In April 2025, NAIS leadership announced that it would be “pausing” the People of Color Conference (POCC) and Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC), scheduled for December 2025. Given that these conferences date back almost 40 years and have grown to serve over 10,000 independent school educators and students annually, the impact of this decision is critical to recognize.

The response to this decision was immediate and widespread: in person, by email, in group texts… participants in past POCCs and SDLCs were processing together, in pockets of community. Thus, Blink decided to invite participants of either conference to share their feedback about this “pause” collectively.

We are sending this feedback to NAIS leadership and posting it here, as of April 28, 2025. We will update this page with any new comments received by May 9, 2025.

Thank you to everyone who has added your voice and perspective, because only you can do that. Collectively, we hope that this feedback will impel and inspire, beyond the “pause,” what might—and must—be next.

— Alison Park and Chris Thinnes, Blink Strategic Consulting

Responses to the “pause”

Respondents include: 79 POCC participants, 5 SDLC participants, and 7 individuals who have participated in both conferences.

Asked to assess their alignment with the decision to “pause” POCC and SDLC, on a scale of strongly support to strongly oppose: 80 respondents strongly oppose, 7 respondents oppose, 2 respondents neither support nor oppose, 0 respondents support, and 2 respondents strongly support NAIS leadership’s decision to “pause” POCC and SDLC.

You may read the full text of their feedback here. All responses that were received are included, unedited and with permission.

While this feedback is intended for NAIS leadership as the decision-makers regarding this “pause,” we also encourage all school leaders and educators to read and consider what these responses may ask or invite from you and your communities.