Black & Latinx Summit
The Black and Latinx Summit is an annual conference and summit that seeks to bring students from all intersections into a shared space to learn and connect. This focus is an intentional understanding of the traumas that communities of color in the United States have faced both historically and contemporarily. It is also cognizant of the strides we take each day to heal our wounds and better prepare us for the next change in our circumstances. By creating this space, we hope others will join us in exploring the landscape of our communities and finding ways to make us stronger as a collective.
2026 Theme: Cultivating Joy — Celebrating the Light in Community
- Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026
- Location: I-Hotel and Conference Center (1900 S. First Street, Champaign, IL 61820)
Cultivating Joy is an act of resistance, a reclamation of light that lives within and between us. We invite you to honor the laughter, warmth, and power that survives in our communities even amid hardship and radiates when Black and Latinx stories intertwine. Together, we narrate our stories for ourselves—past, present, and future. Where our joy is undying, and foundational to how we overcome. We are the brilliance born from collective care and community.
2026 Schedule
| Time | Session |
|---|---|
| 9:00-10:00 AM | Check-In, Breakfast & Poster Presenters |
| 9:45-10:20 AM | Opening Remarks & Performance |
| 10:30-11:20 AM | Workshops Session 1 |
| 11:30-12:30 PM | Keynote Speaker: Jamila Woods |
| 12:30-1:20 PM | Lunch & Performances |
| 1:30-1:50 PM | Group Activity |
| 2:00-2:50 PM | Workshop Sessions 2 |
| 3:00-4:00 PM | Reflections & Closing Remarks |
Become a Sponsor
Make an impact on the 2026 Black & Latinx Summit by sponsoring today.
2026 BLS Keynote — Jamila Woods
Jamila Woods is a poet, songwriter, and performing artist from the South Side of Chicago. Her first solo album, HEAVN was released by JagJaguwar Records in 2017 to critical acclaim. Her sophomore offering, LEGACY! LEGACY! (2019), features 12 tracks named after writers, thinkers, and visual artists who have influenced the creator’s life and work — including James Baldwin, Nikki Giovanni and Sonia Sanchez. Jamila surrounds herself with things she loves, things like Lucille Clifton’s poetry, her grandmother’s handwriting or the late 90s alt-rock of Incubus. “I think of songs as physical spaces,” Jamila says, “Writing a song is like decorating your apartment with things that comfort you and represent who you are.” Songwriting–like poetry– is a process of personal excavation. She says, “Poetry became a way for me to stop hiding, to be the most honest version of myself through my writing.” Her work is the culmination of two decades’ worth of vocal training, creative remixing, interdisciplinary performance and her unique “collage” writing process.
Sponsors
Thank you to our 2026 Black & Latinx Summit sponsors. To become a sponsor for the 2026 Black & Latinx Summit, please submit your sponsorship.
Platinum Level Sponsors ($1000 and up)
- The Jeffries Center
- College of Agricultural, Consumer & Environmental Sciences
- College of LAS Access & Achievement Program
- Center for Innovation in Teaching & Learning (CITL)
- University Housing
Gold Level Sponsors (up to $999)
- College of LAS Office of Inclusive Excellence
Silver Level Sponsors (up to $500)
- Humanities Research Institute
- Latina/Latino Studies
- Diversity & Social Justice Education
- Illinois Counseling Center
Bronze Level Sponsors (up to $250)
- University YMCA
- Women’s Resources Center
- Experience Champaign-Urbana
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the registration cost for the Black & Latinx Summit?
Registration for the summit is cost free for all participants.
What should I wear to the Black & Latinx Summit?
We encourage you to dress for success in what makes you feel most comfortable and confident and do not have a required dress code. The suggested dress code is smart casual. Examples of smart casual are button-downs, blouses, jeans/chinos/khakis, dresses/skirts, and layers such as blazers/sweaters/cardigans.
What should I bring to the Black & Latinx Summit?
We encourage you to bring essentials for a successful day of connecting and learning. This includes your preferred form of notetaking, a water bottle, gum/mints, fidget toys, or anything else you may need. All participants will receive a notebook, pen, and program guide upon check-in.
What meals will be provided at the Black & Latinx summit?
A warm breakfast and lunch are provided to all BLS Participants.
Where is the Black & Latinx Summit?
The entirety of the summit will take place at the I-Hotel & Conference Center, 1900 S First Street, Champaign, IL 61820.
Where can I park at the I-Hotel & Conference Center?
On-site parking is free for all Black & Latinx Summit Participants at the I-Hotel & Conference Center.
Parking Instructions: Enter the lot on the I-Hotel's north side off St. Mary’s Rd across from the State Farm Center. Placing 111 St Mary's Rd into G PS will direct to the correct lot. Enter the east wing doors with large windows.
How do I get to the I-Hotel & Conference Center?
