2026 National Convening:
There’s No Place Like EdLoC

Wednesday, April 29 – Friday, May 1, 2026  

JW Marriott Los Angeles | 900 W Olympic Blvd | Los Angeles, California

Member Registration for the 2026 National Convening is now open on EdLoC Connect, with presale available until January 15, 2026, regular registration available until March 16, 2026, and full registration rate available until April 17, 2026! Registration is open to EdLoC members whose dues are paid. Guests of current EdLoC members are welcome to join the Convening by invitation only. The guest registration period is from January 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026.

REGISTRATION NOW OPEN

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REGISTRATION NOW OPEN 〰️

Don’t wait. Come home.

The 10th Anniversary Convening is a homecoming. Whether you joined the Network in 2016 or just found your way to EdLoC this year, this milestone belongs to you. It’s a time to come home. To be seen. To honor what’s been built, reflect on what’s been weathered, and imagine what comes next—together.

For a decade, EdLoC has been a space where leaders of color can be fully themselves, share truth, spark ideas, and build solutions that transform systems. What began in April 2014—when Kaya Henderson, Aimée Eubanks Davis, and Layla Avila convened eighteen prominent Black and Latino education leaders to ask whether a new entity was needed to meaningfully improve the lives of children—has grown into a Network of more than 1,400 leaders nationwide. Through it all, we’ve stayed true to our founding vision: creating the rare conditions where leaders can connect, collaborate, and drive lasting change for young people of color.

Why you should attend

This Convening is a celebration, a strategy session, a reunion, and a recommitment. It’s where ideas sharpen, partnerships form, and collective power takes root. As we come together in 2026, our goals are simple yet powerful:

  1. Deepen our Commitment to Multiracial, Multi-Sector Coalition Building: Honor the strength and impact of our multiracial, multi-sector Network by celebrating the leaders, values, and vision that have fueled this movement and will continue shaping generations to come.  

  2. Convene with Purpose: Bring leaders across race, sector, and geography together in spaces designed for connection, strategy, and collective action—while reaffirming our commitment to protecting and supporting our members, especially in moments when their safety and well-being are under threat.  

  3. Catalyze Action for Collective Impact: Strengthen our ability to shape public narratives and influence policy by equipping members with tools, skills, and collective strategies that center equity and long-term change.  

  4. Invest in the Future we’ve Dreamed of: Mobilize capital, tools, and collective expertise—from funding to skill-building—to power bold, disruptive solutions built by and for our communities.  

  5. Reclaim what brings us Joy: Create space for joy as both resistance and restoration to imagine and build what’s next. 

Who attends

This event is intentionally designed for senior leaders of color who are focused on dismantling systemic barriers faced by young people and communities of color in pursuit of academic and economic success. We are educators, policymakers, nonprofit executives, entrepreneurs, philanthropists, financial experts, community development professionals, and social impact leaders. The Convening is designed for EdLoC members and is also open to guests who share EdLoC’s values, are inspired by EdLoC's mission, seek to influence change in their fields, and are invited to attend by a current EdLoC member.  

FAQs

  • The 2026 National Convening will be held at the JW Marriott Los Angeles located at 900 W Olympic Blvd, Los Angeles, CA 90015. 

    The 2026 National Convening will begin on Wednesday, April 29 at 7:00 p.m. PT and end on Friday, May 1 at 1:30 p.m. PT after lunch. The theme this year is "There’s No Place Like EdLoC.”

  • EdLoC will share the details of the agenda and spotlight speakers and social gatherings on EdLoC Connect and on social media over the coming months. Follow us for updates on social media. Members can login to EdLoC Connect for exclusive content updates. 

  • Yes! EdLoC Connect is the app that will be used for National Convening. Download the app on the App Store or Google Play to stay connected.

  • To honor the event, session materials won’t be distributed. Instead, we’ll share a recap video so you can revisit highlights and insights after the Convening.

