Keynote Speakers
Opening Keynote, March 18
Dr. David J. Johns
Dr. Johns will address the power of education to unlock opportunities for us all. Dr. Johns was appointed the first executive director of the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans. He served as a senior education policy advisor to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions and was a Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Fellow. He holds a Ph.D. in sociology and education policy from Columbia University. Dr. Johns is the chief executive officer and executive director of the National Black Justice Collective (NBJC). NBJC envisions a world where all people are fully empowered to participate safely, openly, and honestly in family, faith, and community, regardless of race, class, gender identity, or sexual orientation.
Youth Panel, March 18
Jubei Brown-Weaver, He/Him, CareerWise DC Apprentice Alum (Cybersecurity)
Jubei Brown-Weaver is currently a Packaged App Developer at Accenture in Washington, D.C. Jubei completed a three-year apprenticeship with Accenture in June 2024 as a Cybersecurity Apprentice. As a high school junior at McKinley Tech High School, he knew he wanted a future career in technology, but was certain he did not want to go to college before starting it. Participating in CareerWise DC was the pathway he needed to launch his career. In addition to completing 2,000+ hours of paid work as an Accenture employee and earning over $35,000 during his apprenticeship, Jubei learned Python, secured industry-valued credentials related to cybersecurity, banked social capital by building a professional network of colleagues and mentors, and graduated on time from high school. This experience directly led him to his current full-time position as a Packaged App Developer, where he is harnessing the very same skills and relationships he honed as an apprentice this true passion – specifically how we protect technology from adversaries.
Maegan Godoy, She/Her, CareerWise DC Apprentice (Project Coordination)
Maegan Godoy is a first-year Project Coordinator Apprentice at the Partnership to Advance Youth Apprenticeship (PAYA) at New America and a senior at Friendship Technology Preparatory Academy in Washington, DC. As a Project Coordinator Apprentice, Maegan gets to support the PAYA Youth Council activities and various research projects. She will also help facilitate a session on the value of youth apprenticeship at this year’s SXSW (South by Southwest) EDU Conference & Festival. Maegan plans to continue her apprenticeship with New America while attending college this fall. She plans to major in political science and minor in ethics and philosophy.
Farih Johnson, She/Her, CareerWise DC Apprentice Alum (Human Resources)
Farih Johnson is a Community Engagement Coordinator at Equal Justice Works in Washington, DC. She joined Equal Justice Works as a Human Resources Associate Apprentice in 2023 as part of the CareerWise DC youth apprenticeship program and was hired as a full-time team member last month. During her apprenticeship, she also provided support as the temporary Program Assistant in the Law School Engagement & Advocacy Unit at EJW. As a Community Engagement Coordinator, she is continuing to support law student programming, while engaging with alumni, advisory councils, and the greater EJW community. Farih is currently a senior at Arizona State University and will graduate with a B.S. in Urban Planning and a Certificate in Geographic Information Systems, as part of the ASU Local DC program. She is passionate about equity, sustainability, and creativity— Farih seeks to include these values in everything she does.
Closing Keynote, March 20
Dr. Valeriah Big Eagle
Dr. Big Eagle is a passionate advocate for student success, educational equity, and Indigenous youth empowerment. With a rich background in higher education, Dr. Big Eagle has dedicated her career to fostering inclusive learning environments. Currently the Executive Director of Friends of the Children He Sapa, she previously served as the Diversity Outreach and Engagement Coordinator at South Dakota State University and a Student Success Advisor at Black Hills State University. Her expertise spans youth development, peer mentorship, and academic advising, with a focus on empowering Native students to thrive in education and beyond.