From On-campus
- Champaign-Urbana MTD Routes/Stop Information: First at iHotel
- 100 Yellow North/South
- 14 Navy East/West
- 24 Teal Link North/South
Free campus shuttles will also be provided for students from about 8:00-10:00 AM and again after the summit. The BLS Campus Shuttle will stop at the following locations and times.
Shuttle 1 - On Campus Locations
- 8:00 AM & 9:00 AM - FAR/PAR (906 W College Ct)
- 8:15 AM & 9:15 AM - Illini Union (1401 W Green St)
- 8:30 AM & 9:30 AM - Ikenberry Commons ( 309 E Gregory Dr)
- 8:45 AM & 9:45 AM - Arrival to i-Hotel
Shuttle 2 - Off Campus Apartments
- 8:00 AM & 9:00 AM - The Retreat (905 Welch Dr)
- 8:15 AM & 9:15 AM - Onyx (1321 N Lincoln Ave)
- 8:30 AM & 9:30 AM - The Linc (1601 N Lincoln Ave)
- 8:45 AM & 9:45 AM - Arrival to i-Hotel
- The i-Hotel & Conference Center is 1.4 Miles (32 min walk) away from BNAACC and La Casa on Nevada Street.
From Off-Campus
Driving Directions
- From Chicago, IL
- Take I-290 W and I-88 W: Head southwest on I-290 W toward I-88 W. Follow signs for Interstate 88 West/Aurora. Merge onto I-88 W: Merge onto I-88 W and continue driving westward. Continue on I-88 W: Stay on I-88 W for approximately 127 miles. Take Exit 184 for IL-130/High Cross Rd: As you approach Champaign, take Exit 184 for IL-130/High Cross Rd.Continue on IL-130 S: After exiting, continue driving south on IL-130 S.Turn left onto University Ave: After approximately 1.5 miles on IL-130 S, turn left onto University Ave. Arrive at the I-Hotel and Conference Center: After turning onto University Ave, continue for about 0.7 miles. The I-Hotel and Conference Center will be on your right-hand side, located at 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820.
- From Indianapolis, IN
- Take I-74 W: Head west on I-74 W from Indianapolis. You'll need to merge onto I-74 W from whichever point you start in Indianapolis. Continue on I-74 W: Stay on I-74 W for approximately 100 miles. Merge onto I-57 N toward Chicago: Near Urbana, Illinois, merge onto I-57 N toward Chicago. Take Exit 237 for US-45 toward Rantoul/Urbana: After about 10 miles on I-57 N, take Exit 237 for US-45 toward Rantoul/Urbana. Turn left onto US-45 N/S Dunlap Ave: After exiting, turn left onto US-45 N/S Dunlap Ave. Continue onto US-45 BUS N/N Neil St: After approximately 6 miles, continue onto US-45 BUS N/N Neil St. Turn right onto E University Ave: After about 1.5 miles, turn right onto E University Ave. Arrive at the I-Hotel and Conference Center: Continue on University Ave for about 0.7 miles. The I-Hotel and Conference Center will be on your right-hand side, located at 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820.
- Please be aware that ongoing construction on I-74 may result in exit closures and delays, necessitating the use of local roads or alternative access routes.
- From St. Louis, MO
- Take I-55 N and I-55 N/I-64 E: Head north on I-55 N from St. Louis. After a short distance, merge onto I-55 N/I-64 E.Continue on I-55 N/I-64 E: Stay on I-55 N/I-64 E for approximately 60 miles. Merge onto I-55 N toward Chicago: Near Collinsville, Illinois, merge onto I-55 N toward Chicago.Merge onto I-72 E/US-36 E via Exit 157 toward Decatur/Springfield: After driving on I-55 N for about 60 miles, take Exit 157 for I-72 E/US-36 E toward Decatur/Springfield. Continue on I-72 E: Stay on I-72 E for approximately 80 miles. You'll pass through Decatur and eventually approach Champaign.Merge onto I-57 N via Exit 182A toward Chicago: Near Champaign, merge onto I-57 N via Exit 182A toward Chicago. Take Exit 237 for US-45 toward Rantoul/Urbana: After about 10 miles on I-57 N, take Exit 237 for US-45 toward Rantoul/Urbana. Turn left onto US-45 N/S Dunlap Ave: After exiting, turn left onto US-45 N/S Dunlap Ave. Continue onto US-45 BUS N/N Neil St: After approximately 6 miles, continue onto US-45 BUS N/N Neil St. Turn right onto E University Ave: After about 1.5 miles, turn right onto E University Ave. Arrive at the I-Hotel and Conference Center: Continue on University Ave for about 0.7 miles. The I-Hotel and Conference Center will be on your right-hand side, located at 1900 S 1st St, Champaign, IL 61820.
Black & Latinx Summit Archive
Access archived information from past BLS events.