Many members of the Beaver community had the opportunity to participate in the NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conferences (SDLC) and the People of Color Conference (PoCC) in Philadelphia in early December.

Seven students and nine faculty members spent three days attending workshops and presentations with members of the independent school community from across the country.

SDLC is a gathering of upper school student leaders (Grades 9-12) and focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community with multiracial and multicultural peers. Participants learned effective cross-cultural communication skills, strategies for living in a socially just way, and networking principles and strategies.

The PoCC is the National Association of Independent Schools’ flagship equity and social justice initiative. It provides a safe place for networking and professional development for people who see themselves as a person of color by virtue of their race of ethnicity. The conference allows for participants to pursue strategies for success and leadership in an independent school environment and helps sustain inclusive school communities.

Beaver students who attended the SDLC include Kaila Duarte, Jessica Ferreira, Richard Han, Mariamawit Loulseged, Chimobi Nwankwo, Alexia Simpson, and Maurice Taylor.

Kevin Bau, Kit Beaudouin, Yolanda Gonzalez, Escar Kusema, Clinton Lassiter, Tiffany Marsh, Anna Moriarty, Joyce Ting, and Jenna Wolf were the faculty members who participated.