Beyond 2020 - The Moment We're In: 5 Years of Learning, Leading, and Moving Forward
The Inn at Villanova
601 County Line RoadWayne, PA 19087-4523
United States
The Moment We're In
In the summer of 2020, as the world grappled with a pandemic, the racially motivated killings of Black Americans sparked a national reckoning with violence and systemic injustice. Organizations and schools across the country made unprecedented commitments to diversity, equity, inclusion, justice, and belonging. Many of us stepped into or deepened our work in this field, believing change was finally possible.
Five years later, the landscape looks different. Budgets have been cut. Roles have been eliminated. The political climate has shifted. Yet the need for equity leadership hasn't disappeared—it's evolved.
This convening is for practitioners and educators ready to name what happened, process what we've learned, and strategically chart the path forward.
Who Should Attend
This two-day experience is designed for:
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DEIJB practitioners in K-12 schools who are reflecting on their journey since 2020
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Heads of School and all school leaders who are looking to continue, support and grow this work in their school community
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Equity leaders navigating role changes, organizational shifts, or career transitions who need practical strategies and supportive community
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Professionals questioning how to sustain this work in environments that have become resistant, indifferent, or actively hostile to equity efforts
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Anyone asking: "What's next?" whether you're staying in DEIJB work, pivoting to adjacent roles, or reimagining how to continue the work differently
You don't need to have all the answers. You just need to be ready for honest conversation and strategic thinking.
Day 1: Seeing Equity In Action
Reflection and Real-World Practice
7:45 - 8:45 AM | CHECK IN & BREAKFAST
8:45 - 9:00 AM | WELCOME
9:00 - 10:30 AM | OPENING KEYNOTE PANEL
Wisdom from the Journey—Practitioner Conversations
A powerful panel featuring DEIJB professionals from corporate, nonprofit, government, healthcare, and tech sectors sharing their five-year journeys since 2020. Hear honest reflections on:
- What they would do differently and what they're proud of
- Career pivots, role evolution, and lessons learned across industries
- The grief, growth, and what sustainability actually means
- What they're releasing and what they're carrying forward
- Interactive Q&A and dialogue
Panelists:
Virginia Essandoh, Chief Inclusion Officer, Ballard Spahr
Norm Jones, President/CEO, Integrated Diversity
Nicole Wormley, Vice President of Inclusion, Danaher Corporation
10:30 - 10:45 AM | BREAK
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
Participants will attend ONE of the following workshops:.
presented by Bri Beverly, CEO, Lotus Life Total Wellness
Finding balance, setting boundaries, and sustaining yourself in this work
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Reflecting on your five-year journey: what you've learned about yourself and your capacity
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Recognizing signs of depletion and understanding when to pause, rest, or recalibrate
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Setting boundaries that protect your wellbeing without requiring you to abandon the work
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Sustainable practices for long-term engagement: what actually supports practitioners
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Community care and mutual support strategies that work
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Discerning when to rest, when to pivot, and when to push forward
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Building a personal sustainability plan for the next phase of your work
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presented by Staci Williams Seeley, Managing Director, DSG Global
Cultivate, Curate, Celebrate, and Narrate your leadership journey to a successful search outcome!
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Engage in opportunities at your school and community to expand your portfolio, enhance your leadership profile, and continuously evaluate your strengths and growth areas
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Reflect on experiences that build leadership across relationships, teams, and partnerships while strengthening programs, executing strategy, and providing vision
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Develop your personal "opening statement," receive peer feedback, and identify winning communication strategies
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Prepare for conversations with search consultants, search committees, school communities, and your network of colleagues, bosses, and trusted advisors
12:00 - 1:30 PM | GRAB & GO LUNCH
A light lunch will be provided for participants. There is time to travel to school visit locations and eat before departure.
