Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools

Equity Now: A Call to Action-Reframing Equity Through Refining Culturally Responsive Systems

Image captures a Black Woman looking directly into the lens of the camera. She is at the center of a protest occuring in the streets. Other protesters hold signs advocating for change. The photo centers on a woman standing stiff with her arms folded across her waist. She wears a dark bule denim shirt and a stern expression on her face.

Register now! Don't miss the EQUITY NOW conference on Friday, May 29, 2026!

This year’s conference focuses on developing new ways of moving equity to be more responsive to children, families and communities who exist furthest on the margins. In this moment, when there is an attack on our most marginalized student communities, what will you do and how can we stand together as a community to support our most harmed and vulnerable children, families, and                                                                                                                   communities?

Image captures a headshot of Dr. Bettina L. Love. The phoot captures the NYU Metro Center 2026 Keyunote Speakers against a white backgroun with shoulder length locks. Dr. Love whears a blue collareded denim shirt with a red sportcoat.

NYU Metro Center’s 2026 Equity Now Conference is Honored to Have Dr. Bettina L. Love as Keynote Speaker

NYU Metro Center is proud to announce the William F. Russell Professor at Teachers College, Columbia University, Dr. Bettina L. Love, as the keynote speaker for its 2026 Equity Now Conference: A Call to Action—Reframing Equity Through Refining Culturally Responsive Systems. 

Read News Item on Dr. Bettina L. Love being named keynote speaker of 2026 Equity Now Conference

NYU Metropolitan Center for Research on Equity and the Transformation of Schools

Equity Now: A Call to Action-Reframing Equity Through Refining Culturally Responsive Systems

May 29, 2026

9:00am-4:00pm

Schedule

 

8:45-9:30 AM: Continental Breakfast 

 

9:00-9:12 AM: Message from Dr. Fabienne Doucet, Executive Director of NYU Metro Center

 

9:13-9:35 AM Opening Address: Dr. Lester W. Young, Chancellor for New York State Education Department

 

9:37-10:35 AM: Organizing for Equity: A Call To Action Session

 

10:45-11:55 AM: AM Breakout Session 

 

12:00-12:50 PM: Networking Lunch

 

1:00-2:10 PM: PM Breakout Session 

 

2:20-3:20 PM: Dr. Bettina L. Love Keynote Address

 

3:35-3:45 PM: Reflections and Closing

 

3:45-4:00 PM: Book Purchasing/Signing with Keynote

Registration for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference is officially open.

Please take steps to join us at this critical social justice event. We look forward to engaging with you at the 2026 Equity Now Conference.

Register for the 2026 Equity Now Conference here.
Image captures young Black girl observing her reflection in a mirror.
Image captures a diverse audience applauding a presentation before them. The larger crowd image centered around a Black woman sitting in a chair in the middle of the room, wearing a white colored short sleeve jacket.

NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference offers a full day of community building, networking and learning from educators, parent/caregivers, youth, community organizers and technical assistance providers who are committed to transforming their classrooms, schools and districts.

Equity Now Conference sessions will include those curated by NYU Metro Center expertise as well as leaders based in districts, schools, classrooms, and organizations who continue to engage in equity and culturally responsive policies, procedures and practices. You will walk away with clear next steps to maintain cultural responsiveness as a core for creating transformational education and liberatory schooling spaces. 

NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference

NYU Metro Center is proud to announce that registration for the 2025 Equity Now Conference is officially open. The 4th annual conference will be held again in New York City on Friday May 29, 2026

Early Bird Rate Registration, Effective until April 16th, 2026 

  • *Regular Registration Cost*: $225.00

  • Presenter Registration Cost: $200.00

  • Only Teacher Registration Cost: $135.00 (must send verification of teacher status)

  • Non-Educator Parent/Caregiver Registration Cost: $85.00

  • College Students Registration Cost  $95.00 (must send verification of student status)

  • Metro Staff: $65

Past Bird (Standard Rate) Registration, Effective until May 8th, 2026** 

  • Regular Registration Cost*: $235.00

  • Presenter Registration Cost: $210.00

  • Only Teacher Registration Cost: $155.00 (must send verification of teacher status)

  • Non-Educator Parent/Caregiver Registration Cost: $95.00

  • College Students Registration Cost:  $105.00 (must send verification of student status)

  • Metro Staff: $75

**Cancellation policy: Registration can be cancelled for a full refund up to April 30, 2026. Registration can be cancelled up to May 14, 2026 for a 50% refund. After May 15 2026 there are NO refunds.

