The Power of Us
Teach For America Brings Its 35th Anniversary Event to Las Vegas
By Stacey Gualandi
We’re going to need a lot of apples.
Teach For America (TFA) is loading up its lesson plan and bringing tens of thousands of alumni from around the country to Las Vegas for its 35th Anniversary Summit in October.
“Imagine a world where it’s part festival, part convening and part homecoming reunion,” said Niloy Gangopadhyay, vice president of the 35th Anniversary Summit.
To introduce this once-in-a-decade summit, Gangopadhyay led a recent gathering of spokespeople from Sin City’s social sector at Cashman Photo with TFA leadership, including Executive Director Tim Hughes and MGM Resorts International Senior Vice President of Entertainment Development & Strategy Daniel Bernbach.
For the first time in Las Vegas, TFA will unite educators, policymakers and community leaders to meet challenges and chart solutions for the future of education.
Hughes, a third-generation Nevadan, helped launch TFA in Nevada in 2004. He returned two years ago to continue giving back to the community.
“Twenty years later, we are really the lead talent pipeline for the social sector and want to keep thinking about how we can partner with people to make sure we’re continuing to make an impact,” Hughes said.
Collectively, the TFA team believes this summit will be a “catalyzing, movement-defining moment.”
“Teach For America’s mission is to ensure that regardless of where you are born, what school district you go to, what ZIP code you grow up in … every kid should have access to an excellent education,” Bernbach said. “Unfortunately, in our country, that is not the case. Even after 35 years, we are still fighting for that mission to ensure that one day all children will have access to an excellent education.”
In 35 years, TFA has amassed more than 68,000 change-making alumni, a “national network with real influence” that reflects the communities it serves.
“No other entity since 1990 has produced more classroom teachers, school leaders, systems leaders, Ed entrepreneurs or civic leaders than our organization,” Gangopadhyay said. “Forty percent of our alumni and attendees are going to be noneducators.”
The nonprofit’s summit schedule, taking place Oct. 2-3 at Caesars Forum, could fill up a few chalkboards. There will be exhibits, interactive “houses,” brand activations, panel discussions, partnerships and a forward-thinking conference app, among other planned activities.
Ultimately, organizers want to build recruitment, training and integration in Las Vegas, utilizing what they refer to as the “5 C’s”: connect, celebrate, comprehend, co-create and commit.
“We want people to drink from the well of inspiration during this event, to get on a plane, or drive, or stay in Las Vegas and be fired up about what comes next for the next five, 10, 15 years,” Gangopadhyay said. “We really want to frame this summit through the lens of getting people to come to Vegas and fall in love with the place.”
Well, Las Vegas, how do you like them apples?
To learn how to sponsor, register or get involved in the 35th Anniversary Summit, visit TFA's website.
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