If this opportunity or work interests your child, please encourage the child to seek out Reanne Young, MV's director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; the aforementioned student leaders, or Sara Card with any questions. Students must express their interest and commitment by completing this Google Form by Sept. 4.

The NAIS Student Diversity Leadership Conference is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders from eligible independent high schools across the United States 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 practical 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. This year's theme is "Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Radical Optimism, Transformational Joy, Resilience, and Brilliance."

Last year, Khari Bland, Sarah Elgamal, Jaden Jefferson, Rose Parcher, and Demetre Wheeler attended SDLC. Once they returned from SDLC, they presented during the Upper School Identity Day and formed MV's Student Diversity Advisory Council (SDAC). They are developing a "Bias Incident Reporting System" for our school. We plan to finalize this system this school year.

If your student is interested, the student should know that this conference is an intensive experience starting early in the morning and running late into the evening. Grades need to be in good standing before leaving for the conference, as little time will be available to work on homework. Students attending should speak with coaches, advisors, and teachers beforehand, informing them of missing practices/games and ask for any extensions that they may need.

Faculty leaders will email Upper School faculty and staff to remind them of student absences before they leave for the conference. Faculty leaders are also happy to write to students’ employers informing them of this excellent opportunity to support students’ requests off of work.

If this opportunity or work interests your child, please encourage the child to seek out Reanne Young, MV's director of diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging; the aforementioned student leaders, or Sara Card with any questions. Students must express their interest and commitment by completing this Google Form by Sept. 4.