The Reaching At Promise Student Association (RAPSA) is thrilled to announce that Barry E. Knight, renowned leadership coach and founder of BEK Impact Co., and Mary Helen Immordino-Yang Ed.D., professor of education, psychology, and neuroscience at the University of Southern California, will be a keynote speakers for the 13th Annual RAPSA Forum on November 3-5, 2025. This years’ forum promises to bring together the At-Promise and Opportunity Youth community in a way that have not been done before and exemplifies attendees’ dedication to empowering youth to become transformative leaders in their communities and beyond.
Barry E. Knight is a multi-gifted leadership strategist, keynote speaker, and systems thinker. He is also the founder and CEO of BEK Impact Co., a leadership development company that helps executive leaders solve organizational problems and achieve their goals faster by growing themselves and building strategies, teams, and systems that optimize how they collaborate and get things done.
Mr. Knight is the author of the book, "The Gift Called Leadership: How the Leader's 'Presence' Empowers Others to Succeed". Mr. Knight also serves as Equity, Access, and Opportunity Officer for the County of Riverside. His work includes working with department leaders and analysts to identify and implement solutions to eliminate barriers and disparity for vulnerable and underserved communities, and improve the quality of life for the people they serve.
Mr. Knight is also a board member for the Corona Chamber of Commerce (CA) where he has served for 3 years and chairs the building expansion committee.
Mary Helen Immordino-Yang (Ed.D., Harvard University), is a professor of education, psychology, and neuroscience at the University of Southern California and founding director of the USC Center for Affective Neuroscience, Development, Learning and Education.
Her work pairs in-depth qualitative interviews with longitudinal brain imaging and psychophysiological recording to reveal coordinated mental, neural, and bodily processes by which adolescents and their teachers build meaning—deliberating on the abstract, systems-level, and ethical implications of complex information, social situations, and identities. Her research underscores the active role youth play in their own brain and psychosocial development through the narratives they construct, and capacities teachers cultivate to support student belonging and deep learning. She conducts her work in partnership with expert educators and diverse youth from the low SES communities where she works.
Immordino-Yang also writes and speaks extensively on the implications for redesigning schools around curiosity and civic reasoning to promote intellectual vibrance and thriving. She has received numerous awards for her research and impact on society, including from the AAAS, the PNAS editorial board, the AERA, APS, FABBS, IMBES, the US Army, and others.
Together, these amazing speakers will bring powerful insights that resonate with educators, school leaders, policymakers, and community advocates who are dedicated to supporting At-Promise and Opportunity Youth. Their keynotes will highlight innovative approaches to leadership, equity in education, and the science of learning, offering practical takeaways for teachers, charter schools, and youth-serving organizations.
Registration for the 2025 RAPSA Forum is open!
Join us on November 3-5 in San Diego to learn about innovative leadership practices, effective strategies, and positive interventions used in educational settings that can help At-Promise students succeed!