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Students, Faculty Attend National Diversity Conference

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A group of people, some smiling and others with serious expressions, posing together in front of a wall with various decorations and artwork.
Students, Faculty Attend National Diversity Conference

A contingent from Belmont Hill traveled to Denver for the annual National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) People of Color Conference (PoCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) in December.

The PoCC, themed "Meeting the Moment: Anchoring and Enriching Our Education Futures," brought together educators for professional development and networking. Concurrently, the SDLC, with the theme "Lifting As We Climb: Elevating Our Schools Through Love and Justice," engaged student leaders from independent schools across the country.

On the final day of the conferences, Belmont Hill's faculty, staff, and student participants convened to share insights and experiences from their respective programs. The conferences took place in Denver, CO, from December 4-7. More than 35 years after its founding, the annual NAIS People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference bring together 8,000 independent school adults and students. 

About POCC
The NAIS People of Color Conference (PoCC) is the flagship of the National Association of Independent Schools' commitment to equity and justice in teaching, learning, and organizational development. The mission of the conference is to provide a safe space for leadership, professional development, and networking for people of color and allies of all backgrounds in independent schools.

About SDLC
The NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders from eligible independent high schools across the U.S. and abroad. SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. Led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators, participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles. In addition to large group sessions, SDLC "family groups" and "home groups" allow for dialogue and sharing in smaller units.

Belmont Hill 2024 Attendees

Sebastian Colberg
Caleb Collins '93
Dan Duarte
Budom Ezeani '26
Stephen George
Grant Hanser '26
James Keefe '25
Ryan Li '28
Lawrence Lopez
Tony Maws '88
Chanel Nijmeh
Chris Zellner 
Alex Zhang '26

 

Photos by Faculty Member Dan Duarte

A group of people standing together in front of a modern glass building, with a cityscape visible in the background.
The image shows a group of people standing on a staircase in front of a large banner that reads %22MEETING THE MOMENT: ANCHORING OUR MISSION, ENRICHING OUR EDUCATION FUTURE%22.
A group of people, some smiling and others with serious expressions, posing together in front of a wall with various decorations and artwork.
A group of people, some wearing casual clothing, are gathered together in what appears to be an indoor setting with a plain white wall in the background.
A group of young people sitting together in a crowded indoor setting, with a plain white background visible behind them.
A group of young people, some wearing hoodies and glasses, are gathered in what appears to be a conference or meeting room setting, with a whiteboard visible in the background.
A black and white image depicting several individuals, including a young person in the foreground and older individuals in the background, in what appears to be a crowded setting.
A black and white image depicting a group of people, some with curly hair, standing in what appears to be a crowded indoor setting.
A person's hand is writing in a notebook, surrounded by the blurred silhouettes of other people in the background.
A group of people, some sitting and some standing, engaged in conversation in what appears to be a hallway or lobby setting with large windows and white walls.

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