1:30 - 3:00 PM | SCHOOL VISIT TOURS: SEEING EQUITY WORK IN ACTION
Experience DEIJB practices firsthand through guided visits to local independent schools. Small group experiences include:
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Campus tours showcasing equity-focused programs and organizational culture
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Roundtable discussions with school leaders and practitioners
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Hear directly from practitioners about what they've implemented and what's working
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Learn about challenges faced and strategies for overcoming resistance
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See classrooms, programs, and spaces designed with equity in mind
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Ask questions about implementation, resources, and sustainability
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Witness equity-committed practices in real time
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Network with host school communities
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Engage in informal debriefing and reflection
School Locations:
Day 2: Strategy & Sustainable
Building the Next Five Years with Wisdom and Intention
7:45 - 8:45 AM | CHECK IN & BREAKFAST
8:45 - 9:00 AM | WELCOME & REFLECTION
9:00 - 10:30 AM | KEYNOTE PRESENTATION
Green Flags & Red Flags: Identifying Schools Where Equity Work Can Thrive
presented by Brandon Jacobs, Search Consultant, DEIB Practice Leader, Carney Sandoe & Associates
This strategic keynote explores:
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What truly equity-committed schools look like in practice
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Governance, leadership, and organizational structures that support DEIJB work
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Financial investment as a measure of commitment: budgets, staffing, resources
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The role of boards, parent associations, and school culture
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Warning signs during the search and interview process
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How to evaluate a school's equity maturity before accepting a role
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Case studies: schools doing this work well vs. those that aren't
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Carney Sandoe's role in matching values-aligned candidates with mission-driven schools
10:30 - 10:45 AM | BREAK
10:45 AM - 12:00 PM | CONCURRENT WORKSHOPS
Participants will attend ONE of the following workshops:
presented by Elaine Johnson, Founder, ETeaches365
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Understanding how power operates in your organization
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Reading the room: identifying allies, fence-sitters, and opposition
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When leadership says yes but the culture says no
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Navigating white fragility, defensiveness, and organizational resistance
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Building coalitions and strategic relationships
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Knowing when you have leverage and when you don't
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presented by Amber Berry, Vice President, AI & Strategy, Middle States Association
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How AI and automation are impacting equity work
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Algorithmic bias and the role of DEIJB practitioners in tech accountability
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Using technology as a tool for equity (data analysis, accessibility, reach)
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The digital divide and technological justice
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Preparing for how AI will reshape DEIJB roles
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Emerging opportunities at the intersection of tech and equity
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presented by Dr. Louisa Egan Brad, Dean of Equity, Justice and Belonging,
Westtown School
Navigating resistance, building support, and communicating effectively
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Understanding different parent constituencies and their concerns
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Responding to pushback on DEI initiatives from parents
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Building coalitions of supportive families
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Communicating about equity work to diverse audiences
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Managing social media and public criticism
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Working with alumni and donors who resist change
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Creating transparency without creating vulnerability)
12:00 - 1:30 PM | LUNCH
1:30 - 2:45 PM | SPECIAL SESSION
All You Need to Know on Governance: Working with Boards and Trustees
presented by: Staci Williams Seeley, Managing Director, DSG Global
Understanding and navigating board dynamics with real-world case studies
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How boards function and the roles of trustees in school governance
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Building effective relationships with board members and governance leaders
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Case studies: successful board engagement and lessons learned from challenges
2:45 - 3:00 PM | CLOSING: COMMUNITY & CONNECTIONS
Final reflections and next steps for staying connected as a community.
3:00 - 5:00 PM | COMMUNITY CONNECTIONS RECEPTION
Unwind and Connect
- Light refreshments and beverages
- Organic networking and relationship building
- Space to decompress, connect, and continue conversations from the day
- No agenda, no structure—just community
We are pleased to offer convenient hotel accommodations for event participants at
The Inn at Villanova.
To reserve, call the Inn directly at 1-610-450-4953 and request a room from
the MCRC@ADVIS event block.
PROGRAM FEES
ACT 48 CREDITS
• You may request credit up to 7 days after the event.
• Per the PA Department of Education,
ADVIS is required to report your successful completion of Act 48 evaluation within 30 days of the event.
• Contact Mandie Curtis Banks for more information.
ACCESSIBILITY
We strive to make our events inclusive and accessible for all. Request accommodations on the registration form, or contact Mandie Curtis Banks with accessibility questions. Please give at least two weeks’ notice to help us ensure seamless access.
EVENT CONTACT
Danielle Suber, Chair, MCRC Committee