Tom Tom Festival 2025

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

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Note: This conference session is by Invitation Only 

In an era when social media curates the perfect “instamoment,” how do we ensure that travel remains immersive, transformative, and real?
Join Christina Ball, founder of Speak! Language Center, as she moderates a vibrant conversation with:

• Julie Arbelaez, 30-year travel agent and owner of Peace Frogs Travel/Outfitters
• Michelle Damiani, travel writer, trip leader and author of Il Bel Centro
• Jaime Kurtz, JMU Psychology Professor and author of The Happy Traveler: Unpacking the Secrets of Better Vacations

Together, we’ll explore the evolving nature of travel—from passive sightseeing to experiences that foster real connection and cultural engagement.
We'll discuss:

• How technology and digital storytelling have sparked a renewed hunger for authenticity
• Ways to deepen travel through hands-on experiences like culinary walking tours, journaling, biking, and meeting local artisans
• The challenge of decision paralysis in the age of information overload—and how to filter through the noise
• Why it’s time to move beyond checklist tourism and curated itineraries to embrace slower, more soulful journeys

Come for the conversation, stay for the inspiration—and leave with practical ideas to make your next trip more personally meaningful.

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If you plan to attend only free events at Tom Tom and would still like to build your schedule here on Sched, please register for a Free "Create Your Schedule" Ticket. You’ll then receive an email from Sched prompting you to build your schedule.

Note: This conference session is a ticketed event. You can attend with a Patron or All-Access pass or a Thursday day pass OR purchase a ticket just for this event (please go to Eventbrite and purchase the Technology - WomenAdvancing ticket).

Thank you to our WomenAdvancing Founder sponsor Lighthouse Labs. 

1:15 - 2:15 pm - Invitational Only Executive Roundtable, curated by Citrine Angels and VIPC

1:30 - 2:00 pm - Arrival and Bingo Networking

2:00 - 2:45 pm - This session is presented proudly in partnership with Sherah - 
Welcome Remarks & Fireside Chat on “The Future of Work: Escaping the Cult of Busyness By Breaking Free from Overwork & Overwhelm”

We’ve been sold the myth that success means working harder, longer, and faster, but what if everything we believe about work is wrong? Brigid Schulte, bestselling author of Overwhelmed and Overwork, takes on the cult of busyness and lays out a smarter, saner vision for the future of work. From rethinking productivity to designing workplaces that actually work for humans, this keynote explores how we can ditch the burnout, reclaim time, and build a work culture that doesn’t require an escape plan.

• Brigid Schulte, Author, former Washington Post reporter
• Kate Byrne, Founder/Advisor, Podcast Host, WomenAdvancing
• Kristin Richardson, Founder, Sherah

2:45 - 3:30 pm - This session is proudly presented in partnership with 757 Collab - 
“Win Anyway: How to Succeed in Today’s Startup Environment”

With any new administration comes trickle-down changes, and this term is no different. Join us for an overview of current and impending regulatory, legislative, changes impacting the start-up ecosystem. Leading experts will provide guidance on how to navigate these challenges and find success in fundraising and scaling your business.

• Carmen Ortiz McGhee, COO, National Association of Investment Companies (NAIC), moderator
• Liz Doerr, Co-Founder & Partner, Sandbox
• Tina McRae, Principal, Kaleo Legal
• Rebecca Haydock, CEO, Venture Central

3:30 - 3:45 pm - Break

3:45 - 4:30 pm -  "Women Lifting Others: Examples in Climate and Sustainability"

Women excel at building networks and coalitions to support each other, and this work is more important today than ever. Our panelists are not only entrepreneurs in the climate and sustainability space themselves, but actively work to support other women in the sector and are connectors of people, projects, and funding. During this session, we will learn how we can translate what they're doing in one industry into others.

• Ali Rotatori, Strategy & Ecosystem Manager, Third Derivative (RMI) 
• Betsy Hnath, Deputy Executive Director, RISE Resilience Innovations
• Jade Garrett, Founder, Positive Deviancy
• Raye Elliott, Executive Director, FLIPP Inc

4:30 - 5:15 pm -  This session is proudly presented in partnership with Startup Virginia - 
"Money Moves: Funding Strategies for Women Entrepreneurs"

Women entrepreneurs receive significantly less funding than their male counterparts—but that doesn’t mean the money isn’t out there. This panel is all about understanding your funding options, overcoming systemic barriers, and making strategic moves to get the capital you need to grow. Our expert panelists—including lenders, investors, and successful founders—will share actionable insights on the funding gap, different funding avenues, and tips for crafting the perfect pitch.

• Chris Cain, Director of Capital Access, Bridging Virginia, moderator
• Aurelia Flores, Co-Founder, Citrine Angels, and Investment Director, VIPC
• Teira E. Farley, COO, Community Investment Collaborative (CIC)
• Tracey Greene, Executive Director, Charlottesville Business Innovation Council (CBIC) and Founding Executive Director, Charlottesville Angel Network (CAN)
• Yolunda Harrell, President & CEO, New Hill Development Corporation
  
  

5:15 - 6:00 pm - Networking and Closing Reception

Join us for a mixer pairing good conversation with even better snacks and drinks, all from Virginia-based, female-founded food & beverage producers. Whether you’re looking to make professional connections, discover new products, or just enjoy some tasty bites, this session promises a relaxed, enjoyable way to expand your network.

Savor delicious samples from:

• Absurd Snacks - allergen-free snack mixes
• Crunchy Hydration - zero-sugar functional sparkling water
• Eastwood Winery - local Charlottesville-produced wine
• I Kale Life - kale salad with Via Life dressing
• Keya's Snacks - Indian-inspired potato chips
• LillyBean - vegan and gluten-free mini cupcakes
• Mocktail Club - Pauline Idogho - non-alcoholic canned mocktails
• Navy Hill - Tequila Sodas
• OMG OCPs - oatmeal cream pies
• Peculiar Pantry - sweet and salty pecans, almonds, and toffee
• Taste Supply - an F&B marketplace for small producers featuring four brands: Birdie's Pimento Cheese, Capital Chips, Rainbow Trout Granola, and The Veganish Kitchen

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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.

Join Foreign Playerz at The Vault for a special installation of their weekly Bachata Room - The All White Gala
Free Bachata lessons start at 8:30pm, then the party start at 9pm - 1am!

Tickets are $16 and you can purchase those at the door.

More info at the event page here!

Presented by UVA Innovates

**** This Session is by invitation only *****

The Commonwealth of Virginia is poised to be a global leader in technology, innovation, and entrepreneurship. Universities have a critical role to play in helping to catalyze innovations to drive economic growth, create the jobs of the future, and advance the state’s ambitions to be a technological leader.

On April 18, more than 20 delegates will convene in Charlottesville for the Jefferson Innovation Summit at the Tom Tom Festival to discuss the ways in which universities can help to commercialize and scale new technologies and grow entrepreneurship within the Commonwealth. The delegates will include representatives from a broad swath of stakeholders including entrepreneurs, prominent venture investors, our VA public universities, the Governor’s office and executive branch, elected officials, academics, and non-profits.

Through a facilitated dialogue and workshop, the delegates will work together to generate a small set of recommendations that may include specific policy proposals or more broad recommendations activating both the private and public sectors. These insights will then be used to develop a playbook to inspire and inform policy action.

To RSVP and Learn more: https://jeffersoninnovationsummit.org/