Register here for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference

 

***Do you need a Purchase Order? Obtain a Purchase Order for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference here:

 

*****Are you looking to briing middle or high school students to the 2026 Equity Now Conferernce? If so, please contact Dr. María G. Hernández ASAP.

Equity Now Conference Themes

Image capture Black students in a public school classroom. The camera records at least thirteen African American students engaging with each other, and their teacher at the front of the classroom. The image is centered around Black girl who raises her hand to answer a question, while seated at her desk. She has is wearing a dark colored top.

Culturally Responsive Systems

  • This conference track is inclusive of, but not limited to, the following:
    • Elevating district and school policies, procedures and practices that have generated educational spaces that welcome and affirm historically marginalized students’ experiences and identities
    • Shifts toward community circles and restorative practices within school-wide discipline systems
    • Creating a culturally responsive culture and climate centering youth voice, in which youth are an integral and critical voice in district and school decision making processes
    • Development and implementation of equity center liberatory systems approaches
    • Policies and processes that have led to developing culturally responsive and sustaining hiring practices - particularly those resulting in a pipeline of  administrators, teachers and staff that mirror the demographics of students and parents/caregivers in districts and schools
    • The adaptation of State Department of Education policies into practices in districts, schools, and classrooms that are culturally responsive (for example, Portrait of  Graduate, SEL, curriculum and instruction, etc.)
    • Culturally responsive parent/caregiver policies and procedures that welcome, affirm and create belonging for families across differences
Image captures seven students gathering for a selfie. The students are outdoors in proximity of a white colored brick wall. The students are standing in rows of 3, and 4. The students smile as they look directly at the camera.

Culturally Responsive Practices

  • This conference track is inclusive of, but not limited to, the following:
    • Fostering curricular and instructional design and practices that center the joy and brilliance of racially, culturally, and linguistically diverse students (e.g., culturally responsive literacy, mathematics, etc)
    • Teaching liberatory curriculum and instructional practices                                                                  
    • Practices that promote emotional and well-being for students, educators, and caregivers
    • Culturally responsive capacity building approaches
    • Culturally responsive parent/caregiver and youth engagement practices  
Image captures a photo of five diverse educators. The photo notes educators from and Asian, African-American,, White, and Latinx backgrounds.

Thank you for sharing your own Culturally Responsive Systems or Practices with us? 

We appreciate everyone who responded to our Call for Proposals for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference.  

Decisions have been made on all conference proposals. Each 2026 Equity Now Conference                                                                                                  presenter has been notified. 

Thanks again for your time and continued support of NYU Metro Center. We look forward to your attendance at the conference. 

Register for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now: A Call to Action-Reframing Equity Through Refining Culturally Responsive Systems Conference

Equity Now Conference Travel and Lodging Options

Review your travel and lodging options for NYU Metro Center's 2026 Equity Now Conference

Learn more about travel information for NYU Metro Center's Equity Conference
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AM Breakout Sessions (10:45 AM-11:55 AM)

 

From "for" to "with":  Building Capacity for Equitable Education 

903

Equity Through Project-Based Approaches Practices 

904

Healing from Fear: Equipping Educators to Address Equity and Justice in a Challenging Climate

905

Reimagining Civic Power: Supporting Culturally Responsive Youth Leadership Councils 

906

A Community-Informed Approach to Boldly Reimagining Multilingual Education in New York City Public Schools Systems 

907

CoAction - Four Years of CR-SE in Action

908

Youth in Action: Leveraging Policy and Practice to Advance Liberatory Education

909

Culturally Responsive Family Engagement: Three Strategies to Build Trust

910

R.I.S.E. Forward: Speak. Act. Transform – Engaging Students to Drive School-wide Change

912

 

PM Breakout Sessions (1:00 PM-2:10 PM)

 

Education for Peace, Recovery, and Resilience: A Participatory Community Approach  

903

Ensuring that Teachers Thrive; Culturally Responsive Schools for Equity

904

Her Stories, Our Standards: Transforming Literacy & Black Studies Through CRSE Leadership

905

Equitable STEM Instruction: Integrating Culturally Responsive Practices and SPED Supports

906

Through the Looking Glass…Colors of Change

907

Mapping for Liberation: Shifting Conditions for Students at the Margins

908

Reimagining Culturally Responsive Education Through AsianCrit

909

Dismantling Deficit Data: Build Equity-Centered Evaluation Systems

910

Integrating Professional Development and Leadership Development to Promote Equity for Migrant Students Practice 

912