  • EdLoC members whose dues are paid can register at a discounted rate using EdLoC Connect starting September 29, 2025. Guests of current EdLoC members are welcome to join the Convening by invitation only. The guest registration period is from January 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026.

  • Your registration includes access to: 

    • Convening Sessions: Access to nationally recognized speakers through interactive presentations, multi-sector panels, and thoughtfully curated breakout sessions. 

    • Hotel Accommodations: Two-night stay at the JW Marriott Los Angeles. 

    • On-site Meals: All meals, snacks, and beverages for the three-day Convening are included. Upon request, the catering staff can meet all dietary restrictions, and food allergies. 

    • Entertainment: All attendees are invited to attend a welcome and closing reception and curated networking opportunities. 

    • Swag: Custom event swag designed to make the event extra special.

  • Unfortunately, we cannot accept personal or business checks, and we cannot split the registration payment across two or more credit cards. Only one credit card can be accepted at the time of registration. 

  • Please email us at nationalconvening@edloc.org, and we will resend this to you!

  • Yes! Please email your changes to us at nationalconvening@edloc.org.

  • If you need to change or modify your Convening registration and/or hotel reservation, please email us at nationalconvening@edloc.org.

  • If you are no longer able to join us, kindly let us know by February 26, 2026, by emailing us at nationalconvening@edloc.org. 

    If your cancellation is received prior to February 26, 2026, you will be refunded 75% of your registration fees. If your cancellation is received between February 27, 2026, and March 28, 2026, EdLoC will refund 50% of your registration fees. Any cancellations received after March 28, 2026, will not be eligible for a refund.

  • Yes, EdLoC has a limited number of scholarships available on a first-come, first-served basis, for EdLoC members.

    If you meet the criteria listed below and would like to request a scholarship, please send an inquiry to nationalconvening@edloc.org. In your email, include:

    a. Your eligibility (e.g., full-time student; staff/founder of an early-stage nonprofit; school or district employee).

    b. A brief written statement (300 words max) that addresses:

    • Why attending the 2026 National Convening is important for you and your work.

    • How covering the registration fee would make it possible for you to participate.

    • Any financial barriers you face that would otherwise prevent attendance.

    • We do not require any personal financial documents (e.g., tax returns, pay stubs). Your honest statement will be reviewed as part of the scholarship consideration process.

    The scholarship waives the registration fee only. Travel to and from the National Convening is the responsibility of the scholarship recipient.

  • If you need accessibility services, please be sure to indicate those when you register for the Convening. If you need to modify accessibility requests closer to the event, please email us at nationalconvening@edloc.org.

  • Please ensure that you outline any allergies or restrictions when you register for the Convening.

  • No, travel expenses will not be reimbursed by EdLoC. Individuals are responsible for all travel-related expenses to and from the Convening. We recommend using ride-sharing services such as Uber or Lyft. 

  • All guests are required to present a credit card or debit card at check-in to cover any incidentals incurred during their stay.

  • Yes, please book directly on the hotel’s website (JW Marriott Los Angeles). Our team will be able to connect your extended reservation with the one you made during your Convening registration. 

  • For general questions about the Convening, please email us at nationalconvening@edloc.org

  • Yes. Guests of current EdLoC members are welcome to join the Convening by invitation only. Guests will need to provide the first and last name of the EdLoC member who invited them and a credit card. The guest registration period is from January 16, 2026, to April 17, 2026.

  • EdLoC remains committed to the safety and comfort of our attendees. In addition to standard venue security protocols, our team will continue to actively monitor city-specific developments and update safety precautions for the Convening as needed. We will coordinate closely with our hotel partners, local officials, and trusted public safety channels to assess any potential risks in the area leading up to and during the Convening, including public safety alerts, emergency deployments, and immigration enforcement activity. If any developments arise that may impact the Convening, we will communicate with attendees promptly and provide appropriate guidance.