Their session introduced a simple but powerful protocol that asks, does this use of AI deepen thinking, or does it flatten it?
A panel moderated by Trivers tackled one of the most pressing questions facing education today: what conditions are necessary to sustain system leaders in their roles or attract them back to the field. The panel featured five Broad alumni spanning different programs and career stages, all grappling with leading during one of the most complex socio-political moments in recent history.
Leadership, Purpose, and Community
At different points during the Forum, three Broad alumni shared leadership stories—personal narratives about the values and experiences that have shaped their lives and their approach to mission-driven work. Fabiola Bagula (TBF 2024-25), Troy Williams (TBR 2009-11), and Randy Ramiro (TBM 2022-23) each participated in this beloved tradition by offering reflections that resonated with the Forum’s overall theme.
The Forum’s closing keynote featured remarks from Jose Antonio Vargas, a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist, Emmy-nominated filmmaker, and founder of Define American, a nonprofit organization dedicated to humanizing the experiences of immigrants through narrative storytelling. After sharing his personal story as an undocumented student arriving in America from the Philippines in the 1990s, he discussed how immigration policy and discourse in the U.S. has reached its current point, and offered paths for moving forward.
“Educators have played a central role in my life,” said Vargas. This support inspired him to pursue a path in journalism and to examine the intricacies of immigration throughout American history. “Civic engagement doesn’t just end with a college diploma; it begins with knowing the full force of the history of this country.”
“The reality is what affects each of us,” he said. “The civic engagement that is essential in times like this is deeper.”
Broadies in attendance said the Forum was both restorative and inspiring. Reflecting on discussions during the event, Jerre Maynor, Jr. (TBR 2018-20) said, “Broad is where I feel most confident and also most vulnerable.” A member of the TBC advisory committee, Maynor said that he believes in the strength of the center’s collective action. “We really need to harness all the courage we can, and this is the power of the network. We can change more together.”
Throughout the weekend, alumni commented on the importance of relationships formed through the Broad network in their personal and professional journeys.
“I can’t express how good it feels to be in this room with all of you,” said Cordell Carter (TBR 2008-10). “I’m pretty fired up.”
“Being here at this Forum feels like homecoming,” reflected Steve Purcell (TBR 2009-11). “With the Broad network, there is a sense that there is always a place to come home.”
On Friday, the Forum closed with a celebration at the Grammy Museum, where Broadies found affinity with friends old and new, congratulated each other on professional achievements, shared life updates—and made plans to get together again in the coming year.
