VELA

Meet the VELA Connect D.C. speakers for: Learning Reimagined — AI and the Future of Education. AI is changing the future of learning. The question is: how do we prepare learners for what's next? Hear from leaders in Indie Education and technology as they explore AI's role in education and share practical ways founders can harness emerging technology in their own learning models. Join us at VELA Connect. Register today at velaconnect.vela.org

Meet the VELA Connect D.C. speakers for: Hold the Line — Defending the Freedoms That Make Indie Education Possible As Indie Education grows, so do the challenges facing it. Hear from policy leaders and advocates on the freedoms that make this movement possible, the challenges founders should understand, and practical strategies for protecting educational choice. Join us at VELA Connect. Register today at velaconnect.vela.org

"I walked away with so many new ideas." "The connections I made were invaluable." "I left feeling inspired to keep building." These are the kinds of takeaways founders consistently share after coming together with the VELA community. At VELA Connect, you'll hear from founders leading the Indie Education movement, and leave inspired to keep building what's next Register today at velaconnect.vela.org

Meet the VELA Connect D.C. speakers for: This Is Our Moment — Building the Indie Education Movement from the Ground Up. The Indie Education movement is being built by founders and families across the country. Hear from movement leaders and VELA founders as they share what's driving this momentum, why it matters now, and how each founder plays a role in shaping what's next. Join us at VELA Connect D.C. August 4-5. Register today at velaconnect.vela.org

Don't miss out, Founders! ⏰ The exclusive hotel block at the Riggs Hotel in Washington, D.C., for VELA Connect, August 4–5, the nation's premier convening for Indie Education, is almost gone. The hotel block expires July 13. Register today! bit.ly/4y49dvn You can find the registration code in your email or the VELA app social feed.

Not every learner thrives in a traditional classroom. Farryn Slaton-Barkley founded Rising Scholars Collective to provide personalized support, meaningful learning, and a sense of belonging for students. 👉 cato.org/blog/friday-fe… Find programs near you in the VELA app.

42 founders. 22 states. $3.5M. Nature schools, microschools, faith-based programs, co-ops, inclusive labs, and therapy-integrated classrooms. One throughline: founders who saw what families needed and built it. Congratulations to our final 2025 reinvestment cohort. This is Indie Education.

In honor of America's 250th, VELA families and founders can experience a George Washington they've never seen before. For FREE! Thanks to our generous partners at @StandTogether, the VELA network can claim free tickets to Young Washington, in theaters Friday, July 3, 2026. The film follows a young, untested George Washington whose early failures shaped the leader he would become. It's a powerful story of perseverance, courage, and the pursuit of freedom. Visit the VELA app for more information and to claim your FREE tickets!

Meet Kyle Gamba, one of VELA's earliest founders and recipients of our first microgrants in 2020. We're proud to partner with @StandTogether to share his story. Go Kyle!

Reminder! The next deadline to apply for a VELA Microgrant is June 30. If you're already serving families and ready to grow, VELA offers flexible funding to help you expand your impact. Visit the VELA app to learn more and submit your application before the deadline!

VELA Connect 2026 registration is LIVE! Join the nation's premier convening for Indie Education, bringing together VELA Founders and select partners across five cities. Registration is now open for Washington, D.C., Chicago, and Austin. All VELA Founders are invited. Spots are limited and expected to fill fast. Check your email or visit the VELA app to access your registration code. Register today: velaconnect.vela.org

The future of learning isn't waiting for permission. At the Learn Beyond the Book Summit, VELA connected with families & founders leading Indie Education in southern CA. Conversations showcased booming interest in learner-centered, flexible pathways. This is a family movement.

Texas, here we come! VELA Connect Austin is set for Oct 26-27, 2026. An invite-only gathering for Indie Education leaders. Save the dates! Registration opens in June.

Mark your calendars! VELA Connect Chicago is set for Oct 8-9, 2026. Registration for the event is invite-only and opens in June. Stay tuned for details.

She homeschooled her own kids for 14 years, then built the community every urban family deserved. Aziza Butler founded WeSchool, so no one has to do it alone.

Muddy boots and math lessons. Peter Holmstrom's Summit School in Waco built a farm-based education where hands-on learning is key. VELA's reinvestment supports their greenhouse & 4-H. This is Indie Education.