Kasheef Wyzard

Biography

Kasheef Wyzard is the National Director of Economic Opportunity at Dream.Org, leading initiatives that advance workforce development, entrepreneurship, and an inclusive green economy. His work has reached over 1,000 participants, deployed $2M in scholarships, invested $1.3M in underrepresented founders, and mobilized $5.3M in catalytic capital. A Georgia State University graduate and member of Kappa Alpha Psi Fraternity, Inc., Kasheef believes those closest to the problem must help lead the solutions.

Sessions

1. Smart Cities 101

   Thu, Nov 5, 12:00 PM – 12:45 PM CT

   Track Smart Cities

   A city isn't smart simply because of the technology it deploys. It's smart because of what that technology enables people and communities to do. Smart Cities 101 explores how aligning community priorities, technology, entrepreneurship, and capital can transform municipal challenges into economic opportunities. Join Kasheef Wyzard, National Director of Economic Opportunity at Dream.Org; Jordan Taylor, CEO of SynergyGrid; and Dr. Reginald Parker, CEO and Founder of Green Power Ventures—pioneers of the Smart Cities Alliance—as they introduce a practical framework for building smarter cities that create jobs, attract investment, strengthen local economies, and expand community ownership. Because building smarter cities isn't just about adopting technology. It's about organizing the people, partnerships, and resources needed to move from conversations to deployable projects—and ensuring communities share in the value created.

2. Who Owns the Upside

   Thu, Nov 5, 2:15 PM – 3:00 PM CT

   Track Smart Cities

   As billions flow into clean energy, AI infrastructure, and the modernization of our cities, a critical question remains: Who owns the upside? How do we ensure communities aren't simply hosting infrastructure investments, but sharing in the wealth they generate? Dr. Reginald Parker, President of Freedmen Green Bank & Trust; Jordan Taylor, CEO of SynergyGrid; and Kasheef Wyzard, National Director of Economic Opportunity at Dream.Org, will facilitate a conversation exploring how Community Benefit Agreements, Community Benefit Trusts, and innovative ownership models can transform infrastructure investment into lasting economic opportunity. From local jobs and entrepreneurship to community ownership and wealth creation, the discussion will examine how cities, developers, and capital partners can build projects that deliver returns for investors and the communities they serve.

3. Pilot to Profit Innovation Showcase

   Fri, Nov 6, 11:15 AM – 12:00 PM CT

   Track Smart Cities

   Cities don't just need more innovation. They need solutions they can deploy. What does it take to move promising technologies beyond the pilot stage and into real municipal contracts, commercial opportunities, and community impact? Join Kasheef Wyzard, National Director of Economic Opportunity at Dream.Org, and Dr. Reginald Parker, President of Freedmen Green Bank & Trust, as they facilitate the culmination of the Pilot to Profit accelerator. This showcase features founders developing solutions aligned with real municipal challenges—from energy and infrastructure to resilience, housing, and community well-being. Through direct feedback, strategic connections, and engagement with potential buyers and partners, founders are on a journey to adoption, investment, and scale. Because the goal isn't simply to showcase what's possible. It's to turn innovation into implementation—and create economic opportunity in the process.