The CAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference 2025
Sponsored by The Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools

DATE: Sunday, April 6, 2025
LOCATION: Hopkins School (986 Forest Road,  New Haven, CT)
FOR: Students (grades 7-12/PG) and educators across all divisions
SCHEDULE:

• 9:00-9:45AM - Conference check-in & breakfast snacks
• 9:45AM - Welcome
• 11:00AM - 12PM - Student and Adult Workshops (Part I)
• 12PM-1PM - Lunch 12PM - DEIJ Practitioner Roundtable during Lunch
• 1:00-2:15PM - Student and Adult Workshops (Part II)
• 2:30-3:45PM - Closing and Send off

About the Conference: Founded in 2003 by the CAIS Commission on Diversity in Independent Schools, this conference was inspired by events in other regions (such as Across Colors in Southern California) and modeled after the national conference held annually by NAIS. The mission of the event is to bring students from grades 7-PG and adults from a diversity of independent schools across the state together for a day of networking and dialogue, facilitating cross-cultural understanding and a call to action to improve our school communities and our world.

 STUDENT SESSIONS: All sessions are interactive and facilitated by an experienced DEI educator

• 7th & 8th Grade: Language & Words Matter: Stereotypes, Bias and Socialization
• 9th Grade: Stereotypes, Prejudice and Discrimination Unpacked
• 10th Grade: Who am I? Who are You? Who are We?
• 11th Grade:  Our Socialization: How do we learn what we learn?
• 12th Grade/PG: Moving from Allyship to Co-conspirators

ADULT SESSIONS:
Adult attendees can choose one of the following sessions below

A. The Work Before the Work: A Pathway to Liberation, Healing, & Release (with Heather 'Byrd')
A Gathering Space for Educators of Color to Reflect, Rejuvenate, and Rise

As educators of color, before we can continue the work of teaching, advocating, and leading, we must first do the work within—offloading what no longer serves us, reclaiming joy, and grounding ourselves in practices that sustain us. Through storytelling, reflective writing, and deep communal engagement, this session offers a liberatory space to pause, reflect, and restore before stepping back into the work.

B. Showing Up Authentically: How to Balance Your Sense of Self with Institutional Priorities (with Becky Harper & Will Torres)

This multifaceted session will encourage practitioners to reflect on their values and identity, identify the institutional priorities that define their daily work, and actively develop a plan to better take care of themselves (and subsequently their students). Through interactive discussion, small group work, and dedicated ideation time, participants will have space to reflect on their idea of self, their relationship to their employing institution, and what the specific needs they and their students have. By cultivating relationships and reestablishing existing connections with known supports, participants will better leverage their time and connections to strive for a more effective, balanced, and healthy work life.

C. Facilitated Table Topics: (Facilitated by a member of the CAIS Staff)
This session will offer generative discussion for participants about equity related topics relevant and salient to your role as an educator.  There will be  opportunities to move freely between topic discussion groups and to connect with other educators for meaningful unpacking of topics raised on the day. Some popular topics are:

• Sharing the Load: Strategies for Collaborating between Schools about Equity focused Efforts
• Resource Recommendations: Sharing Vetted Resources for Professional Growth
• Equity Committees: How to be Effective

Detailed schedules for the day and logistics regarding parking, and location of workshops will be sent via email to registrants.

Cost (CAIS Member Schools): includes continental breakfast and full lunch $300 for each school registered (includes one registration) $40 for each additional registrant

Registration Guidelines:

• Schools must register at least one adult for each eight students registered;
• Adults can register to attend without bringing students; however they must be employed at a school;
• Registration form must be completed by adults ONLY;
• Each school registering students must have a designated adult (chaperone) who will be in attendance and who will share contact information with CAIS.
  

Sponsored in part by FLIK Independent School Dining