The EMPOWER Summit
Hosted annually by the State Transformational Assistance Center (S-TAC), the EMPOWER Summit is a dynamic gathering that brings together the entire California Community Schools ecosystem. We welcome all CCSPP grantees, R-TACs, educators, students, families, and community partners who are committed to reimagining schools as inclusive, thriving centers of learning and well-being. Designed to spark creativity and collaboration, the summit offers engaging sessions that highlight how we—collectively—are strengthening community-classroom connections and aligning resources to support the whole child. Through powerful teaching and learning, shared leadership, expanded learning opportunities, and integrated supports for health and wellness, the EMPOWER Summit celebrates bold, forward-thinking approaches grounded in California’s Community Schools Fundamentals. We encourage diverse, co-designed proposals that showcase real-world strategies and invite school site teams to share their transformative work.
EMPOWER Summit 2026 – Ontario, CA
Get ready for the 4th Annual EMPOWER Summit in vibrant Ontario, California, on September 10–11, 2026!
Join changemakers from across the state for two days of inspiration, collaboration, and fun. Set in a city known for its rich agricultural roots, EMPOWER 2026 is where ideas grow, partnerships thrive, and momentum takes flight. Don’t miss this chance to connect, learn, and celebrate what’s possible!
Stay tuned for more info!
EMPOWER Summit 2025 – Fresno, CA
The third annual EMPOWER Summit was held in the best little city in the USA, Fresno, California from June 12th & 13th 2025 at the DoubleTree Hotel and Fresno Convention Center.
We welcomed all California Community Schools Partnership Program (CCSPP) grantees, Regional Technical Assistance Centers (R-TACs), educators (county & site administrators, teachers, pupil personnel staff, counselors, social workers, support staff), parents/ caregivers/ family members, students, and community partners who support Community Schools.
EMPOWER 2024- Hollywood, CA
In year two, the EMPOWER Summit expanded to a two-day event in Hollywood, drawing over 1,300 attendees—including nearly 100 students and representatives from more than 350 LEAs—reflecting the rapid growth of California’s Community Schools movement. With a 35.8% increase in participation and 167% more sessions than the inaugural year, the Summit offered a dynamic and inclusive space for educators, students, caregivers, community partners, and state leaders to learn, connect, and inspire one another.
The event featured 111 sessions, including student- and parent-led presentations, and showcased the increasing demand for collaboration and knowledge-sharing, as demonstrated by over 100 presentation proposals. This powerful gathering underscored a shared commitment to transforming educational experiences and outcomes through the Community Schools model.
EMPOWER 2023 – San Francisco, CA
On June 16th, 2023, the S-TAC hosted the first annual, in-person CCSPP Summit. Over 950 CCSPP grantees, researchers, policymakers, partners, educators, students, and families came together from across California to exchange lessons learned, ideas, and effective practices to inform and deepen California’s commitment to community schools. Forty-nine counties were represented, from Imperial County in the Southern region of the state, to Shasta County, located in the Northern part of the state.
The one day event was held at the San Francisco Hilton Union Square. The Summit Planning committee received a total of 66 requests for proposals and selected 47 sessions to present during two 75 minute sessions.