On April 25, Penn Charter was thrilled to host the 2025 MCRC@ADVIS DEIJB Conference, which brings together individuals committed to fostering inclusion in their communities. We welcomed over 450 attendees from 70 schools and organizations for this all-day event, entitled "Legacy, Strength, and Vision: Navigating Our Path Ahead.” From keynote speakers and specialized workshops to a panel discussion led by four foundational leaders of diversity work, this conference was incredibly meaningful for all in attendance.
This year's conference featured two keynote speakers, Eva Vega, an anti-bias educator and DEI specialist, and George James, a marriage and family therapist and CEO of George Talks. Both spoke about the importance of doing diversity work and taking care of yourself in the process.
In morning and afternoon workshop sessions, 23 Penn Charter faculty and staff, as well as two students, presented on topics ranging from admissions strategies to creating comprehensive sexuality education programs and navigating masculinity in the age of social media.
A panel discussion included four foundational leaders of diversity work. Randolph L. Carter was the founding director of the Eastern Educational Resource Collaborative (East Ed) and first director of diversity at the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). There, he expanded the People of Color Conference (POCC) and founded the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). Sherry T. Coleman was the founding director of the Independent School Consortium (ISC) of Greater Philadelphia and led the work of the Multicultural Resource Center (MCRC) shortly after its founding. Blair Stambaugh was the head of the Baldwin School for 26 years, and worked with Carter and Coleman on early diversity initiatives. Finally, Penn Charter's own former head of school, Darryl J. Ford, who, in addition to leading our school for years, championed the mission of MCRC by hosting key programs, serving on its board, and playing a critical role in facilitating the merger between MCRC and ADVIS.
Thank you to all who were able to join us for this fantastic event, and a special message of gratitude to the dedicated PC faculty and staff who led an incredible lineup of workshops.