The People of Color Conference is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools' commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools. PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.
White Privilege Conference (WPC)
Since its inception in 1999, the founder, Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., has persisted beyond misperceptions of the White Privilege Conference’s (WPC) name to present a transformational experience based on three tenets: understanding, respecting and connecting. The WPC has become a venue for fostering difficult and critical dialogues around white supremacy, white privilege, diversity, multicultural education and leadership, social & economic justice, and the intersecting systems of privilege and oppression.
The conference is unique in its ability to bring together students, youth, teachers, university faculty, activists, social workers and counselors, healthcare workers, and members of both the spiritual community and corporate arena. Issues of race, addressed from a comprehensive, intersectional perspective, bring in dynamics of gender/gender identity, ethnicity, sexuality, religion, ability and class.
National Diversity Practitioners Institute (NDPI)
NDPI is designed specifically for those who want to sharpen their skills and deepen their practice around creating equitable and inclusive school communities. The 3-day program aims to
- engage participants with interactive sessions that will deepen core knowledge around diversity, identity, and inclusion
- provide a framework for developing and implementing trusted practices
- give members an opportunity to plan their diversity efforts at their school with support from institute faculty throughout the year in a formal mentoring program
- promote networking and resource sharing among members
This internal week-long intensive program focuses entirely on the individual and their journey. Our mission is clear – we are to be confident, diversity practitioners inside and outside the classroom. Using D.C., in its entirety as a backdrop, the program cohort works independently and collectively to connect to and address our own blind spots. Attendees will work to continue to identify who they are in order to pave the way forward in conversations with students, colleagues and families. Some of the activities include visits to museums, watching films, reading texts, and having passionate conversations that provide attendees with the opportunity to be powerfully self reflective about their identities and experiences.