Chris and LaShawn Chatmon both trace their leadership journeys back to Breakthrough, known then as Summerbridge. LaShawn participated in Summerbridge as a Teaching Fellow in the mid-90s while preparing for graduate school at Brown University and teaching roles at independent schools. Chris later became Director of San Francisco Day School after teaching at Thurgood Marshall Academic High School. Decades later, the couple continue to carry lessons from Breakthrough into their work today: LaShawn as Founder and CEO of The National Equity Project and Chris as CEO of Kingmakers.
Q: When you think back to Summerbridge, what stands out?
LaShawn: The first thing that stands out for me is joy. Joyful learning and being in environments where young people were excited to be there. I also remember the power of intergenerational learning: adults teaching young people, young people teaching young people. It was both mentorship and teaching. Early in my teaching career, Summerbridge helped shape the idea that you are not teaching to young people, but learning from and with them.
Chris:
For me, it was the thematic, project-based curriculum. The summer was magical. We curated this whole experience around the theme “unity in the community makes things grow.” There were master teachers, younger educators, college students, high school students – everyone learning together. It also changed my understanding of what school could be when students have access to resources, creativity, and community. It completely shifted my leadership and life trajectory.
Q: Prior to Summerbridge, did you already know you wanted to work in education?
LaShawn:
Yes. I was already teaching in independent schools before Summerbridge and was preparing to pursue my Masters in Teaching at Brown. Summerbridge was an opportunity to deepen my practice and gain experience in a different kind of learning environment.
Chris:
I always knew I wanted to teach. Part of my own experience in public school made me want to return and create something different for young people, especially students of color. Summerbridge elevated that. It deepened my understanding of pedagogy, collaboration, and how to intentionally create community.
Q: You both mentioned community and collaboration. How did that shape your work?
LaShawn:
What Summerbridge was doing more than 30 years ago is what the field is talking about now: learner-centered education, project-based learning, voice and choice, meaningful community experiences. There’s something durable about the model. Every summer young people did the work, presented it publicly, and the community showed up to celebrate them. Looking back now, I can see how foundational those ideas were to the work we do today.
Chris:
Some of the terminology has changed, but the core ideas remain powerful. We were creating environments where young people felt seen and valued. There was this belief that students came from greatness. Even as director, I never saw myself as bigger or more important than anyone else in the community. It was about distributive leadership and asking: how do we create the kind of community we want young people to experience?
Q: As it relates to young people learning, leading, and thriving, what gives you hope right now?
Chris:
Young people are the co-designers of everything we do. That’s especially true now. Through the arts–music, film, podcasts, animation, fashion–we help young people understand who they are, tell their stories, and develop as leaders and entrepreneurs. Black boys, especially, need more opportunities to be seen as beautiful, brilliant, and full of possibility. What gives me hope is watching young people continue to lead, create, and challenge systems even in difficult moments.
LaShawn:
Our work focuses on helping adults and systems truly listen to young people and families, not just hearing their needs, but also their aspirations. Young people continue to bring creativity, brilliance, and hope into these spaces every day. Every time I’m with young people, I feel hopeful. Despite everything happening around them, they still believe the future is theirs to shape. That gives me tremendous hope.