Tomorrow Talk: From Equal to Effective - Reexamining the Way We Fund Public Education
- Tom Tom Foundation Staff
- 16 hours ago
- 3 min read
Wed, Feb. 25
6:30 - 8:00 pm
Tom Tom Foundation, 100 W. South St
As we prepare for the 14th Annual Tom Tom Festival (April 22–26, 2026), whose theme is COURAGE, the Tomorrow Talk series invites us to explore what courage looks like—in our personal lives, our neighborhoods, our communities, and our society.
What does it really mean for a community to prioritize education? Despite decades of increased investment in public education, persistent gaps in literacy, attendance, and long-term outcomes remain stark—especially for children growing up in poverty. In this Tomorrow Talk, Price Thomas, Executive Director of City of Promise, shares research, lived experience, and emerging frameworks that explore how critical communities are in supporting learning beyond the classroom. Rather than offering simple answers, this conversation examines how education outcomes are shaped by a wide range of social, economic, and civic factors—and what that might mean for communities seeking new, more effective approaches.
Building on insights from the Education Innovator Summit at the 2025 Tom Tom Festival and a semester-long research project with the UVA College of Arts and Sciences, Price introduces the community schools model as one lens for understanding education as a shared ecosystem. This model considers how schools, families, local government, and community organizations must align efforts aimed at student and family success—through transportation access, out-of-school learning, family engagement, and other supports that influence how young people can fully participate and engage in school.
The talk will explore how communities make decisions about education priorities and investments, and how different approaches reflect different assumptions about what helps students succeed. Drawing on data and case studies from other cities, Price will offer frameworks for thinking about the balance between values, resources, and outcomes—inviting participants to reflect on how communities move from intention to implementation.
As with all Tomorrow Talks, the format is designed to create community dialogue. Attendees will be invited to engage with new ideas, ask questions, and consider where they see opportunities for alignment across schools, neighborhoods, and local institutions. Whether you are a parent, educator, policymaker, or community member, the conversation offers a chance to explore how care, collaboration, and curiosity might shape the future of education in Charlottesville.
Registration is required. Tickets are offered at GA ($30) or Scholarship ($15) prices.
FACILITATORS
Price A. Thomas is the Executive Director of City of Promise, leading the nonprofit since May 2023. Born and raised in Charlottesville, he brings extensive experience as a communications expert and campaign strategist in addition to his deep knowledge of the Charlottesville community. His nonprofit leadership experience with both the Montpelier Foundation and United Way of Greater Charlottesville, combined with his dedication to young people, made him the ideal choice to follow in the impactful footsteps of City of Promise’s preceding directors.
Price was invited to participate in a 2024 Harvard Graduate School of Education Ed Redesign workshop, an invite-only cohort for community leaders from around the country who are taking a community-wide approach to addressing educational disparities disproportionately affecting minority and under-resourced students. He is also a co-host of Envision Radio, a partnership between WINA, United Way of Greater Charlottesville, and City of Promise that fosters authentic and candid conversations about the community focused on racial equity and economic mobility.
Price is dedicated to disrupting the cycle of generational poverty by closing the local opportunity gap, ensuring that every child in Charlottesville has the chance to go to school and learn to read, outfitted with adequate resources and fueled by expectations of success. He lives in Charlottesville with his wife, a public-school teacher, and two young children.
City of Promise creates pathways from cradle to career while making a positive impact on generational poverty, and supporting a culture of achievement through child-centered, dual generation, family self-sufficiency initiatives in Charlottesville.
Paul Beyer is the founder of the Tom Tom Foundation and Tom Tom Festival, and in his role as executive director, is responsible for its strategic vision and community partnerships. Beyond Tom Tom, Paul works on a variety of gatherings and events ranging from festivals, dance parties, dinner series, meditations, men's groups, conferences, seminars, and concerts.
ABOUT THE SERIES
The Tomorrow Talks are a year-long series that picks up critical themes from our April Festival and continues the conversations to create impact in Charlottesville. Each session is facilitated with an emphasis on participation, connection, and new collaborations. Tomorrow Talks begin with a connection exercise or meditation, and proceed into a presentation and breakout activities. They aim to impart knowledge that is practical and relevant to people's lived experience; combining academic or theoretical insights, alongside pragmatic tools, and experiential and somatic learnings.
