2022 TALENT STRONG FLORIDA SUMMIT

Following a two-year hiatus, Florida College Access Network’s annual summit returned as a celebration of FCAN’s 10-year anniversary, as well as the partnerships and programs that make education beyond high school accessible to all!

The 2022 Talent Strong Florida Summit welcomed back nearly 300 education leaders and community stakeholders from various sectors — K-12 education, colleges and universities, technical centers, nonprofits, philanthropic foundations, and college students — to get inspired and share new strategies for increasing student and workforce success.

The two-day event took place May 10-11 at the Embassy Suites by Hilton Orlando Lake Buena Vista South.

Among the highlights at the 2022 Talent Strong Florida Summit:

Welcome Luncheon on Day 1 featured keynote speaker Ashley Rhodes-Courter, Best-Selling Author of “Three Little Words” and “Three More Words,” sharing her personal story of resilience. Rhodes-Courter also signed copies of her book after her keynotes address.

Policy Session: Strengthening Workforce Opportunities for Floridians, sponsored by the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, featuring a panel discussion with Rene Plasencia, former member of Florida’s House of Representatives, Katie Crofoot, Director of Florida’s REACH (Reimagining Education and Career Help) Office, and Nicole Washington, Consultant, Washington Education Strategies. The panel was moderated by Mary Chance, President of the Consortium of Florida Education Foundations.

Awards Luncheon on Day 2 honored winners of the 2022 Florida FAFSA Challenge, as well as the recipients of FCAN’s 2022 Workforce Education Innovator and 2022 College Ready Florida Innovator awards. The luncheon also featured keynote speaker Dr. Tonjua Williams, who spoke about the importance of “standing in the gap” to allow others to achieve their education dreams.

A toast to FCAN’s first 10 years!

FAFSA Data Walk allowing attendees to share promising approaches for how communities can work together to meet students where they are.

Charleita M. Richardson, FCAN’s Executive Director

John Davis, Secretary of the Florida Lottery

Ashley Rhodes-Courter, Welcome Luncheon Keynote

Ashley Rhodes-Courter Book Signing

(From left) Mary Chance, Katie Crofoot, Nicole Washington, and Rene Plasencia (attending virtually) during “Policy Session: Strengthening Workforce Opportunities for Floridians”

(From left) Mary Chance, Katie Crofoot, and Nicole Washington during
“Policy Session: Strengthening Workforce Opportunities for Floridians”

Networking Opportunities at the 2022 Talent Strong Florida Summit

Awards Luncheon

Braulio Colón, VP of Student Success Initiatives, Helios Education Foundation & Co-Founder of FCAN

A toast to 10 years of FCAN

From left, Braulio Colón, 2022 College Ready Florida Innovator Noemi Y. Perez, Awards Luncheon Keynote Dr. Tonjua Williams, and Charleita M. Richardson.

From left, Braulio Colón, Anna Lebesch of 2022 Workforce Education Innovator winner Earn Up, Awards Luncheon Keynote Dr. Tonjua Williams, and Charleita M. Richardson

2022 Florida FAFSA Challenge MVPs

2022 Florida FAFSA Challenge Most Improved

Dr. Tonjua Williams, Awards Luncheon Keynote

FAFSA Data Walk

There were also nearly 40 breakout sessions connected to FCAN’s Seven Conditions that Create a Resilient Workforce and Spark Economic Mobility.

You can see a collection of photos and social media chatter from the 2022 Talent Strong Florida Summit by viewing our Wakelet story for the two-day event. You can also listen to every episode of FCAN’s 2022 Summit Speaker Series podcast to hear a select group of presenters discuss their passion for helping all students attain their education beyond high school

Thank you again to everyone who made FCAN’s 2022 Summit possible. See you all next year!

Pin It on Pinterest

Skip to content