By Viviana Pruett-Saratan

Staff Writer

PHILADELPHIA, Pa.—On Saturday, Feb. 7, Campus Philly hosted its 16th annual Inclusive Leadership Conference at Temple University for college students from across the tri-state area. Approximately 300 students representing 12 different schools attended the all-day event to network and refine their leadership skills through various breakout sessions.

The morning began at 9 a.m. with check-in, name tag decorating, breakfast, and student networking. Attendees received gift bags containing notebooks, pens, and information celebrating the 250th anniversary of the United States. Students gathered in Mazur Hall to converse with peers from other institutions.

Following breakfast, participants moved to the auditorium for an introduction by Temple University Associate Director Craig Scott and Senior Director for Student Engagement Dr. Nu’Rodney T. Prad, alongside Drexel University Director for Student Engagement Ashley Archer and Campus Philly President Dr. Jennifer Kebea. Each leader acknowledged the local schools in attendance and expressed support for the student leaders.

“Today is about learning, connecting, and growing together as a group of leaders,” Archer said.

Philadelphia Councilmember Isaiah Thomas delivered the keynote address, discussing his role on the City Council. He fielded questions from students regarding the 76ers stadium controversy,

SEPTA fares, and other economic issues facing the city. Thomas responded enthusiastically, detailing his efforts to resolve these concerns and improve the region.

After the keynote, students walked to the Howard Gittis Student Center for the first of three blocks of breakout sessions. Seven different seminars were available, with the first block focused on “Foundations & Identity.” Topics included communication skills, identity, and self-discovery, delivered through a mix of workshops, presentations, and interactive seminars.

At noon, lunch was served featuring a variety of options. During this time, students networked with representatives from several companies and foundations, including Five Below, Campbell’s Co., the Southwest Belmont Community Association, and Thomas’ internship program.

Alyssa Dankanich, a career organizer for Five Below, shared her perspective on the value of the event. “When you are at an inclusive leadership event like this where you tend to have a lot of diversity, [students] have that information about [leadership] roles that other people don’t know about,” Dankanich said. “That’s the competitive advantage.”

The afternoon continued with a second block of sessions focused on inclusive “Tools, Systems & Actions,” featuring a grant-writing workshop and a presentation on imposter syndrome. The third and final block of the day, “Dialogue, Civility & Collective Future,” placed special emphasis on building community and collaborative leadership skills.

The event concluded with a closing statement from the hosts, thanking the students for their active participation and commitment to growth.