#Building Hope #charter schools #IMPACT Summit

Building Hope's IMPACT Summit 2025: A Celebration of Educational Innovation

On May 9, 2025, Building Hope, a prominent non-profit dedicated to enhancing charter school facilities and services, concluded its highly anticipated fourth annual IMPACT Summit in Miami. This two-day event brought together a vibrant community of charter school leaders, educators, and advocates focused on elevating educational practices across the nation. The summit was not only a platform for discussing challenges and opportunities within K-12 education but also a moment to celebrate groundbreaking achievements and innovations within the charter school system.

Celebrating Contributions and Innovations

During the summit, Building Hope awarded a total of $188,500 in grants to fourteen distinguished charter schools and a dedicated parent volunteer. These awards recognized excellence in several key areas, including community engagement, educational innovation, and leadership. William D. Hansen, the President and CEO of Building Hope, emphasized the transformational nature of this gathering, stating, "Every IMPACT grant winner exemplifies what is achievable in education when vision aligns with actionable efforts."

The IMPACT Summit served as a crucial networking and collaboration hub, where participants engaged in solution-driven discussions, learned from each other, and shared their experiences. Featured presentations from award winners highlighted their success stories, inspiring others in attendance to embrace similar initiatives aimed at student empowerment and community welfare.

Spotlight on the IMPACT Award Winners

Among the notable grant recipients, the $20,000 S. Joseph Bruno Charter Leadership Award was presented to the Sallie B. Howard School of Arts & Science in Wilson, North Carolina. This innovative school caters to 1,251 students from kindergarten through Grade 12 and incorporates a curriculum grounded in Howard Gardner's theory of multiple intelligences combined with a strong focus on performing arts. Their rigorous approach not only nurtures students' talents but also fosters a culture of perseverance, respect, integrity, discipline, and excellence (PRIDE).

In addition, several schools were honored with $10,000 grants, including the East Mountain High School in Sandia Park, New Mexico, and SouthTech Schools in Boynton Beach, Florida. Each of these institutions has demonstrated exceptional educational outcomes, creativity in problem-solving, and a commitment to empowering their students through hands-on, career-focused learning experiences.

The Northeast Academy for Aerospace and Advanced Technologies in Elizabeth City, North Carolina, also secured the $20,000 award in the Student Empowerment category, illustrating the vital role that critical thinking and leadership skills play in preparing students for future challenges.

Expanding Educational Horizons

Among the awards for community engagement, the Island Montessori school in Wilmington, North Carolina, received recognition for its hands-on, student-led learning approach, which promotes empathy and a commitment to social responsibility. Meanwhile, Mālama Honua Public Charter School from Waimanalo, Hawaii, stood out in the education innovation category due to its curriculum grounded in Native Hawaiian values, emphasizing environmental stewardship.

Honoring Community Leaders

This year’s summit also honored Crystal Williams, affectionately known as