October 19, 2025

The BSF & LSF Annual School Fair at the University of the District of Columbia

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The BSF/LSF Annual School Fair is a forum for Washington metropolitan area families to learn about independent school education and to engage students, teachers, and administrators from more than 70 local and national independent schools and educational programs.

The School Fair is free, and open to the public.

2025 School Fair Guide

2:00 PM

School Fair Begins

2:15 PM

Workshop Session I

3:15 PM

Workshop Session II

4:15 PM

Workshop Session III

5:00 PM

Screening of Documentary

The School Fair Guide is a way to learn about the independent schools that attend the School Fair.

Join us at the University of District of Columbia, centrally located in the heart of the Washington metropolitan area. Easily accessible from various communities, our venue ensures convenience for all attendees. We're thrilled to be a nexus where diverse communities converge to explore and celebrate independent education.

Van Ness-UDC
Plan Your Metro Route

2025 School Fair Workshops

We invite parents, students, and educators to join us for a series of informative and enriching sessions designed to empower families in navigating the world of education. Our workshops cover a wide range of topics to cater to different interests and needs.
And, we will show the acclaimed documentary "Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round" the School Fair.

2:15 pm

Completing the Admissions and Financial Aid Process
Innovation Hub
B-109

Jewell Samuel, J.D. Founder/CEO of the Edukeys, a not for profit helping families access independent schools, will share advise and best practices on applying and seeking financial aid from the parent’s perspective.

Affording Independent Schools, A National View
A Level
A-01

This panel will provide perspectives on paying for an independent school education . The panelists are:
Moderator LaMecca Coates, InspireED;
LTC Gary Leydig (Fork Union Military Academy);
Christine Mitchell-Robinson (Westover School); and Fay School.

Five Tips for Finding the Right School for Your Child
Innovation Hub
B-107

Dr. Rona Frederick, Author of "Navigating School Selection 101: A Guide for African American Families", will share tips for how to identify schools that are the right fit for your child.

3:15 pm

The Psychology of Independent School Admissions
Level 1
110
Executive Conference Room

Psychologist Dr. Linda McGhee will provide insight and lessons on admissions/academic testing and discuss considerations relating to wellness and mental health in the admissions process.

A Reading of Ascend: A Black Man's Guide to Elevation, Success, and Purpose
B Level @ 3:30 PM
Ballroom

Ben Ali, owner of the legendary Ben’s Chili Bowl in Washington, D.C., reads his book, which is rooted in real stories, decades earned wisdom, and timeless principles that speak directly to the soul of the Black male experience.

4:15 pm

Montessori Education and Its Benefits/Challenges for the Black Child
Innovation Hub
B-109

Kazi Chad Dennis, the Black Montessori Education Fund's Scholarship Fund Manager, will lead a discussion on Montessori education. What is the Montessori Method? The Montessori Method fosters rigorous, self-motivated growth for children and adolescents in all areas of their development—cognitive, emotional, social, and physical.

Closing the Gap: Money for Education
Innovation Hub
B-107

Financial Professional Mark Baker will provide financing models and tips to help families finance K-12 and post-secondary education. Learn money strategies to use right now.

Financial Aid at Independent Schools
A Level
A-01

Frankie Brown of the Sidwell Friends School and Kevin Mills of Serving Our Children will discuss financial aid.

BSF and LSF United For Families

Our missions

Our mission is to advocate for academically motivated African-American and underserved students. The Black Student Fund provides advocacy, academic support, retention strategies, financial assistance, instruction, evaluations, feedback, and monitoring. We create a nurturing environment that fosters success from admission to graduation through our member school partnerships.

The Latino Student Fund aims to provide year-round, out-of-school-time programs that foster a robust academic foundation for underserved PreK-12th grade students and their families in low-income, at-risk communities. They also aim to promote higher education and nurture future professional leaders through holistic support.

Black Student Fund and Latino Student Fund Logos

ANB Poster large (2).pdf

AIN'T NO BACK TO A MERRY-GO-ROUND tells the untold story of an unprecedented partnership: the first time a Black student civil rights protest was joined by a white (largely Jewish) community. When five Howard University students sat on a Maryland merry-go-round in 1960, the arrests made headlines. When the white community near Glen Echo Amusement Park joined the Black students in picketing, an extraordinary history-making partnership was born. The pickets attracted Nazis, Congressmen, and a press avalanche. Picketing together over the sweltering summer led to partying together, and union organizers mentored student activists. The carousel arrests were challenged in the Supreme Court case.

It is completely free, and available to all!

What

A showing of the award winning documentary, Ain't No Back to a Merry-Go-Round

When

At 5:00 PM, after the School Fair

Where

On the second floor, in the Ballroom

Will there be refreshments

Yes, there will be refreshments.

I hear there is an essay opportunity.

We ask all middle and high school students to think about the documentary, and submit an essay that responds to the three prompts. And, yes, there will be monetary prize for all submitted essays.

Stay tuned for news on more detail.