Ref lections From NAIS People of Color Conference
M
embers of our Equity and Social Justice (ESJ) task force attended the National Association of Independent School's People of Color Conference (NAIS PoCC), which is the flagship of the NAIS' commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development. The mission of the conference was to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.
The conference included seminars, a master class, and more than 100 workshops on diverse topics relevant to people of color in independent schools. It aimed to equip educators with new skills, including the knowledge and experiences to improve the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in schools, which will have a positive impact on the academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike.
It is important that we as a community learn to recognize the systems that produce inequity so that we have the opportunity to address these challenges and continue to create a more equitable and inclusive environment at Providence, both in the classroom for our students and outside of the classroom for our faculty and staff. The insightful perspectives and resources from NAIS PoCC are invaluable and can help us to do better in many facets of our school community.
The NAIS People of Color Conference was a great experience that provided us with so many resources and education on dismantling structures that implement and support inequality. The content was engaging and personally inspiring to myself as a person of color. This conference has truly equipped us with tools that will allow us to better serve our school community and society.
—Ryan Cadiz Administrative Assistant
20| Vista
—Shanica Dale Personal Counselor
