Rebuilding the Village: Cheryl Hinton Harris and Malik Yoba Lead the Conversation at ImpactEd Summit 2025

CUBNSC
Oct 24
3 min read

IMPACT ED SUMMIT 2025 with Cheryl Hinton Harris Featuring: Malik Yoba/Courtesy of All Things Ed

By Javar Juarez | CUBNSC | October 24, 2025 | Columbia, S.C.

A Movement Rooted in Collaboration and Community

In a time when communities are searching for meaningful change, former Richland County School District One Commissioner Cheryl Hinton Harris is determined to rebuild what she calls “the village.” Through her initiative, ImpactEd, Harris aims to reignite a collective commitment to education and community collaboration. Her mission is clear: to remind South Carolinians that it takes more than schools to educate a child—it takes a united network of churches, local businesses, parents, and mentors.

Host of All Things Ed former Richland One Commissioner Cheryl Hinton Harris/Courtesy All Things Ed

“The village doesn’t exist anymore,” Harris said during our conversation. “We have to somehow recreate it. That’s the goal of ImpactEd—to recreate the village that impacts education, children, and communities.”

At the ImpactEd Summit 2025, Harris’s focus is on real solutions. She highlights how schools in underserved communities have flourished through strong partnerships with local churches—partnerships that go beyond school supplies. In one inspiring case, a once-struggling school achieved excellent state rankings after churches committed to supporting students with food, mentorship, and consistent presence in classrooms. “It wasn’t just about bookbags or paper—it was about being there,” she explained.

The Power of Presence and Human Capital

Harris emphasizes that lasting change comes from personal investment. “We’ve got to go beyond the four walls,” she urged. “It’s not about walking down hallways saying hello—it’s about spending quality time in schools, showing teachers and students that they are supported.”

Through her experience as a commissioner, Harris spearheaded initiatives like the Commissioner’s Luncheon, where school leaders, churches, and community members gathered to identify shared challenges and build solutions together. That collaborative model laid the foundation for ImpactEd’s mission today—to turn conversation into community action.

IMPACT ED SUMMIT 2025: Malik Yoba The Artist as a Bridge

American Actor and Mentor Malik Yoba Headlines IMPACT ED Summit 2025/Courtesy All Things Ed

At this year’s Summit, actor, activist, and educator Malik Yoba takes center stage as a featured guest and living example of resilience and mentorship. Known for his acclaimed roles in New York Undercover and Cool Runnings, Yoba’s current work transcends entertainment—he is dedicated to youth development through the arts.

“Malik grew up in a rough era in New York,” Harris noted. “He was shot, he survived, and he changed his mindset to make it better for the next person.” By his early twenties, Yoba had already founded a youth organization centered around the arts—a mission he continues to this day through his work with Harris in South Carolina. “He helps pull something out of kids they didn’t even know they had,” she said. “It’s called raw talent, because no one has ever tapped into it.”

At a recent Black and Gold Gala, Yoba stunned attendees by personally engaging with young performers on stage, calling them by name and encouraging them to share their gifts. “He knew their names,” Harris recalled. “He saw them.” That moment encapsulated the spirit of ImpactEd—a celebration of untapped potential and the belief that transformation begins with human connection.

ImpactEd’s Broader Mission: Collaboration Over Competition

Dr. Jamal Stroud Founder Big Homie Little Homie Mentoring/Juarez©2025

Beyond Yoba’s presence, the Summit convenes changemakers like Chadrick Middleton, founder of the Birdhouse Foundation, who supports children of incarcerated parents, and Big Homie Little Homie Mentoring, an organization committed to uplifting young Black men statewide. These partnerships embody the essence of ImpactEd’s work: replication over reinvention. “If something works,” Harris said, “duplicate it. You don’t have to reinvent the wheel.”

Through roundtable sessions and interactive workshops, attendees will identify challenges within their own counties and design action plans for the months ahead. “We have to work collaboratively as a state,” Harris affirmed. “Because if one chases a thousand, two puts ten thousand to flight.”

All Things Ed: Learning Without Walls

All Things Ed Radio Show with Host Cheryl Hinton Harris/Courtesy of All Things Ed

As host of All Things Ed, a Saturday morning show described as “a classroom with no ceilings and no walls,” Harris continues to champion lifelong learning. “Learning never stops,” she said. “No matter how old you get, you’re going to always learn something new.”

Her message is simple but profound: education doesn’t belong solely to schools—it belongs to everyone. By reconnecting churches, communities, and classrooms, ImpactEd Summit 2025 represents not just an event but a movement to rebuild the village, one partnership at a time.