By Ronald C. Williams, PhD
Baltimore, MD – April 30, 2025 — Coppin State University marked its 125th anniversary with the 2025 Economic Inclusion Conference at Coppin (EICAC ’25), a landmark gathering designed to redefine how Baltimore youth and young adults access economic opportunity. Held in partnership with the Mayor’s Graduating Seniors Career Fair and Baltimore City Public Schools (BCPSS), the event welcomed more than 1,000 attendees to campus, including over 800 high school seniors, 100 local employers, elected officials, and other community stakeholders.
Themed “125 Years of Leading the Way to Wealth: A New Paradigm for Youth Economic Empowerment,” the conference built on Coppin’s enduring mission to transform lives through education, community engagement, and economic leadership. This year’s gathering not only honored the historic contributions of Coppin namesake Fannie Jackson Coppin but also cast a bold vision for the future, centering young people as agents of innovation and equity in Baltimore’s economic ecosystem.
A Vision Rooted in Research and Collaboration
EICAC ’25 followed the release of Excellence in Entrepreneurial Learning (EXCEL): Equipping Baltimore Youth & Emerging Adults for Opportunity, a 2024 report produced by Coppin’s Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship with support from the Annie E. Casey Foundation. The EXCEL report offered a deep, data-informed analysis of youth entrepreneurship education in Baltimore City, highlighting gaps, opportunities, and the potential of “intrapreneurial learning”—the development of entrepreneurial mindsets within traditional employment settings.
The conference translated those findings into action by convening educators, public officials, funders, nonprofit leaders, corporate partners, and students to engage in dialogue, share promising practices, and develop strategies for equipping young people to succeed in a rapidly changing economy.
As a lead developer of the report, I assert that EXCEL made it clear that we need to rethink how we prepare our youth for opportunity. We must go beyond job placement and help students build wealth through both entrepreneurial and workforce pathways.
Human Flag Ceremony Honors a Legacy of Leadership
One of the most powerful moments of the day was the Human Flag Commemoration at noon on the Physical Education Complex Athletic Field. In tribute to the university’s 125th anniversary, participants—including high school students, Coppin scholars, faculty, and staff—stood shoulder to shoulder in formation to create a living flag. The ceremony symbolized Coppin’s longstanding commitment to building unity, resilience, and opportunity through education.
Learning Tracks That Bridge Education and Enterprise
EICAC ’25 featured four comprehensive learning tracks tailored to diverse audiences:
- Student Track (in collaboration with Baltimore City Public Schools): This track engaged graduating seniors in sessions like “Future-Proof Your Career,” “Money Moves: Mastering Personal Finance,” and “Side Hustle to CEO,” providing foundational skills for both employment and entrepreneurship. Participating companies included JPMorgan Chase, Northwestern Mutual, and community entrepreneurs.
- Entrepreneurship and Workforce Education: Facilitated by Angel St. Jean, co-founder of Equity Brain Trust, this track explored how instructional design and data can drive outcomes for youth employment and venture creation.
- Ecosystem Building: Led by experts like Selisa Jefferson and Valerie Davenport, sessions examined how emerging technologies (AI, crypto) and community partnerships can create inclusive innovation networks.
- Policy and Funding Strategies: Public policy advocates and funders, including Rashad Staton, Brittany Young, and Dianna Vass, presented frameworks for aligning investments with youth-focused outcomes and telling powerful impact stories.
University of Maryland, Baltimore Instructs EICAC students on “Storytelling that Counts: Advocating with Numbers and Narratives
A fifth special track—Innovative Program Models—highlighted high-impact youth development organizations such as HeartSmiles LLC, Mentoring Mentors, and The Epic Art Universe, offering models that are changing lives through creativity, leadership, and purpose.
Real-Time Access to Opportunity
The heart of the conference was the Mayor’s Graduating Seniors Career Fair, which brought over 800 students face-to-face with more than 100 employers offering full-time jobs, internships, and apprenticeships. “This is what it looks like to close the opportunity gap,” said one student participant. “We’re not just talking about jobs—we’re being introduced to careers and futures we can build.”
Employers and community partners echoed the sentiment. “EICAC offers more than a platform—it’s a pipeline,” said one hiring manager. “It’s connecting talent with purpose.”
Stakeholder Synergy for Lasting Change
EICAC ’25 underscored the critical role of higher education institutions like Coppin in shaping economic mobility. Through its Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, Coppin continues to serve as a catalyst for collaboration between academia, government, business, and community organizations.
In my opinion, our students—and the youth we serve—don’t need charity. They need strategy, structure, and support systems that recognize their value and invest in their potential.
Looking Ahead
As Coppin embarks on its next 125 years, EICAC ’25 serves as a cornerstone for a growing movement. It affirmed Coppin’s place not only as a historic institution but as a modern engine of economic transformation.
For more information about the Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship and upcoming initiatives, contact: entrepreneurship@coppin.edu
About Coppin State University
Coppin State University, a Historically Black University in Baltimore, Maryland, was founded in 1900. With a legacy shaped by pioneering educator Fannie Jackson Coppin, the university remains committed to academic excellence, community impact, and opportunity creation for generations to come.
Ronald C. Williams, PhD is the Associate Professor of Management and Founding Director, Center for Strategic Entrepreneurship, Coppin State University.