Twelve Attend People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference

A delegation of six SCH faculty members and six Upper School students traveled to San Antonio, Texas, on November 30, to attend the National Association of Independent Schools’ People of Color Conference and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), a multiracial, multicultural gathering of high school student leaders from across the U.S. and abroad. SDLC focuses on self-reflecting, forming allies, and building community. 

Student representatives Gabrielle Adams ’23, Kamaha’o Bode ’24, Tatyana Hall ’23, Sela Perryman ’23, Mia Santiago ’24, and Courtney Williams ’24 are members of SCH’s Student Facilitators, an intensive diversity leadership training program that prepares students to facilitate challenging conversations about diversity, equity, inclusion, and social justice among their peers.  

The students say they found the conference to be transformative and felt energized and excited to bring their experience of the conference and new knowledge back to the SCH community. “SDLC was an exhilarating experience that reminded me why I am engulfed in DEI work,” said Sela.

The group heard from keynote speaker Amanda Nguyen, who drafted and successfully helped to pass the Sexual Assault Survivors’ Rights Act. “A quote that is sticking with me from [the keynote] is, ‘Impossible is only an opinion,’” said Courtney. “SDLC has given me the confidence to speak up when I hear ignorance or bigotry.”

Gabrielle, who is a co-head of SCH’s Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Council, said she is ready to get to work here at school. 

“I met so many people and found so many things that I can apply to my own life and use to better the SCH community…with an open mind and dedication to change, anything is possible,” she said.