From Nov. 29 to Dec. 2, six Sage Hill student leaders traveled to St. Louis, Missouri, to attend the 2023 Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC). The National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS) hosts this conference every year. This year’s theme was “Bending the Arc Toward Justice: Radical Optimism, Transformational Joy, Resilience, and Brilliance.” The conference helps students develop cross-cultural competency skills, design strategies for effecting social justice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.
Sage Hill students joined nearly two thousand high school students from across the country to engage in discourse and workshops centered around diversity, equity, and inclusion. Conference attendees participated in a multitude of activities and discussions. After inspiring keynote speakers launched the day, students spent a majority of their time in “family groups,” which provided students with the opportunity to share stories and thoughts in smaller units. At the end of the day, students were also given time to continue these discussions within their respective affinity groups.
“One of my biggest takeaways from the conference was that everyone has different experiences and struggles, which makes everyone’s opinions and feelings equally important and valid,” junior Noah Jimenez said.
SDLC gave students the space to discuss amongst their peers ways to promote inclusivity initiatives in schools. Adult leaders guided students through discussions on current social issues while allowing time for each student to share personal experiences.
“Though total agreement rarely accompanied discussions, in listening to others’ reasoning, I was able to nurture a sense of curiosity that will aid me in my never-ending journey of personal growth,” junior Courtney Tetteh-Martey reflected. “The process of listening to others discuss their lived experiences was enlightening, as it helped me see worlds different from my own.”
Attending SDLC opens students to a wide variety of perspectives. The conference encourages young people to take charge of efforts for change in their communities. Each year, Sage Hill student attendees return to campus ready to share new ideas with the entire community.
