2022 Annual Convening

Care, Courage, Commitment

January 27-28, 2022

Join us virtually!

Students at Académie Lafayette, Kansas City, MO

#DCSC2022

Care, Courage, Commitment

Deepening our vision of diverse-by-design

Schools are experiencing unprecedented times alongside historical patterns of inequality and injustice. The DCSC 2022 Annual Convening will provide space for attendees to reflect on how to center collective care in intentionally integrated schools during our current moment. We will courageously confront persisting racism and disparities in educational access. And, together, we will reinvigorate our commitment to the mission of educational justice. Join us at #DCSC2022 as we continue to build the diverse-by-design movement.

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For all attendees

Our 2022 Annual Convening will be as interactive as ever! This year’s programming will offer attendees the opportunity to learn and network with one another through three types of sessions: workshops, dilemma discussions, and school showcases. Read more about each session type for this year’s Annual Convening and submit a proposal by November 12th!

Every year we honor a member school or school network that has embodied our mission. This year, DCSC’s Member of the Year will reflect our commitment to integration, inclusion, and anti-racism through the votes of active members. We are accepting self-nominations for this award until November 12th!

For DCSC member schools and networks only

About the Annual Convening

Intentional Integration

The Diverse Charter Schools Coalition’s (DCSC) Annual Convening brings together 200 leaders from member schools and networks as well as partners from across the nation. With this year’s theme of Intentional Integration, you will deepen the practice of leading your school or network by learning from experts in the movement, examining real-world experiences, data and strategies, and sharing best practices through networking.

Who should come to the Annual Convening?

Influencers from DCSC member schools and networks, partners from the field and prospective members should attend the DCSC 2022 Convening.

We are intentionally using the term “influencer” to be inclusive to both formal titles (Principal, ED, CEO) and additional key leaders across school sites and network teams who may lead Diversity, Equity and Inclusive (DEI) school and network-wide efforts in your context. We suggest more than one representative from each school (and/or network) because there will be moments in the convening when attendees will be asked to develop next steps to bring back to their schools/orgs and believe this is best done in teams.

True to our name, we aim to welcome a diverse group of participants to our virtual gathering. Thank you for including all dimensions of this term when considering attending.

Where is the 2022 Convening?

The 2022 Conference will be held January 30-31 at the Eaton DC Hotel in Washington, DC.

Keynote Address

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Dr. Christopher Emdin

Teacher, author and advocate

Dr. Christopher Emdin is the Robert A. Naslund Endowed Chair in Curriculum Theory and Professor of Education at the University of Southern California where he also serves as Director of Youth Engagement and Community Partnerships at the USC Race and Equity Center.

He previously served as Director of the Science Education program at Teachers College, Columbia University and alumni fellow at the Hip-hop archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University. He has served as STEAM Ambassador for the U.S. Department of State and Minorities in Energy Ambassador for the U.S. Department of Energy. Dr. Emdin holds a Ph.D in Urban Education with a concentration in Mathematics, Science, and Technology.

He is the creator of the #HipHopEd social media movement and Science Genius BATTLES. He was recently named one of the 27 people bridging divides in the United States by Time magazine. He is the author of the award-winning book, Urban Science Education for the Hip-hop Generation, and the New York Times bestseller For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too. His latest book, Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Excellence is currently available wherever books are sold.

2022 Member of the Year Nominees

DCSC honors a member school or school network that has embodied our mission through our Member of the Year Award. Our MoY will reflect our commitment to integration, inclusion, and anti-racism, and this year will be chosen through the votes of active members.

As DCSC members vote among this year’s self-nominated nominees, we ask that you keep in mind each member’s efforts around diversity, equity and inclusion in empowering students and families.

Click on the pictures below to read more about each self-nominated nominee. Voting is a part of registration for DCSC members in which you must register by January 13 to cast your vote (registration will remain open after January 13, but there will be no option to vote for MoY).

The Schedule

All times below are listed in the Eastern Standard Time Zone (EST).

