On October 18-19, the Brown School at Washington University in St. Louis marked a major milestone with the launch of its first-ever two-day professional development summit, Policy and Equity: Collaborative Frameworks for Inclusive Change. The event allowed attendees to choose between two specialized tracks: one focusing on advocacy strategies and the other on data and evidence.
In her opening address, Dorian Traube, the Neidorff Family and Centene Corporation Dean of the Brown School highlighted the strong turnout, calling it a testament to the community’s commitment to structural reform.
“It reflects our ongoing commitment to providing spaces where we can come together to learn, collaborate, and challenge the boundaries of equitable policy,” she said. “Building community is a core goal of this summit—change happens not in isolation, but through collaboration and support.”
The summit featured a keynote speech from Brittany Packnett Cunningham, an activist, author, and a 2006 graduate of WashU. Co-sponsored by the Clark-Fox Policy Institute (CFPI), Community Builders Network, Teach for America STL, and the Social Policy Institute, the event offered workshops and presentations from influential figures including Riisa Rawlins, MSW ’07, CEO of the Community Health Commission of Missouri. Rawlins, who delivered the opening plenary, has been instrumental in expanding the Regional Health Commission across Missouri and serves on the board of Forward Through Ferguson.
Gary Parker, associate dean for external affairs, said the summit exceeded his expectations. “The Clark-Fox Forum was filled with participants engaged in thoughtful conversations, sharing practical solutions, and building connections,” he said. “I am deeply grateful to the Brown School faculty who facilitated the workshops. After the summit, so many attendees shared that they were leaving feeling inspired and equipped to use policy as a tool to advance equity.”
Looking ahead, the Brown School plans to host its second professional development summit, Rainbow Resilience, on March 28-29. The event will focus on advancing LGBTQ+ well-being and feature New York Times op-ed columnist Charles M. Blow as the keynote speaker.
