Join EPiC for an unforgettable night at our 2026 RECLAIM Gala — an experience rooted in community, culture, and collective progress.

This powerful evening will honor the impact EPiC continues to make in families and communities while uplifting the stories, voices, and futures we are building together. Enjoy a full buffet dinner, inspiring speakers, live performances, and a vibrant celebration filled with joy and connection.

The evening will feature:
• A keynote address from Congresswoman Valerie Foushee
• Master of Ceremony Joshua Gunn (J Gunn)
• Live R&B performance by Macklyn Mosley
• A dynamic Dance Ensemble performance
• Special vocals by Jeff Robinson
• Live DJ & dancing all night
• A fun and interactive 360° Photo Booth
• And so much more!

This is more than a gala. It’s a movement. A moment to reflect, recharge, and recommit to empowering families, uplifting communities, and creating lasting change. Get your tickets today and help support our continued cause of raising up parent leaders and changing the trajectory for our students!

About EPiC:

There are inequalities in our school systems that impact Black and Brown students disproportionately. In 2023 in Durham Public Schools, our Black middle school students scored lowest on feeling like they belong, lower than the national average. Where are the resources to support middle school students? Where are the mentors that have been promised? Where are the programs like EPiC that support racial identity development, culturally responsive reflections, and confident, young leaders? And now, with Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) being weaponized against our society, educators and researcher's dependent on federal funding have begun to hold their breath trying to quietly stay under the radar. However,

WE WILL NOT BE ERASED!

Empowered Parents in Community (EPiC) is a community-rooted, collaborative, strength-based organization unapologetically committed to transforming outcomes for children, who are systematically underserved in education, and ensuring their success at school and in life. Serving all families, regardless of race, color, religion, sex, national origin, disability, or age. We are a non-profit, 501c3 organization that’s cultivating parent leadership through collective organization and advocating for accountability at all levels to close the educational opportunity gap. Together, we are creating access and opportunities for children to thrive.

At EPiC we listen, educate, and advocate. And! We need your HELP! Join us in a fun way to raise funds to keep this work AUTHENTIC and UNAPOLOGETIC!

2026 RECLAIM Gala

RECLAIM: Resisting Erasure, Celebrating Liberation, Advocacy, Identity & Movement

Team Members