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    PA EmpowerU

    PA EmpowerU Convening 2026

    The Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) invites you to join us in-person for our statewide combined It's On Us PA and PA EmpowerU convening on April 7, 2026, from 8:00 AM – 3:30 PM, at the Best Western Premier – 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA 17111. The PA EmpowerU Convening brings together postsecondary institutions, community-based organizations, and state agencies to connect and strategize supports for PA students to thrive while reaching their college and credential goals. All tenets of collegiate basic needs are essential for students’ success, but this year’s focus is on intersections with Mental Health, Safety and Belonging, and Financial Wellness. Registration is free, agenda and more details to follow.

    Sign up for PA Collegiate Basic Needs emails

    🎓Keynote Speakers

    Carrie Welton 

    Carrie Welton of Trellis Strategies will speak on the shifting role of state postsecondary entities amidst federal program shut-downs and education department dismantling. Carrie brings deep personal and professional experience advancing public policy at the state and national levels to support postsecondary education and training for economic mobility and shared prosperity.

    Dr. Kristin Austin 

    Dr. Kristin Austin of Rewriting the Code will speak on the power of safety and belonging in students' success, and methods to build it in these increasingly restrictive and divisive times. Kristin brings years of experience building engagement, belonging and leadership  amidst diverse stakeholders within higher education institutions, business and industry, and the STEM field.

    🎓PA Statewide Basic Needs Survey Data with Students' Expertise

    For the first time, review results from the statewide students' basic needs survey, and hear from students' directly about their experience. The Hope Center will share PA data gathered over the last two years within PA, regional and national contexts. Pennsylvania student leaders will then lend their personal insights and expertise with actionable advice for postsecondary leaders.

    🎓Exhibitors

    Visit exhibitors offering services for student success such as educational programming; public benefits navigation; peer-mental health interventions; fundraising for emergency grants; voter and civil rights programming, and more…

    🎓Break-out Sessions

    Choose from over 20 break-out sessions, on keystone topics such as:

    • Financial Wellness
    • Safety & Belonging
    • Mental Health & Wellbeing
    • Food & Nutrition support
    • Safe, Affordable Housing
    • Transportation
    • Digital Connectivity

    All with intersections for student groups such as Adult, Veteran and Parenting students.

    🎓Registration

    Please register to join us in person on Tuesday, April 7, 2026, in Harrisburg, PA. There is no cost to attend; breakfast and lunch will be provided. Seats are limited, so register soon!  

    Registration deadline: March 9, 2026, or until seats are filled.

    🎓Hotel Information

    A block of rooms is available at the Best Western Premier, 800 East Park Drive, Harrisburg, PA.

    • Room Reservations: Call 717-561-2800 or reserve your room online.
    • Room Rate: $124.00 plus tax, available until March 9, 2026
    • Cancellation Policy: 72 hours
    • Group Name: EmpowerU Spring Convening

    🎓Proposal Submissions

    We are also seeking Its On Us, Safety and Belonging session proposal submissions from the field to help us build a robust agenda for the April 7, 2026 convening. Sessions are tentatively scheduled to be 45 minutes in length.

    If you have any questions about the convening or the call for session proposals, please email RA-EDPAEMPOWERU@pa.gov.

    Come to learn from state and national colleagues, share best practices, advance solutions and be inspired by the collective power of this work for students' success and PA empowered futures!