As a cohort-based model, the Leaders in Equitable Evaluation and Diversity (LEEAD) Program has always been rooted in relationship and peer learning. Over the years, Expanding the Bench® (ETB) has worked to create a cohort experience that facilitates a feeling of community, belonging, and lasting connection, and there are few places that we feel this as strongly as during the LEEAD Symposium. The LEEAD Symposium acts as the official kick-off to the LEEAD Program, bringing together Scholars, Mentors, and speakers to learn more about their journey ahead, build relationships, and join together in shared commitment to culturally responsive and equitable evaluation (CREE) practice. The Cohort 6 LEEAD Symposium in early September accomplished this and more!

From September 3-5, Cohort 6 Scholars and Mentors convened with the ETB Team in Baltimore, MD, for the 2025 LEEAD Symposium. The event opened with an evening reception where laughter, conversation, and connection filled the air. For many, it was the first time meeting each other, yet you would never have known this as the warmth was immediate. Scholars mingled with Mentors and speakers, introducing themselves over food, cocktails, and bingo. What stood out most was how quickly genuine relationships began to take root — friendships and collaborations that promise to extend well beyond this program cycle.

Day 1 of the Symposium was a powerful dive into both relationship building and the foundations of this work. The day began with cultural introductions that invited participants to share pieces of their identity and led into a powerful conversation on CREE. Participants were treated to a landmark panel with some of the field’s most influential leaders and minds behind the development of CREE and ETB. Dr. Rodney Hopson, Dr. Katrina Bledsoe, Dr. Art Hernandez, and Dr. Kantahyanee Murray traced the history, theoretical foundations, and principles of CREE, reminding us that the roots of this work are grounded in values, validity, and leadership that centers equity.

Table discussions that followed, led by speakers and Mentors including Dr. Leah Neubauer, Dr. Michael Arnold, and Dr. Chandria Jones, allowed participants to dive deep into CREE case studies. These intimate conversations created space not just to learn about CREE, but to practice engaging with it, to ask difficult questions, and to connect theory to lived experience. Later in the day, Scholars and Mentors had intentional time to get to know each other and co-create goals for the Scholars’ time in and beyond the program.

Day 2 turned toward reflection and the future. A panel of LEEAD Alumni — Dr. David Garcia, Dr. Chandria Jones, and Dr. Tanisha Tate Woodson — shared stories of their journeys after LEEAD, offering insight into how the program shaped their careers and their commitments to equity in evaluation. For Scholars, this panel illuminated what might be possible for them through LEEAD. The day continued with an engaging session led by Dr. Monique Liston and Dr. Rodney Hopson, who used music as a way to explore leadership identity. Participants reflected on how they show up as authentic leaders and the values that guide them in their work. Dr. Liston closed the Symposium with a transformational conversation on abolitionist timekeeping, emphasizing that rest, care, and wellness are essential practices in sustaining this work.

The 2025 LEEAD Symposium was the result of many hours of thoughtful planning, but what made it successful was the love and care behind it. The relationships we witnessed taking shape were the true fruits of that labor, affirming why we do this work together. Across three days, we witnessed new relationships forming, ideas sparking, and commitments deepening, leaving the ETB Team inspired and hopeful. In a moment when the sociopolitical climate looms heavy, this gathering reminded us of the power of community and connection to sustain us. As we step into the Cohort 6 cycle, we hold true to the lesson that evaluation rooted in equity is not done alone — it is cultivated in community. Staying connected, leaning on each other, and building lasting relationships will continue to be the heartbeat of this work. Cohort 6 reminded us of what is possible when brilliant, committed leaders come together to envision a more equitable, just future. We left Baltimore renewed, grateful, and ready to continue this journey together!