Day
Time (EST)
Programming
Thursday Jan 27 12:00 – 1:15 pm Welcome Address and Opening Panel
1:15 – 1:30 pm Break
1:30 – 2:45 pm Breakout Cycle #1

The Mindful Moment Program at Morris Jeff Community School - Middle School
Restorative leadership during a pandemic.
Reimagining talent: How do we remove barriers limiting pathways from paraprofessional to lead teacher?
Centering on Instructional Equity: An Overview of the CRSP Framework
Advancing Equitable Family & Community Engagement
Governing with Equity: Putting Words into Action
Supporting ELs From Pandemic Response to Pandemic Recovery
Conversations with Kids: Walking the Road to Reinvention
Revising Curriculum With the DEI Lens Tool - A Collectivist Approach
2:45 – 3:15 pm Break
3:15 – 4:30 pm Breakout Cycle #2

Creating Affinity Spaces for Kids of Color
Strategic Planning: Keeping Our Students, Mission & Values @ the Heart of Our Work
How do we talk about school integration in ways that are compelling and effective?
What Works in DEI? Research-Based Practices to Advance DEI Work in Education
Supporting ELs From Pandemic Response to Pandemic Recovery
Equity Includes Ability: Building and Sustaining Anti-Ableist Schools
Revising Curriculum With the DEI Lens Tool - A Collectivist Approach
Centering Identity and Inclusion as Compassion
4:30 – 5:00 pm Break
5:00 – 6:00 pm Keynote Address and Q&A: Christopher Emdin
6:00 – 6:15 pm Break
6:15 – 7:30 pm Affinity Groups

Healing & Solidarity Spaces for Black Participants
Healing & Solidarity Spaces for Non-Black Participants of Color
White Accountability Space
Friday Jan 28 10:00 – 11:15 am Affinity Groups

Healing & Solidarity Spaces for Black Participants
Healing & Solidarity Spaces for Non-Black Participants of Color
White Accountability Space
11:15 – 12:00 pm Break
12:00 – 1:00 pm Day 2 Welcome Programming: HipHopEd performance
1:00 – 1:15 pm Break
1:15 – 2:30 pm Breakout Cycle #3

How can we get a diverse group of children to personally connect to American History?
Using Mentor Texts to support Professional Development on Social Justice Curriculum
Responding to the equity backlash: Background and guidance to help advocates continue to fight for the educational environments our kids deserve
Centering on Instructional Equity: An Overview of the CRSP Framework
What Works in DEI? Research-Based Practices to Advance DEI Work in Education
Governing with Equity: Putting Words into Action
Equity Includes Ability: Building and Sustaining Anti-Ableist Schools
Conversations with Kids: Walking the Road to Reinvention
Centering Identity and Inclusion as Compassion
2:30 – 2:45 pm Break
2:45 – 3:45 pm Parent Panel: Our Students’ First Teachers: Caregivers and Parents
3:45 – 4:15 pm Member of the Year Award and Closing

Programming

session types

Convening 2021 Strand icon: AcademicsWorkshop

Workshops will guide participants through an introduction of a topic and its relevance to diverse-by-design schools, some interactive activity around the topic, and next steps for participants to come away with. Workshops are offered twice.

Convening 2021 icon: School VisitsSchool Showcase

School Showcases highlight and serve as a platform to engage with a specific feature, program, approach, and/or component of the diverse-by-design school(s) model. School showcases are offered only once.

Dilemma Discussion

Dilemma discussions will present a persistent challenge schools commonly face. Attendees will listen to the presentation of the problem, offer suggestions, questions, and further exploration. Dilemma discussions are offered only once.

Convening 2021 icon: Racial AffinityAffinity Group

Facilitated by Embracing Equity, three separate racial affinity groups are for tailored dialogue and anti-racist skill building for educators and leaders. Affinity groups are offered twice.

What are the registration fees?

Early Bird Discount Until December 21 Regular Registration
Open throughout convening
Members $100 $200
Non-Members $200 $300

A registrant can receive a 100% refund up to December 21, 2021.
A registrant can receive a 50% refund up to January 13, 2022.
No refunds will be given after January 13, 2022.

Group discounts of 10% are available for groups of 5+. Email events@diversecharters.org for a discount code before you register.

Can I register on-site?

No, there will be no on-site registration.  The last day to register was January 24, 2022.

Are there sponsorship opportunities?

Yes! Reach out to info@diversecharters.org to learn about how you can support this important work. 

FAQs

How do I register?

You can register NOW by clicking here.

Because this year’s Annual Convening is virtual, registration will be open throughout the convening. We encourage you to register as soon as possible, but you would still be able to register on either day of the convening.

