(Illustration made by Ike Obi-Walker using Canva)

CANCELLED. The 2025 NAIS PoCC/SDLC Conference will not take place this December.

Every December, the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) hosts one of its yearly conferences: the People of Color Conference (PoCC); along with it is the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). But this year is different. In a decision that affected students and teachers alike, the NAIS announced the cancellation of both the PoCC and SDLC conferences this year.

The NAIS has shared in a public statement that they are “taking time to assess the needs of their members and the purposes of these convenings to ensure that they evolve in ways that best support their schools.”

For students like junior Nijah Johnson, who attended SDLC last year, the loss is deep and personal.

“I think the SDLC conference was really good,” said Johnson. “I was able to hear stories that I connected to, which helped me realize that a lot of Black kids experience the same things—just in different fonts—because of the environment [they’re in], whether public or private or in Saint Paul or Minneapolis.”

Now, in the absence of these events, a sense of loss is eminent throughout many communities. “I think it sucks that NAIS canceled both of the conferences because it was really fun and got people from different backgrounds and areas connected, [as a community],” Johnson stated

The SLDC is widely regarded as a life-changing experience for high school students of color offering a rare opportunity to explore identity, build leadership skills, and connect with peers who share similar struggles.

Irish the Intercultural Life Program Specialist for sixth through twelfth grade, also believes that the conferences offered more than just development and workshops, she believes they were sanctuaries for those who felt alone. “I do think it’s a loss for the Black and Brown educators in independent schools. So many of our schools are PWIs, and having a place where your Blackness or Brownness is centered and celebrated in such a large professional setting is not easy to find.” Irish stated.

For students like Johnson and teachers like Irish, the conference wasn’t just an event; it was a reminder that they weren’t alone. In a world where being a student of color means feeling isolated, the SDLC offered community and connection. Without it, many are left with the question: who will create this new space where their voices can be heard among the many others alike and unlike them?