Beyond Persistence: Building Ecosystems Where Black Men Thrive in Higher Education

Recorded live at the 2026 ASU+GSV Summit in San Diego, this session featured Destin Mizelle, Roadtripper at Roadtrip Nation; Enoch Ellis, Roadtripper at Roadtrip Nation; Tobias Brown, Roadtripper at Roadtrip Nation; and Jasmine Haywood, Strategy Director at Lumina Foundation.Inspired by Roadtrip Nation’s documentary Thriving: Black Men in Higher Education, the speakers explored the relationships and supports that help Black men thrive across college, career, and community. Through honest conversation and lived experience, they discussed the role of friendship and mentorship in building belonging, resilience, and long-term success.The session examined what it takes to move from support systems to opportunity systems, highlighting practical ways higher education leaders and industry partners can strengthen networks, expand pathways into entrepreneurship and innovation, and ensure the next generation of Black men has access not only to education, but also to the connections that sustain representation, mobility, and enduring success.