Event Overview:

Art, Science, Soul, and the Equity Imperative

The 2015 NAIS People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference takes place December 3 – 5, in Tampa, FL.

The People of Color Conference is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools' commitment to equity and justice in teaching and learning.  The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership and professional development and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.  PoCC equips educators at every level, from teachers to trustees, with knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools, as well as the attending academic, social-emotional, and workplace performance outcomes for students and adults alike. 

The conference includes general sessions with keynotes, dozens of practitioner-led workshops, extensive affinity group work, and dialogue sessions.

From the First National Conference for Teachers and Administrators of Color in Independent Schools in Reston, VA, in 1986, to the 27th People of Color of Color Conference in Indianapolis, IN, this event is distinct among professional development experiences in the national education landscape. The People of Color Conference is sponsored by NAIS to support the complex dynamics of independent school life and culture and the varied roles people of color play and experience in these settings.

Exhibitor Information:

Exhibiting in the PoCC Expo is an excellent way to gain in-person access to independent school leaders. The Expo is an opportunity for learning and interaction, and will host a range of activities, exhibits, and educational events.

Please note, exhibit tables are available to non-profit organizations, for-profit companies, and sponsors who value and advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice as keys to organization success.

Set Yourself Apart from the Competition

Become an NAIS PoCC/SDLC Sponsor or Exhibitor

NAIS offers a wide range of opportunities to help you build your business relationships and reach adult and student leaders in independent schools. PoCC and SDLC are NAIS's flagship equity and justice events. For attendees, these events provide not only intensive professional development, but energizing, life-affirming experiences. Sponsorship allows you to align your company with these powerful, memorable experiences.

What Are PoCC and SDLC?

PoCC and SDLC provide intensive professional and leadership development for attendees, in addition to energizing, life-affirming experiences. When you align your company with this event, you are becoming part of this meaningful experience.

PoCC is the flagship event for leadership in educational equity and cultural inclusion in private, independent schools. The conference equips teachers and administrators of color and allies of all backgrounds with the knowledge, skills, and experiences to improve and enhance the interracial, interethnic, and intercultural climate in their schools.

SDLC provides a space for students, from grades 9-12, to gather and focus on building community and developing cross-cultural communication skills, as well as effective strategies for social justice and networking in their schools and communities.

Who attends PoCC and SDLC?

3,500+ adult and student leaders from independent schools throughout the country who are committed to advancing social justice in their schools.

About NAIS:

The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) is a nonprofit membership association that provides services to more than 1,700 schools and associations of schools in the United States and abroad, including 1,400 independent private K-12 schools in the U.S.