Roots of Change International Conference:

The Power and Promise of Black Men in K12, Higher Education, and Community Education

Atlanta, GA

Welcome to Roots of Change!

Roots of Change is an international movement amplifying the voices, experiences, and brilliance of Black male educators through storytelling, scholarship, and community. This is more than a conference. It’s a call to action.

Why Roots of Change?

In schools across the country, Black male educators represent less than 2% of the teaching workforce, but their impact reaches far beyond the classroom. The Roots of Change initiative seeks to illuminate their stories, disrupt systems of exclusion, and build a collective future rooted in equity, truth, and transformation.

Our Impact

Roots of Change: The Power and Promise of Black Men in Education is both an anthology and an international conference dedicated to celebrating, uplifting, and amplifying the stories of Black male educators. We invite educators, writers, scholars, and advocates to help rewrite the narrative—one rooted in resilience, brilliance, and transformation.

Our Mission

  • Center the lived experiences of Black male educators

  • Confront systemic barriers in education

  • Spark collective transformation in classrooms, communities, and policies

Conference Themes

Black Male Teacher Impact: +39% HS Graduation (Low‑Income Black Boys)

Black Male Teacher Impact: +39% HS Graduation (Low‑Income Black Boys)

“Representation changes trajectories.” - Dr. Travis J. Bristol

“Representation changes trajectories.” - Dr. Travis J. Bristol

“A Black male educator saved my life.” - Student testimonial, Campaign for Black Male Achievement

“A Black male educator saved my life.” - Student testimonial, Campaign for Black Male Achievement