PoCC

Each year, faculty and staff who attend the NAIS People of Color Conference (POCC) return eager to share their life-changing experiences. The conference is known to transcend professional development with affinity group attendees fostering deep personal connections and workshops that inspire and energize. “Looking across the board, planting the seeds to develop young activists through our curriculum,” is exciting, says Director of Diversity Michelle Belton. Each year she rejoices in seeing the building blocks of diversity work laid down in our lessons for students and our identity as a community.

 

 

“We are in a charged socio-political environment,” says 2nd Grade Teacher Kiira Lee, “It’s critical I have the skills to help my kids navigate this in a safe way.” At POCC, Kiira found workshops on microaggressions to be powerful and useful for her students. She is using what she learned to build a culture of awareness. Students are exploring what words hurt, why they hurt, and how to take honest responsibility for what they say. Kiira also explored the difference between equality and equity in education. Students may have the same tools or resources available, “but we must meet students where they are to give them an equitable opportunity to succeed,” she says. 

 

Michelle was impressed to see the Seattle Girls’ School (WA) having challenging conversations with young K-4 students using complex terms. “And… they got it, they understood,” says Michelle, “How do we develop from their current understanding, so it becomes their ‘normal’ earlier in life].” She is seeking opportunities to implement bigger more complex ideas for younger students. She is asking herself. MS Spanish Teacher Coleman Rose and Michelle are examining ways to bring back the lessons of POCC to students and faculty in the Middle School. Coleman screened the movie Hiyab he saw while at POCC with his students. The viewing served as an extension of topics taught in diversity and identity classes using current socially relevant issues, he states. He is inspired to continue to integrate social justice and activism studies through culture in his language classes. 

 

 

The stories and lessons of POCC continue to unfold and enrich the lives of all who attend and beyond. Our director of middle school, Kavan Yee, says participating in the conference “Is important for our [Lowell’s] work towards cultural competency and me to understand how to frame the dialogue that needs to happen here.” Fifth Grade Associate Teacher Cordenia Paige would like to see all faculty members of color attend. Past attendees sharing their experience is always powerful and revitalizing for her. She is encouraging students to attend the Student Diversity Leadership Conference, a POCC side conference for high school-aged youth. “These experiences did not exist when I was a student. It’s such an intensely emotional experience,” she concludes.