Blackprint 20 Summit Celebrates Philly Black History Education

The two-day event emphasized sustaining Black history education beyond the classroom.

Published on Feb. 21, 2026

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The Blackprint 20 Summit in Philadelphia brought together teachers, community leaders, and activists to commemorate 20 years of Black education initiatives in the city. Attendees discussed ways to ensure Black history and identity are taught throughout the school year and integrated into all aspects of community life, not just during Black History Month. Organizers emphasized the urgency of this work as efforts to limit race-based curricula and erase Black histories from public spaces have grown nationwide.

Why it matters

Sustaining Black history education within local communities has taken on new urgency, as political efforts to limit race-based curricula and erase Black histories from public spaces have increased across the country. The Blackprint 20 Summit aimed to reinforce the importance of teaching the fullness of Black history and identity as a core part of the educational experience, not just a one-time observance.

The details

The two-day Blackprint 20 Summit featured teachers, community leaders, and activists who shared strategies for integrating Black history and identity into classrooms and community spaces year-round. Attendees were invited to contribute to a time capsule project, preserving educational messages, notes, and pictures commemorating 20 years of Philadelphia's Black education leadership. Speakers highlighted how the classroom can extend beyond the school, with opportunities to share history and educate one another in everyday community settings.

  • The Blackprint 20 Summit took place on February 20-21, 2026 in Philadelphia.

The players

Edwin Perez

A teacher from the Baltimore County area who attended the summit to contribute to the conversation on community-centered education.

Amber Austin

A teacher from the Baltimore County area who attended the summit to take what she learned back to her colleagues, students, and community.

Abigail Henry

A member of the Blackprint 20 committee who emphasized the importance of the summit in the face of efforts to erase Black histories.

Chris Rogers

The coordinator of the Henry Oswood Tanner House in North Philadelphia, who spoke about how classrooms can extend to any space where community members can share history.

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What they’re saying

“It has to be something that continues throughout the year — talking about Black identity, Black culture, support for our Black students or support for our Black community.”

— Edwin Perez, Teacher

“I think it's important for us to ensure that we are not only having a continuity of legacy but a continuity of correct and accurate legacy, and in these conversations we are not gatekeeping information, we're sharing stories, especially from our elders.”

— Amber Austin, Teacher

“In today's anti-Black world when we see Black histories being erased from museums, classrooms — literally from the streets of Philadelphia — events like this are more important than ever.”

— Abigail Henry, Blackprint 20 Committee Member

“We create classrooms all over the place. Like, even when I'm waiting for the 21 in West Philadelphia. So, opportunity there to talk about the history and the connections.”

— Chris Rogers, Coordinator, Henry Oswood Tanner House

What’s next

Organizers said they plan to continue the Blackprint 20 Summit annually to sustain the momentum and community engagement around Black history education in Philadelphia.

The takeaway

The Blackprint 20 Summit underscored the importance of teaching Black history and identity as a core part of the educational experience, not just a one-time observance. Attendees emphasized the need to create 'continuity of legacy' and share stories from elders to combat efforts to erase Black histories from public spaces and curricula.