Frequently Asked Questions
What Is Gather? How is it different from PoCC?
Gather is NAIS's new convening for educators, administrators, and school leaders committed to advancing inclusion and belonging in independent schools. It is an opportunity to gather together to connect and learn, and to gather insight, skills, strength, and conviction for the coming year.
Born from nearly 35 years of transformative work at the People of Color Conference and rooted in NAIS's leadership mission, Gather is an evolution in how our community engages. The event moves beyond traditional conference formats, turning educators toward one another to share, learn, and grow.
The event will offer three pathways—Renewing and Growing, Sustaining School Belonging, and Engaging Across Community—to rejuvenate you personally, equip schools professionally, and engage us all collectively.
Dedicated to strengthening our learning environments, Gather builds on what NAIS has learned from educators of color to inform a broader, more connected experience for anyone who has felt unseen in their schools and for those committed to the work of inclusion and belonging.
Who can attend Gather?
NAIS Gather marks a bold new chapter in our enduring commitment to inclusion and belonging. Gather continues to center the experiences of people of color while broadening the circle to include those whose identities, roles, and leadership are also shaping independent schools today.
Gather elevates voices and perspectives not always fully seen or heard, alongside educators and leaders who are advancing meaningful inclusion and belonging efforts in their schools and communities. Through connection, renewal, and shared learning, the conference brings together individuals called to lead with courage, clarity, and purpose—and to make belonging a lived experience for all.
Gather and its related programming and activities are open to all members of the independent school community who are committed to this work and eager to engage thoughtfully in strengthening inclusive, equitable communities where every individual experiences a sense of belonging.
What will the Gather experience be like?
The event moves beyond traditional conference formats, turning educators toward one another to share, learn and grow.
The event will offer three pathways, to rejuvenate you personally, equip schools professionally, and challenge us all collectively. Each interconnected pathway is designed to contribute to the overall goal of advancing inclusion and belonging in independent schools.
- Renewing and Growing: The success of inclusion and belonging in schools depends on the individuals committed to such efforts being recognized, valued, and heard. This pathway provides spaces of joy, and affirmation so that individuals feel supported and rejuvenated. It will include gathering spaces, career coaching and skill development, and opportunities for self-care and wellness.
- Sustaining School Belonging: Thriving, inclusive schools weave belonging throughout all aspects of the experience. This pathway includes expert- and practitioner-led workshops that will allow attendees to learn from and with each other about what it takes to sustain belonging at independent schools.
- Engaging Across Community. Our sector as a whole is strengthened when we listen to and learn from one another, across differences and with an appreciation for range of experience and perspectives. This pathway centers on thoughtful, facilitated dialogue around relevant, complex topics. Participants will engage in courageous conversations, leveraging principles and practices based in civic discourse.
Will PoCC and SDLC still take place?
No. 2024 marked the final year of both the People of Color Conference (PoCC) and the Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC).
How can I be involved in Gather? Can I present a session?
We encourage you to submit a workshop proposal to present at Gather. The call for proposals is now open through June 5, 2026. Please send any other ideas and questions to programdesignteam@nais.org.