People of Color Conference

This year Lowell is sending seven faculty and staff members— Sara Aguilar, Michelle Belton, Tammy Brown, April Greene, Jason Novak, Kristin Peck, and Iris Vargas—to attend the People of Color Conference (PoCC), hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Tampa, FL.

 

Director of Primary School Jason Novak is facilitating two of the many identity affinity group sessions that include attendees that identify as white, and an LGBTQ interest group for faculty and students. This facilitation helps explore how that lens influences an individual’s experience and ultimately school culture. “We all walk our own walks when it comes to our experience…people of color walk a very important walk…[in] independent school cultures,” Jason says. “It is important for me to listen to those stories, connect to those stories, and act as an ally.”

PoCC supports and improves diversity work in schools by providing educators with leadership and professional development opportunities. The conference will feature speakers such as Mae Jemison and Howard C. Stevenson, PhD, who has come to speak at Lowell twice, most recently in 2014. Stevenson’s conference talk, If Elephants Could Talk: Racial Literacy for Post-Racial Schooling, focuses on ways that educators, community leaders, and parents can emotionally resolve racially stressful encounters that undermine emotional well-being and academic achievement in the classroom.

 

Participants in the conference will dive into tough topics and create valuable connections within the independent school community. They will acquire tips and strategies they can bring back to Lowell and share amongst colleagues. When the Lowell contingent returns to school, Jason hopes they will tackle some of these questions—How does diversity work live and breathe at Lowell? How are we supporting students and faculty of color? Are all voices represented in our school community?