Blackout Experience Schedule

9:00 AM - 4:00 PM

The Success Summit Youth Track is an invitation-only program designed to inspire and equip the next generation of leaders. As the kickoff to B.E.S.T.’s Empowering Youth Economics (EYE) Financial Literacy Program, youth ages 13–15 and one parent or guardian will participate in engaging sessions on financial literacy, entrepreneurship, career exploration, and goal setting.

Thanks to the support of sponsors, the Youth Track is offered at no cost to participating families, with space limited to 20–30 youth to ensure an interactive learning experience. For application: lisa.young@bestsuccesssummit.org

9:00 AM - 6:00 PM:

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Session Purpose

This session is designed to introduce attendees to the broader idea of African economic opportunity through the lens of real relationships, diaspora connectivity, entrepreneurship, and emerging industries. The conversation will focus on helping attendees better understand:

• Why Africa is increasingly important in global economic conversations

• How diaspora communities serve as bridges between cultures and markets

• How entrepreneurship and relationship-based engagement create pathways for collaboration and growth

• How Black American and African immigrant communities can learn

from and support one another economically

This session is intended to be accessible, inspiring, and eye-opening for a general audience that may have limited prior exposure to African business ecosystems.

Key Themes

• Diaspora economic collaboration

• Emerging sectors and industries

Panelists:

Papa Dia, Founder and CEO of African Leadership Group

Luka Powanga, Professor of Accounting & Finance, Regis University, Founder of the Energy Africa Conference

M.D. Kinoti, Professor and Program Director, Regis University

Moderator: Jason Gaulden, Founder & Principal Consultant, Gaulden Group

AI is everywhere—but most of what people hear is hype, fear, or

confusion. This session cuts through the noise and explains what AI actually

is, what it is not, and how it’s realistically impacting business, careers, and

wealth creation. We’ll address job displacement myths, ethical concerns, bias, and accessibility—while highlighting where the real opportunity lies for entrepreneurs, nonprofit leaders, and professionals.

Audience Takeaways:

• What AI actually means in 2026 (beyond ChatGPT headlines)
• Common myths vs. real risks
• Where AI is already transforming industries
• Why ignoring AI is a bigger risk than learning it
• How small businesses can avoid being left behind

Session Purpose

This session is designed to provide practical guidance to participants interested in understanding how to

approach global partnerships and economic opportunities responsibly and strategically. The focus will

not be on speculative investment promotion, but rather on helping attendees understand:

• How capital pathways work

• The importance of trust and due diligence

• How diaspora relationships help create safer and more sustainable engagement opportunities

• How thoughtful partnership and preparation are essential for long-term success

This session is intended to ground the earlier inspiration-oriented conversation in practical reality and

responsible implementation.

Key Themes

• Capital access and financing pathways

• Relationship-based investment approaches

• Private investors and partnership structures

• Diaspora business networks

• Government and development incentives

• Risk mitigation and due diligence

• Cultural competency and trust

• Responsible global engagement

Intended Audience Takeaways

Participants should leave this session with:

• A clearer understanding of how international partnerships are developed

• Practical awareness of risk and due diligence

• Understanding of different funding and participation models

• Greater appreciation for relationship-based collaboration

• A more grounded perspective on responsibly exploring global economic opportunities

Panelists

Papa Dia, Founder & Executive Director, African Leadership Group

Chinesom Ejias, Chief Financial Officer, Global Greengrants Fund

M.D. Kinoti, Professor and Program Director, Regis University

Moderator: Jason Gaulden, Founder & Principal Consultant, Gaulden Group

Now that the myths are cleared, it’s time to get practical. This

session focuses on real-world applications of AI for business growth,

operational efficiency, marketing, fundraising, hiring, and customer

engagement. Attendees will walk away with concrete tools, workflows, and use

cases they can implement immediately—regardless of technical background.

Audience Takeaways:

• AI tools for marketing, automation, and content creation      
• Automating customer service & internal systems
• Building competitive advantage without a tech team

Legacy Luncheon:

• Emcee - Justin Adams (Channel 4)
• Fireside Chat with Boyce Watkins
• Community FIRST Award presentation
• Women in Leadership & Managment Award presentation
• Amazing Door Prizes

Black-led nonprofits across Colorado are doing transformative work in our communities—often with limited funding, lean teams, and little access to shared infrastructure or strategic support. This candid, solutions-oriented session creates space to name the real challenges: capacity strain, inconsistent funding, board development gaps, burnout, compliance

pressures, and the isolation many leaders feel while carrying critical missions.

But this conversation doesn’t stop at identifying barriers. During this session, we will introduce the Black Nonprofit

Alliance (BNA) Pilot Program—a collaborative initiative designed to strengthen Black-led organizations through shared services, collective problem-solving, strategic partnerships, and resource alignment. The BNA pilot aims to reduce duplication, increase operational strength, and create a unified voice for advocacy and funding access.

This is a call to move from operating alone to building together. If you are a Black nonprofit leader seeking sustainability, infrastructure support, and collective power, this session is for you.

Be Part of the Founding Cohort. The Black Nonprofit Alliance Pilot represents a new model for shared services, oordinated advocacy, and sustainable growth for Black-led nonprofits.

We are seeking a select group of organizations willing to participate in the pilot phase—leaders who are ready to collaborate, innovate, and build collective capacity. If that’s you, join the interest list today and be part of

shaping the future of Black nonprofit infrastructure in Colorado.

Reparative justice and the National Black Agenda have moved from the margins into mainstream policy conversations. But critical questions remain: Is reparative justice politically achievable? What does meaningful repair actually require? And does the current Black Agenda go far enough to produce structural economic change?

This dynamic, moderated panel brings together advocates advancing

reparative justice and national policy reform—alongside a critical voice who

challenges whether meaningful repair is possible without national remorse,

political will, and deeper structural transformation.

Together, the panel will examine:

• The core pillars of the National Black Agenda
• The current state of reparations efforts nationally and locally
• What true economic repair would require
• Whether incremental policy reform is sufficient—or fundamentally inadequate
• How local leaders and institutions should position themselves now

This session is designed to move beyond slogans and into strategy. Attendees will leave with a clearer understanding of the ideological tensions, policy realities, and economic implications shaping the future of reparative justice.