What happens after I register?

You can pre-register for sessions! Using the same email you registered with sign into our convening platform (web or mobile!), look through the agenda and pre-register for the sessions you would like to attend. Spaces are limited so act fast!

What will breakout sessions be like this year?

This year’s breakout sessions will feature workshops, school showcases, dilemma discussions and affinity groups. All attendees will need to pre-register for all sessions once registered. Many breakouts are capped at 20 so act fast! If you would like to attend a session that is full please join the waitlist and the DCSC team will work on resolving it.

Please note that WORKSHOPS and AFFINITY GROUPS are offered twice and SCHOOL SHOWCASES and DILEMMA DISCUSSIONS are offered only once.

Are there networking opportunities?

This year’s Annual Convening will include extended breaks for attendees to virtually network with one another through our virtual platform.

How will I attend the Annual Convening?

Whova is the official online platform for #DCSC2022. All zoom links will be available in the app.
If you have already used the WHOVA app for another conference you will need to use that login. Otherwise, you will need to create a new login to access the convening platform.

How do I vote for Member of the Year?

Votes are submitted as part of registration for the 2022 Annual Convening (one can only vote if ‘Member’ is selected during registration). Voting for MoY closes on January 13 – registration will remain open after January 13, but there will be no option to vote for MoY.

Votes from all DCSC member schools and networks will be weighted so that each member organization has one vote.

Will there be convening swag this year?

Yes! We are excited to offer all attendees a choice of one of two books from this year’s keynote: either Ratchetdemic: Reimagining Academic Success or For White Folks Who Teach In the Hood and the Rest of Y’all Too.

All attendees will also receive an electronic $30 gift card for Grubhub — so have lunch on us.

Attendees will select both swag items during registration. To receive your book by the time of the Annual Convening you must register by January 13.

Is there a group discount?

Yes! Groups of 5+ are able to receive 10% off each registration. If you wish to register with the group discount, email events@diversecharters.org for a discount code before you register.

What if I need help registering?

No problem! Just email us at events@diversecharters.org and we will get back to you within 24 hours.

Will there be school visits?

Yes! DCSC member schools will host members and partners on the morning of Friday January 31.  Participation is optional, however pre-registration is required during event registration. Registration for school visits is on a first come, first served basis, with member schools being prioritized.

Transportation will be provided to the schools from the hotel. Here are the school options (with grades served in parentheses):

 

E.L. Haynes Elementary School (K-4)

E.L. Haynes High School (9-12)

Elsie Whitlow Stokes Brookland Campus (1-5)

Elsie Whitlow Stokes East End (K-1)

Inspired Teaching Demonstration Public Charter School (PK-8) – HAS REACHED CAPACITY

Washington Latin Public Charter School (5-12) – HAS REACHED CAPACITY

D.C. International (6-12) – HAS REACHED CAPACITY

Register for the Convening

Learn more about DCSC and our Annual Convening!

Video by KimberLee Webber | TalkOakland.org

2022 Convening Sponsors

Our committed sponsors help make this convening happen. Thank you!

Breakout Session Request for Proposal

For all attendees of #DCSC2022

In addition to whole group programming and Affinity Groups, which return by popular demand, our 2022 Annual Convening will feature three types of programming for attendees:

  • Workshops (Skill/Knowledge Building)
  • Model Showcases
  • Consultancy Sessions (Solutions of Practice)

#DCSC2022 Planning Committee

  • Valerie Braimah, Executive Director of City Charter Schools (Los Angeles, CA)
  • Alisha Gripp, UnifiED Alumnus and Dean of Middle School of Citizens of the World (Kansas City, MO)
  • John Heffernan, Executive Director of Central Park School for Children (Durham, NC)
  • Jeff Heyck-Williams, Director of the Two Rivers Learning Institute (Washington, D.C.)
  • Robyn King, Director of Admissions and Community Outreach of Académie Lafayette (Kansas City, MO)
  • Dana Mulwanda, UnifiED Alumnus and Founding Principal of Windsor Terrace Elementary, Prospect Schools (Brooklyn, NY)
  • Emily Wood, UnifiED Alumnus and Director of Operations and Strategy of Yu Ming Charter School (Oakland, CA)
DCSC 2022 Annual Convening

Interested in sponsoring our Annual Convening? Email us at events@diversecharters.org.

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