Each year, RCDS is proud to send student, faculty, and staff delegates to represent the School at the NAIS People of Color and Student Diversity Leadership Conferences. The 2023 conferences took place in St. Louis, MO, from November 29-December 2. 

The six Upper School students who participated in the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) were Anika Bhat ’25, Jack de Haan ’24, Celine Fong ’24, Amir Hogans ’26, Space Pace ’24, and Isabel Tiburcio ’24. Also in attendance at SDLC was Isabella Jolicoeur ’25, who traveled with REACH Prep. The Upper Schoolers joined more than 2,000 other student leaders from independent high schools across the United States and abroad. With the SDLC theme of “Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Radical Optimism, Transformational Joy, Resilience, and Brilliance” as a lens, the students engaged in small workshops and attended large group sessions that developed their cross-cultural communication skills and offered effective strategies for social justice practices. 

In its 37th year, the 2023 People of Color Conference (PoCC) welcomed nearly 5,800 attendees, including RCDS employee cohort of: Andrés Cerpa, Grade 11 Dean and US English Teacher; Rebecca Drago, Director of Public Purpose; Randall Dunn, Head of School; Tameka Farrell, Science Department Chair; Debby Katz, US English Department Chair; Ali Morgan; Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Charles Ogbonna, Physical Education Teacher and Coach; Sarah Peck ’13, Middle School Study Skills Coordinator; Maximo Pérez, DEI Fellow; Joshua Rivera ’15, Assistant Director of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion; Jac-que Robinson, Director of Performing Arts Spaces and A/V Technology; Heidi Southard, Athletic Trainer; and Sakita Tinsley, US English Teacher.

The 2023 PoCC theme of “Gateways to Freedom: A Confluence of Truth, Knowledge, Joy, and Power” inspired many of the keynote addresses, seminars, master classes, and workshops that RCDS employees attended.