Workshop & Facilitator Spotlights This year’s conference brings together speakers from across the country — leaders, educators, authors, practitioners, and community builders with expertise spanning equity, governance, wellness, technology, and more. Their diverse professional and lived experiences ensure that every workshop is grounded in both practical strategies and a wide range of perspectives. Click here for full descriptions. For School Leaders & Trustees Jan Abernathy – Stay Ready: Leadership During Change
Practice resilient leadership grounded in mission and adaptability. Kelly Bird – Personal Well-Being as a Professional Strength
Prioritize wellness as the foundation for compassionate leadership. Shernice Lazare – Leading with Purpose
Align governance decisions with mission and inclusion at every level. David Smith – The Business Case for DEIB
Align budgets with values and explore how socioeconomic diversity supports sustainability. For Educators & Practitioners Angelica Cardenas – Embodied Approaches for Social Change
Reconnect with the body to strengthen resilience, awareness, and equity work. Noah Arhm Choi – It Takes Just One
Strengthen inclusive policies and support LGBTQ+ students in changing legal landscapes. Brandon Guidry – Presence Reimagined: Leveraging AI to Reclaim Human Connection
Use AI to reduce administrative burden and reclaim time for building trust and community. Gardy Guiteau – From Empathy to Compassion
Discover how dialogic processes foster trust, reduce harm, and strengthen inclusive leadership. Ali Michael – Keeping Conflict Healthy: A Generative Friction
Explore strategies for moving through tension with empathy, accountability, and repair. Mikki Murphy – The Power of Affinity and Community Allyship
Explore structures that transform inclusion from values into practice. Megan Saxelby – Courage, Growth, Resilience, Self-Care Circles
Use dignity science to build belonging across roles and generations. Naledi Semela – Words Matter
Practice identity-affirming language that fosters belonging in schools. For Families, Alumni & Community Partners Ivy Alphonse-Crean – Creating Just Community Partnerships
Move beyond outreach to build authentic, reciprocal partnerships with local communities. Jaleesa Anselm – Seeing the Unseen
Center disabled BIPOC women’s voices and foster authentic support in independent schools. Joanna Lovett – Partnering with Parents/Guardians
Learn strategies for clear, empathetic, and values-driven communication in admissions and beyond. Jacqueline Nelson – Window, Mirror, Door
Partner with families to deepen understanding and belonging. For Students Mia Burton – Lead with Purpose
Balance activism with self-care, resilience, and hope. Alia Carponter-Walker – Making Your Voice Heard
Empower teens to ask questions, uncover inequities, and take action. Marsha Elliott – My Story, Your Story
Share stories to build empathy, dialogue, and stronger communities. Derek Lipscomb – Passive or Direct
Examine approaches to conflict and build skills for authentic dialogue. Elizabeth Rosner – Shared Legacies of Trauma and Resilience
Explore how inherited trauma shapes identity, resilience, and healing. Pierangelo Rossi – One School, Many Spaces
Reflect on how affinity spaces and collective belonging strengthen school communities. Jennifer Vermont-Davis – Making Things Right
Use restorative practices to rebuild trust and repair relationships. | 
