Hewlett Foundation Education Grantee Convening — Our Experiences and Learnings
Last month, Revanth Voothaluru, Learning Equality’s Global Implementations Project Manager, and Navya Akkinepally, our Head of Training and Impact attended the Hewlett Foundation Education Grantee Convening, a space for grantees to share their individual efforts, highlight their collective impact, and connect on a deeper level with the Foundation and each other. In this blog post, Revanth recounts what they saw and learned at the event.
The Hewlett Foundation organized an education convening last month, in Atlanta, GA. The event — aimed at fostering a collaborative environment for us grantees — was thoughtfully designed to balance engaging sessions, ample networking opportunities, and immersive learning experiences. It also sought to provide us with a shared understanding of the current threats to public education, while maintaining a hopeful outlook on our shared responsibility to defend students, families, educators, and schools. Another key objective was celebrating and energizing its grantees, inspiring us to return to work with renewed vigor.
Pre-Conference Outing: Amana Academy North
The first day featured pre-conference outings, and our team chose to visit Amana Academy North. Amana Academy is both an EL (Expeditionary Learning) Education Credentialed Network School and a Certified STEM public charter school, providing a robust Expeditionary STEM education to students in grades K-8. The Academy serves a highly diverse student population, with students representing over 40 countries and more than 26 different languages spoken in their homes. This diversity fosters global awareness, empathy, and context for historical and contemporary issues in students’ learning.
Given Learning Equality’s focus on project-based learning, we found this experience particularly insightful. We observed classrooms from grades 1, 3, and 7, where the experiential learning focus was evident. The students confidently walked us through their classrooms, excitedly explaining their ‘expeditions’ — a form of showcasing their learning. Learners from Grade 1 were focused on building biodegradable bird feeders, integrating various subjects into a common expedition, and demonstrating a strong alignment with curricular standards. Grade 7 learners spoke very proudly about how they are designing solutions for reducing water wastage. Their sense of pride clearly indicated a strong connection to their learning and to their school.
Day 1: Plenary Session and Panel Discussions:
The following day, we joined the plenary titled “Education As a Public Good: Thriving in a Multiracial Democracy,” featuring Heather Harding and Lacey Robinson and moderated by Nirvi Shah. The discussion explored the role of public schools in building community, and the adaptive challenge of understanding and representing students’ diverse backgrounds. The conversation ended on a powerful note: “Hope gets called by action, and action gets called by collective efforts,” setting an inspiring tone for the convening.
“Hope gets called by action, and action gets called by collective efforts”
In light of emerging technologies and the relevance of AI to our work , we also participated in sessions focused on those areas. The panel titled “Designing Inclusive AI” was particularly exciting, featuring diverse perspectives from panelists An-Me Chung, Lindsay Jones, C. Edward Watson, and Jutta Treviranus, and moderated by Sheree Santos. Discussions ranged from how AI can contribute to widening educational gaps to how it can level them. One critical point was AI’s reliance on past patterns, which can reinforce discrimination and create a homogenizing monoculture. Conversely, some panelists highlighted how AI is as good as humans are, suggesting that the dystopia/utopia narrative might be a smoke screen that will prevent us from seeing things for what they are. A significant question raised was: ‘Can AI be trained to be equitable?’ and an emphasis on how organizations can partner together to design equitable AI. The conversation was insightful in many ways, emphasizing the importance of discussing ethics in AI and highlighting how philanthropy needs to address issues that markets do not.
Day 2: Discussions on Emerging Technologies and the Importance of Student Voice
The final day included an immersive group space focused on “Emerging Technologies” where multiple grantee organizations joined. This session facilitated rich discussions on the evolution of technologies over the past five years, their current impact, and the potential ways in which they will influence the world in the next five years. Participants engaged in dynamic exchanges about promising trends, challenges, and potential blind spots. One of the important ideas the conversation sparked was around AI’s role in personalizing learning, with many participants agreeing on how it is important to provide access to these tools rather than just debating their usefulness.
One of the striking elements of the conference was its emphasis on student voices. In the opening session of Day 2, the APS Student Advisory Council presented their hopes and recommendations for the education system, delivering their message with remarkable passion, clarity, and specificity. They discussed the concept of legacy, emphasizing the importance of believing in students’ potential and offering actionable advice for making schools more interactive and supportive for all learners. Their insights received resounding applause, underscoring the critical importance of listening to students and incorporating their perspectives into educational practices.
Final Reflections
The Hewlett Grantee Convening was not just a platform for facilitating conversations and gathering insights but also served to inspire and energize attendees with a clear intention for future actions. We deeply appreciate the Hewlett Foundation Education team for their excellence and commitment to fostering such an impactful space. We left the convening with a lot of new insights and fired up with renewed dedication to our mission. More so, we can’t thank the Hewlett Foundation enough for their ongoing commitment to open education, and for standing behind Learning Equality since 2013. Their support means a lot to us. Thank you!