Lowell Sends 10 to the NAIS People of Color Conference

Many who attend the National Association of Independent School's (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC) describe the experience as life-changing and rejuvenating. In the years Lowell faculty and staff have attended, each group has returned excited and energized to share their transformational experiences with the whole community.

 

This year's People of Color Conference (PoCC), hosted by the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) in Nashville, TN, will explore the theme “Equitable School and Inclusive Communities: Harmony, Discord, and the Notes in Between.” Lowell’s contingent represents all three divisions of the school and After Care:

 

Ana Ardon (Pre-Primary School Teacher)

Michelle Belton (Dir. of Diversity, Inclusion, and Equity Initiatives)

Dehejia Butler (After Care Director)

Dave Forman (Kindergarten Teacher)

Denielle Hill (Pre-Primary School Teacher)

Jason Novak (Director of Primary School)—Affinity Group Leader

Malikkah Rollins (MS Counselor and Director of Student Life)

Brian Stark (5th Grade Teacher)

Foun Tang (Middle School Social Studies Teacher)

Kavan Yee (Director of Middle School)—Affinity Group Leader

 

Speakers include Lisa Ling, journalist; Luz Santana, co-director of the Right Question Institute; Marian Wright Edelman, founder and president of the Children's Defense Fund; Julie Lythcott-Haims, author of How to Raise and Adult: Break Free of the Overparenting Trap and Prepare Your Kid for Success; Marc Lamont Hill, host of BET News; and keynote speaker Shakil Choudry, co-founder of Anima Leadership and author of Deep Diversity: Overcoming Us vs. Them. Choudry will discuss his 25 years of experience in diversity, equity, and community organizing.

 

It's no mystery as to why PoCC is such a profound experience. The conference attracts some of the most inspirational speakers in the country and offers ground-breaking workshops. Director of Middle School Kavan Yee views PoCC as a space where people can improve themselves and take a "deeper dive into cultural competency [to use] inside and outside of school." As an Asian-American Affinity Group Facilitator, he hopes others will be inspired to fully embrace the richness of their Asian heritage and cultivate the confidence to seek leadership roles in their school communities. With workshops that range from building effective partnerships with families to building a culture of equity in schools and exploring allyship, Kavan is looking forward to hearing the reflections of his colleagues and keeping the conversations going.