On June 8-9, 2026, HILL for Literacy sponsored and participated in The Heretic Collective Summit, two days of important policy programming centered around Literacy and Justice reform in New York City during the Tribeca Film Festival.

“We are excited to bring together leaders across sectors to elevate the connection between literacy and justice. Organizing convenings at the same time as large cultural events is particularly powerful because we get to work with some of the most innovative storytellers in the world to help share how important literacy is in ensuring a person lives to their full potential,” said Benjamin Scherz, the Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Director at HILL for Literacy.

During the event we tackled topics like:

• parent advocacy
• the role of AI in education
• the importance of community representation in filmmaking with Rudy Valdez and picture books with Malcolm Mitchell
• the importance of effective systems to ensure effective instruction

Linking all panels was the power of connection. When we strive to make connections with our students and each other, everyone succeeds.

HILL staff and board members participated in several panel discussions:

• Dr. Darci Burns, Executive Director, was a featured expert in “Why our Systems Are Broken,” a conversation exploring how education, health, justice, and community systems must work together to create better outcomes and unlock human potential for every child.
• Dr. Cindy McGurl, Director of HILL Online, joined fellow literacy experts to discuss the “Future of Early Childhood Education being shaped by AI.”
• Benjamin Scherz, Strategic Partnerships & Business Development Director, sat down for a Fireside Chat with NFL champion and literacy advocate Malcom Mitchell.
• HILL Board Member Cyndi Weekes Bradley and Benjamin Scherz took the stage to discuss how to rethink literacy advocacy as a public health issue in “A New Lens on Literacy:  Public Health, Equity, and Collective Responsibility.”

We’re honored to have been a part of such an important event and necessary discussions. We’re so grateful to Heretic Collective Founder Burton Ritchie for bringing everyone together and making this Summit possible. It was a joy to collaborate with our fellow sponsors Writing Revolution, Arouet Foundation, and RetroReport, who also kindly hosted the event in their space.

Participants in the summit shared with us how they loved the joy, hope, tears, laughter and support that filled the room. Bringing people with different life experiences and expertise together to focus on societal issues that affect us all fostered exciting new connections and perspectives.

The last day concluded with a thought-provoking panel on how to transform good advocacy into measurable actions. We look forward to these continued conversations and the partnerships that have arisen from the summit in Tribeca as well as Sundance as we work toward a common goal: literacy and justice for all.

Learn more about the Heretic Collective NY Summit.