Black Python Devs Leadership Summit 2026 at PyOhio
24 July 2026
Cleveland State University Student Center
, Cleveland, OH
The Black Python Devs Leadership Summit is a single day workshop where leaders in the Python Community are invited to connect, grow, and learn with one another.
Who is Invited?
Anyone in leadership or wanting to get into leadership at the local, regional, or global level of the Python community.
Although Black Python Devs produces this event, it is a public event held under the Black Python Devs Code of Conduct and the PyOhio Code of Conduct.
If you'd like to help fund summits like this one, support Black Python Devs.
Keynote Speakers
Bonny McClain
Bonny is a dynamic scientist and quantitative storyteller facilitating narratives at the intersection of geospatial data science, climate and sustainability. Defying conventional paths to tech, she brings a refreshing perspective to the field, blending art and science to convey complex ideas through the power of numbers — using words to build worlds.
Recognized as a leading voice in thinking beyond sound-bites to illuminate climate science and the human impact on our planetary boundaries, Bonny describes storytelling as where perception and truth create friction. Her expertise transforms raw data into compelling narratives that drive impactful decision-making.
Partnering with organizations to reveal actionable insights promoting environmental responsibility and sustainable practices, it is through these collaborative engagements where actionable insights are proving that often, numbers can tell a better story than simply thinking with words.
Joy Hopkins
Joy Hopkins (she/they) has more than 15 years of experience in education. After an extensive career in the nonprofit sector, they transitioned to tech about 11 years ago. Joy has a deep background in the performing arts which is the foundation for both their communication and project management skills. Their data science expertise and passion lie primarily in data literacy, visualization, and storytelling. Nowadays, Joy is a data science instructor and co-organizer of Data Visualization DC and PyData DC. Joy has a Bachelor's degree from James Madison University and a Master's degree from American University. They're currently pursuing an M.S. in Data Science from Eastern University.
Community Speakers
Jon Banafato
A Metaphor about Chairs
Lazouich Ford
Ambiguous Ambition: Lessons from a Year of Leadership
Kattni
Approachability and empowerment: On the importance of being there and building up
Schedule
| Time | Session | Presenter |
|---|---|---|
| 08:00 | Registration and Mingling | — |
| 09:00 | Welcome | — |
| 09:15 | Venue Sponsor Host | PyOhio |
| 09:20 | Keynote | Bonny McClain |
| 10:20 | Break & Setup | — |
| 10:30 | Chop it up session | Everyone |
| 11:30 - 1:00 | Lunch (Break) | — |
| 1:05 | Corporate Sponsor | — |
| 1:15 | Afternoon Keynote | Joy Hopkins |
| 2:15 | Break & Setup | — |
| 2:30 | Community Talk | Jon Banafato |
| 3:00 | Community Talk | Lazouich Ford |
| 3:30 | Community Talk | Kattni |
| 4:00 | Break & Setup | — |
| 4:15 | Closing Remarks | Jay Miller |
Watch Online
Due to our technical limitations, we will not be able to livestream this event. The talks will be made available, with each speaker's permission, on the Black Python Devs YouTube Channel as soon as possible.