NBC News Education Nation convened parents, thought leaders, policy makers, teachers and students for a live, two-hour forum in Baltimore, to rally communities nationwide in supporting students’ education in the classroom and beyond. Produced by NBC News Education Nation with Baltimore affiliate WBAL-TV, and supported by Pearson, this recap of this event can be viewed on the Parent Toolkit. Coinciding around the one-year anniversary of Freddie Gray’s death, the event touched on last year’s civil unrest and the impact on students in Baltimore, as well as broader issues faced by students across the U.S., such as access to healthy food options for low-income families, closing the achievement gap, and how to encourage students to pursue higher education. Each panel discussion was moderated by NBC News Chief Education Correspondent Rehema Ellis. FutureReady Columbus and Ohio State University College of Education and Human Ecology partnered to host a local gathering in Columbus, Ohio of 100 parents and community leaders. CPCK’s Jennifer Miller led the local discussion. Our local watch party was featured on the NBC4 Columbus 11 p.m. news. The purpose of the event was to raise a national conversation in concert with local conversations about how parents can be involved in their child’s education, support healthy development, prepare for higher education and constructively address issues of income, racial and cultural divides and the impacts on children’s success.