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Equity-Centered Holistic Outcomes in Education Conference 2026

Conference Overview 

This year’s ECHO Conference (formerly the Teaching for Equity Symposium) invites us to ground ourselves in hope and grow together through kinship—an expansive, equity-minded commitment to community, care, and transformation. Inspired by the restorative ethos of Father Gregory Boyle, founder of Homeboy Industries, and the powerful narratives of displacement, memory, and justice illuminated by Pulitzer Prize-winning author Viet Thanh Nguyen, this year’s theme affirms that equity work transcends roles, titles, and boundaries. It is a shared responsibility rooted in recognizing one another’s humanity, dignity, and potential. 

Event Details 

  • Date: March 6, 2026
  • Time: 8 AM to 7 PM
  • Location: Hilton Orange County/Costa Mesa: 3050 Bristol St., Costa Mesa, CA 92626
  • Early Bird Registration: $25.00, Students are always Free
  • To reserve your room at the discounted group rate, book online by January 31, 2026, using this booking link.
  • Parking: $15.00 per day for registered attendees

Keynote Speakers

Keynote Speaker: Viet Thanh Nguyen

Pulitzer Prize-winning novelist, short story writer, and professor. Born in Vietnam and raised in the United States, his work often explores themes of war, memory, and identity, particularly through the lens of Vietnamese refugees and their experiences. He is best known for his novel The Sympathizer, which won the Pulitzer Prize for Fiction, and its sequel, The Committed.

Keynote Speaker: Shirley Torres

Shirley Torres is the Chief Program Officer for Homeboy Industries, the largest gang-intervention program and therapeutic community in the United States. Homeboy Industries serves 12,000 former gang members and high-risk youth a year in a city with over 80,000 known gang members. In her current capacity, she leads the agency in strategies to receive, engage, and retain citizens returning from California state and federal prisons, county jails, and juvenile detention facilities.

Registration Fees

Save your spot and enjoy early-bird pricing—fees increase January 01, 2026.

If you have questions, please contact CoastlineConferences@cccd.edu.

Register for the Event

2025 Teaching for Equity

In April 2025, Coastline hosted the Teaching for Equity Symposium, now known as the Equity Centered Holistic Outcomes (ECHO) in Education Conference. Building on the foundation established in 2024, the conference brought together faculty members, classified professionals, managers, and administrators to share applied, equity-centered practices focused on curriculum, instruction, and student support to strengthen engagement, persistence, and a sense of belonging at Coastline College.

2025 Teaching for Equity

In April 2025, Coastline hosted the Teaching for Equity Symposium, now known as the Equity Centered Holistic Outcomes (ECHO) in Education Conference. Building on the foundation established in 2024, the conference brought together faculty members, classified professionals, managers, and administrators to share applied, equity-centered practices focused on curriculum, instruction, and student support to strengthen engagement, persistence, and a sense of belonging at Coastline College.

2025 Teaching for Equity

In April 2025, Coastline hosted the Teaching for Equity Symposium, now known as the Equity Centered Holistic Outcomes (ECHO) in Education Conference. Building on the foundation established in 2024, the conference brought together faculty members, classified professionals, managers, and administrators to share applied, equity-centered practices focused on curriculum, instruction, and student support to strengthen engagement, persistence, and a sense of belonging at Coastline College.

2025 Teaching for Equity

In April 2025, Coastline hosted the Teaching for Equity Symposium, now known as the Equity Centered Holistic Outcomes (ECHO) in Education Conference. Building on the foundation established in 2024, the conference brought together faculty members, classified professionals, managers, and administrators to share applied, equity-centered practices focused on curriculum, instruction, and student support to strengthen engagement, persistence, and a sense of belonging at Coastline College.

ECHO Conference 2026 - Call for Speaker Proposals
Equity-Centered Holistic Outcomes in Education Conference 2026

Get In Touch

Justin White, PhD, Faculty Center Co-Coordinator

E: lwhite65@cccd.edu