Tom Tom Festival 2025

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This morning session is by invitation for leaders who are actively implementing strategic plans for the region.

This session will create a point of consensus before the day begins, share the thesis of the Civic Futures conference, and invite engagement throughout the day, preparing for the capstone session when attendees share their reflections and feedback on the take-aways.



********

Note: This Conference session is by invitation only. 


************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

Registration and badge pickup takes place in the lobby of the Code Building.

Complimentary coffee and tea provided by Grit Coffee in the Irving Theater lobby at Code.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

The EVOLVE Conference launches with a day-long exploration of how we build the relational capital and community cohesion, to envision and shape the future of our hometown. CIVIC FUTURES is a pioneering multi-sector gathering designed to inspire bold regional storytelling rooted in inclusion, creativity, and innovation.

This full-day event unites changemakers from diverse sectors—private industry, government, philanthropy, academia, and institutions—into a dynamic, creative space. Through interactive dialogue we’ll explore: What could our region be known for? And What coalitions and partnerships are essential to getting us there?

Together, we’ll co-create a roadmap for the region’s identity and growth, paving the way for meaningful action.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

As the United States approaches its 250th anniversary, this conversation explores the foundations of American democracy and the work of building a more representative future. Through reflections on Monticello’s unique local role and the Karsh Institute’s broader national lens, this dialogue invites us to consider how the lessons of our past can shape the next 250 years of American democracy.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

How can collaboration between the City of Charlottesville, Albemarle County, and UVA position our region as a premier destination for innovation?

This discussion will explore the critical intersections of technology, research, workforce development, and investment that drive sustainable growth. From major municipal projects like the North Fork Discovery Park and a new Biotech Accelerator to UVA’s launch of UVA Innovates—a university-wide initiative to accelerate research and entrepreneurship—leaders will share strategies for cultivating an innovation ecosystem that fuels both startups and established industries. And as we look to the future, how can we ensure that bold ideas, creative risk-taking, and economic opportunity benefits the entire community?


********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

Co-Hosted with City of Promise and African American Teaching Fellows (AATF)

This Session is by invitation only

Education Innovators Summit: What would a “Community School” mindset mean for Charlottesville?
The Education Innovation forum brings together diverse stakeholders to discuss how we leverage a Community School model to address noted and growing educational disparities between minority and under-resourced students and their peers in Charlottesville and Albemarle.

Nationally, Community Schools are public schools that provide services and support that fit each neighborhood’s needs. They are created and run by the people who know our children best—all working together. A Community Schools mindset speaks to a mentality of building coalitions and collaboration between all the diverse organizations caring for our kids inside and and outside of the school building.

This forum poses the question: what would Community Schools look like in Charlottesville? The multidisciplinary gathering brings together community stakeholders and local, mission-aligned organizations representing key social service agencies, government agencies, philanthropic institutions, community members, and research institutes with a stake in addressing poverty and educational engagement of children and families in Charlottesville.

Read more: https://www.tomtomfoundation.org/post/education-innovator-forum-at-civic-futures

--------------------------

Note: This conference session is by Invitation Only 

This session is proudly presented in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. 

Join an engaging fireside chat on the power of community partnerships that explores how collaboration between local government, healthcare, and community organizations can drive meaningful change, improve public well-being, and create a more connected and resilient community.

UVA Health has in recent years developed programs such as “Earn-While-You-Learn” that aspire to create job pathways that expand economic opportunity into neighborhoods and communities in Charlottesville and the broader region. From innovative health initiatives to shared solutions for social challenges, this discussion will highlight the impact of working together to shape a healthier future for all.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This session is presented proudly in partnership with the Charlottesville Office of Economic Development. 

As Charlottesville again takes the national stage ahead of the 250th Anniversary of the Declaration of Independence, how can the region define and amplify a brand of inclusive innovation? This panel will explore the evolving narrative of Charlottesville—who tells its story, how it is perceived both locally and nationally, and what opportunities lie ahead. This conversation will examine how media, technology, and community voices can shape an identity that reflects both Charlottesville’s complex history and its bold vision for the future.

Featuring Tobias Dengel (WillowTree), Sarad Davenport (Vinegar Hill Magazine), and Jayme Swain (Virginia PBS), with moderation by Michael Lenox (UVA Innovates), the conversation will feature leading private sector innovators, national media experts, and local voices who have shaped the media and social sector landscapes.

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This session is presented proudly in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville. 

Lunch will be served from 12:30pm - 1:00pm, with the conversation starting at 1:00PM

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This session is presented proudly in partnership with the United Way of Greater Charlottesville.

Join us for a ground-breaking discussion about how coalition-building and cross-sector partnership can create community change. The panel will explore project highlights and lessons learned from paradigm-shifting community efforts in early childhood education and workforce development from across the Commonwealth of Virginia.

Lunch will be served from 12:30pm - 1:00pm, with the conversation starting at 1:00PM

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This session is proudly presented in partnership with Venture Central.

What are the biggest challenges high-growth entrepreneurs face when building and keeping their businesses in Charlottesville and Albemarle?  And what is this region doing well to seed and cultivate the next big thing? 

This roundtable brings together local founders who are scaling cutting-edge companies in biotech, AI, advanced manufacturing, and consumer goods to discuss the opportunities and barriers of growing in our region.

Let’s dive into the real-world needs of startups, from funding and talent pipelines to infrastructure and industry support. What will it take to ensure that Charlottesville remains not just a launchpad, but a long-term home for innovation?

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This roundtable explores how the region’s leading private sector and nonprofit membership organizations can align their advocacy efforts to shape a shared vision for the future? 

We will examine the intersections of government affairs, regional storytelling, and coalition-building to highlight how diverse sectors—business, philanthropy, and civic institutions—can collaborate to advance policies that foster inclusive growth and opportunity. 

How can amplifying regional narratives and influencing decision-makers help ensure the needs and aspirations of the entire community are met. 


********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed. Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.

This session is proudly presented in partnership with Friends of Charlottesville. 

As we wrap up a day of powerful discussions, this capstone session brings everyone together for an interactive, high-energy conversation about Charlottesville’s future. We’ll connect the dots, identify key themes, and chart actionable next steps—together.

This is your opportunity to be part of something bigger: to turn insights into impact, collaboration into momentum, and ideas into real change. Don’t just listen—lead. Join us for this critical conversation and help move Charlottesville forward!


Conversation and exercises facilitated by David Deaton of MindSalt. 

********

Note: This Conference session is ticketed.

Please purchase your tickets on Eventbrite. You will then receive an email from Sched with login information that allows you to make your personal schedule.

************

A special thank you to our sponsors: The 13th Annual Tom Tom Festival is presented with the University of Virginia, UVA Innovates, Virginia Tourism, RL Beyer Custom Homes, and Ludwig Kuttner.