Manhattanville University Hosts Changing Suburbs Institute® Annual Education Forum

PURCHASE, N.Y. (March 6, 2026) – As suburban school communities across the country continue to evolve, educators are grappling with how to better support increasingly diverse student populations and strengthen partnerships with families and community organizations. To explore these challenges, Manhattanville University will convene educators, students, and community partners from across the region for the Changing Suburbs Institute® Annual Educational Forum, on Friday, March 13, 2026, from 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. at Reid Castle. The event will bring together educators, school leaders, students, and nonprofit partners to explore how schools can respond to rapidly evolving suburban communities through connection, care, and courageous commitment.

The forum will feature a keynote address by Wilmer Chavarria, Superintendent of the Winooski School District in Vermont. A nationally recognized educational leader and former National Board–certified teacher, Chavarria is known for advancing equity-driven school systems that support multilingual learners and first-generation students. In July 2025, Chavarria made national news for his willingness to challenge unsettling Fourth Amendment violations by U.S. Customs and Border Protection. Chavarria asserts, “As a superintendent, I can’t stop standing for things I stand for; I can’t stop speaking out for the rights of our families.”

Prior to his role in Winooski, Chavarria served as Director of Equity and Education Support Systems for the Milton Town School District and previously as a school principal in both Vermont and New Mexico. Throughout his career, he has led initiatives including dual-language immersion programs, trauma-informed school systems, expanded bilingual education pathways, and innovative student support structures designed to strengthen belonging and achievement for all students.

His keynote will explore how educators can lead with courage and compassion while building school systems that foster belonging and opportunity for every student.

Student leadership will also be central to the day’s programming. Puerto Rican Hispanic Youth Leadership Institute (PR/HYLI) students will participate in a featured panel discussion, while members of the Hastings-on-Hudson High School Affinity Club will lead a breakout session focused on student-driven approaches to belonging and community engagement.

Through the Changing Suburbs Institute, Manhattanville University has become a regional hub for educators and community leaders working to better understand the demographic, cultural, and linguistic shifts reshaping suburban schools. The annual forum provides a space for educators, researchers, students, and community organizations to share ideas, examine emerging challenges, and develop strategies that strengthen opportunity and belonging for all students. As suburban communities across the United States continue to diversify, the institute’s work contributes to a growing national dialogue about how schools can adapt to better serve multilingual learners, first-generation students, and families from a wide range of cultural backgrounds.

“At Manhattanville, we believe meaningful educational progress happens when schools, families, and communities work together,” said Frank Sánchez, Ph.D., President of Manhattanville University. “The Changing Suburbs Institute brings educators and community partners together to explore how we can better serve students and families in an increasingly diverse and interconnected world.”

The forum will include morning and afternoon learning sessions led by educators, community organizers, and regional practitioners that translate research, lived experience, and community partnership into practical strategies schools can implement immediately.

In addition to educators and students, the event will feature a range of community partners working to support families and schools throughout the region. Organizations participating in the forum include Neighbors Link, Scholastic, Center for Safety and Change, and Rockland 21C, among others.

Event Details:

Event: Changing Suburbs Institute® Annual Educational Forum

Date: Friday, March 13, 2026

Time: 9 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Location: Reid Castle, Manhattanville University, Purchase, NY

Registration Link: https://www.mylearningplan.com/WebReg/ActivityProfile.asp?D=13064&I=5298199

Event Contact:

Dr. Susan Iverson
Susan.Iverson@mville.edu

About Manhattanville University

Manhattanville University (formerly Manhattanville College) is a private liberal arts institution dedicated to academic excellence, purposeful education, and social responsibility. “U.S. News and World Report” ranks Manhattanville among the Top Performers of Social Mobility in Regional Universities North. The university has been recognized among the best colleges in The Princeton Review for close to 20 years. Located 30 miles from New York City on a 100-acre suburban campus in the heart of Westchester County, Manhattanville enables easy access to entertainment offerings, educational resources, and business opportunities for its diverse student body. The university serves more than 1,400 undergraduate students and nearly 1,000 graduate students from more than 44 countries and 33 states. Founded in 1841, the university offers more than 75 undergraduate and graduate areas of study in the arts and sciences, education, nursing and health sciences, business, and creative writing, as well as continuing and executive education programs. Graduate students can choose from over 70 graduate and certificate programs. Extracurricular offerings include more than 45 clubs and activities, and 23 NCAA Division III teams. For more information, visit mville.edu