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Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit

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Tuskegee University will host the 30th Annual Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit (BTW Summit) on September 10–11, 2026. The Summit continues Tuskegee University's commitment to advancing the legacy of Booker T. Washington through economic development, entrepreneurship, education, and community empowerment.

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History of the Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit

The Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit was established to honor the visionary leadership of Dr. Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee University, whose philosophy of economic self-reliance and education continues to inspire generations. The Summit serves as a modern platform for dialogue, innovation, and collaboration, connecting Tuskegee’s historic mission to today’s challenges in entrepreneurship, agriculture, and economic equity.

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Agenda-at-a-Glance

30th Booker T. Washington Economic Development Summit

Empowering Economic Ecosystems: Innovation, Shared Prosperity, and the Next Generation of Leaders

September 10–11, 2026 • Tuskegee University • Tuskegee, Alabama
Agenda updated September 1, 2026

On smaller screens, scroll each schedule horizontally to view all columns. Blank rooms are not specified in the agenda.

Thursday, September 10, 2026
Time	Session	Topic	Room
7:30 a.m. – 1:30 p.m.		Registration	Lobby
7:30 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.		Breakfast and Networking	Main Floor
8:45 a.m. – 9:15 a.m.	Opening Session	Welcome and Presidential Address	Main Floor
9:15 a.m. – 9:30 a.m.		Occasion and Dedication to Dr. Velma L. Blackwell	Main Floor
9:30 a.m. – 10:30 a.m.	Opening Plenary	Recent Economic Development in Small Cities and Towns	Main Floor
10:30 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.		Stretch Break
10:45 a.m. – 11:45 a.m.	General Session 1	University Centers for Economic Development and Empowerment	Main Floor
12:00 p.m. – 1:00 p.m.		Luncheon	Main Floor
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Breakout Session A	Anchor Institutions for Community and Economic Development	Main Floor
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Breakout Session B	Students, Entrepreneurship and Social Impact	Tompkins Hall
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Breakout Session C	YES Summit	Tompkins Hall
1:00 p.m. – 4:00 p.m.	Breakout Session D	Establishing the Entrepreneurship Mindset	Logan Hall
5:30 p.m. – 8:30 p.m.		Networking Reception	Logan Hall Lawn

Friday, September 11, 2026
Time	Session	Topic	Room
8:00 a.m. – 9:00 a.m.		Registration and Breakfast	Tompkins Hall
9:10 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.		Integrative Public Policy and Development Roundtable	Tompkins Hall
11:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.		Break
11:30 a.m. – 12:15 p.m.	Closing Plenary	A New Age of International Development for Higher Education	The Chapel
12:15 p.m. – 1:15 p.m.		Boxed Lunch
1:30 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.	Closing Address	From Talent to Transformation	The Chapel
2:00 p.m.		Acknowledgements	The Chapel
2:15 p.m. – 2:30 p.m.		Pictures at the Monument

It is the policy of Tuskegee University Cooperative Extension Program to provide equal employment opportunities and to offer educational programs, resources and materials to eligible participants without regard to race, color, national origin, religion, sexual orientation, disability, age, marital or veteran status, political beliefs, or reprisal or retaliation for prior civil rights activity, in any program or activity conducted or funded by USDA (not all bases apply to all programs). For all reasonable accommodation requests, please contact Shirley Brown, Director, Office of Civil Rights Compliance at sbrown@tuskegee.edu.

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