Umoja XXII Annual Conference 2026 — November 18–21, Ontario Convention Center, Ontario, California
Umoja Community Education Foundation

The Umoja XXII Annual Conference is Coming to Ontario, CA!

Voices of the Future III

Where Vision Becomes Legacy

November 18–21, 2026 Four days of learning and celebration
Ontario Convention Center Ontario, California
Students & Educators Administrators, researchers, partners, and advocates
Share your practice

Call for Proposals

Now open

Present at Umoja XXII

Share your practice with the Umoja community. Submission categories, session formats, review criteria, and deadlines are listed on the Whova submission portal.

Opens: July 19, 2026  •  Closes: September 7, 2026  •  Notifications: TBA


About the conference

Amplifying the Voices of the Future

November 18–21, 2026 | Ontario Convention Center | Ontario, California

The Umoja Community Education Foundation is excited to announce that the Umoja XXII Annual Conference will take place November 18–21, 2026, at the Ontario Convention Center in Ontario, California.

Following the tremendous success of last year's record-breaking conference, this year's conference will celebrate the brilliance, leadership, and transformative power of Umoja students while reaffirming our collective commitment to culturally grounded, student-centered education. As Umoja continues to expand its impact across California and beyond, the conference will serve as a dynamic gathering place for students, educators, administrators, researchers, wealth generators, and community partners and advocates dedicated to advancing Black student success in higher education.

The Umoja XXII Annual Conference will bring together attendees for four days of learning, inspiration, collaboration, and celebration!

What to expect

Four Days, One Movement

  • Inspiring keynote speakers and thought leaders
  • Interactive workshops and professional learning sessions
  • Student leadership and engagement opportunities
  • Networking and community-building experiences
  • The return of UmojaCon — celebrating creativity, innovation, culture, and the future of Black excellence
  • African Marketplace — where eccentric finds from the continent and beyond are found

Join us in Ontario as we amplify the Voices of the Future and continue building a movement grounded in excellence, liberation, and belonging!


Hotels and rates

Register First. Reserve Second.

The hotel block closes October 20, 2026 After that date these rates are no longer guaranteed and reservations are subject to each hotel's standard rate and availability.

Umoja Family, our conference hotel blocks are secured at seven properties near the Ontario Convention Center.

Hotel booking links are provided with your conference registration confirmation. Register first, and your access to the negotiated conference rates follows.

Closest to the venue

DoubleTree by Hilton Ontario Airport

$189 per night

Prioritize booking here. Rooms are first come, first served, and the property is a five minute walk from the Ontario Convention Center.

Other participating hotels

Best Western Ontario Mills $154
Comfort Suites Ontario Airport $129
Delta Hotels (Marriott) $159
Element Ontario Rancho Cucamonga $190
Embassy Suites by Hilton Ontario $239
Sheraton Ontario Airport (Marriott) $145

Nightly conference rates, held through the Umoja XXII block until October 20, 2026.

Arriving early? Availability is heaviest Thursday and Friday nights. Wednesday, November 18 has significantly fewer rooms. If you are traveling in for pre-conference activities, register and book that night soon.
Traveling as a team? Coordinators, gather your group's travel needs now and register together. Early registration makes campus travel approvals and purchase orders far easier to process.

Two steps to get there

  1. Register for Umoja XXII.
  2. Use the booking links in your confirmation to reserve by October 20, 2026.

The success of our scholars is Everybody's Business, and that starts with getting the village in the room.

Questions about hotels and travel? Email events@umojacommunity.org


Agenda at a glance

Four Days, Hour by Hour

This schedule is tentative and subject to change. Session titles, speakers, and room assignments will be posted in the Whova conference app as they are confirmed.

Wednesday, November 18 Pre-conference

2:00 PM – 5:00 PM Black Student Education Summit

Thursday, November 19

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Registration opens
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:30 AM Opening General Session
Ceremony, welcomes, and CEO opening charge
11:45 AM – 12:45 PM Round 1 breakout sessions 60 minute concurrent sessions
  • Voices of the Future Track
  • UmojaCon
  • Umoja Practitioners Track
  • High School Track
  • Faculty Institute Track
12:45 PM – 2:00 PM Lunch and African Marketplace
2:00 PM – 3:45 PM General Session
Voices of the Future panel and Umoja Awards
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Round 2 breakout sessions
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Edutainment evening program

Friday, November 20

8:00 AM – 3:00 PM Registration opens
8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM – 11:45 AM General Session
Conference photo, Umoja Awards, and keynote speaker
12:00 PM – 1:00 PM Round 3 breakout sessions 60 minute concurrent sessions
  • Umoja Practitioners Track
  • High School Track
  • Faculty Institute Track
12:00 PM – 2:15 PM College & Career Fair
1:00 PM – 2:15 PM Lunch and African Marketplace
2:15 PM – 3:40 PM General Session
Presidents panel and Umoja Awards
4:00 PM – 5:00 PM Round 4 breakout sessions
7:00 PM – 9:00 PM Edutainment evening program

Saturday, November 21

8:00 AM – 9:00 AM Breakfast
9:00 AM – 12:10 PM Closing General Session
Student panel, Village Exchange, keynote speaker, and closing ceremony
1:00 PM – 3:30 PM University tours

Ontario Convention Center  •  2000 E Convention Center Way, Ontario, CA 91764


Agenda & networking

Conference App

Access the full agenda, speaker list, session details, and attendee networking through the Whova conference app.