POCIS - Nor Cal People of Color in Independent Schools

The entire PoCIS Northern California Board of Directors (minus one pictured!)—grateful to be in community today at the PoCIS Northern California Conference hosted at the Julia Morgan School for Girls in Oakland, California. ✨

Spaces like this remind us we’re not alone—this is collective care, shared wisdom, and real connection in action.

Special thanks to our host and fellow board member Kathrine Weekes, Head of School, to Nicole Varveris, Chair of the Conference Committee, for her leadership, and to our incredible graphic designer Maricel Hernandez for bringing the vision to life 🎨

Deep gratitude to our keynote Elena Aguilar, all of our participants, presenters, and sponsors—your presence, insight, and support made this day possible.

We carry this energy forward.

Happy New Year! I hope you had a wonderful and restful break.

Good news—we are extending the workshop proposal deadline to next Friday, January 16. Proposals can be submitted here, and decisions will be shared in early February.

We’d also appreciate your help spreading the word by sharing this opportunity with colleagues and professional networks—particularly educators and administrators of color who may be interested in leading a workshop that speaks to the opportunities and challenges within our school communities.

And a final reminder: Early Bird registration (reduced price + free conference t-shirt) also ends on January 16. Register Here

We’re looking forward to being in community together in 2026 and hope to see you soon.

🌟 The POCIS-NorCal Board would like to thank everyone who came out to “United In Purpose” on Friday night — an evening filled with community, justice & joy at Sacred Heart School in Atherton! 🤝✨
A huge thank you to our musical guest The Kev Choice Ensemble 🎹, keynote Charles Vogl, and all of our incredible vendors & sponsors! 🎉

🏆 Congratulations to our Educators of Color Award Winners!
• Head of School of Color: Rachel Skiffer
• Unsung Hero (POCIS Board, past or present): Christy Godinez Jackson
• Legacy Educator of Color: Cheryl Adenkan
👏👏👏

POCIS-NorCal will continue creating spaces of equity & belonging for People of Color in Independent Schools. ❤️✊ We can’t wait for our upcoming events, including our annual Regional Conference this March at Julia Morgan School for Girls in Oakland! 📚✨

There’s still time to register for this Friday’s United in Purpose: An Evening of Community, Justice, and Joy at Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton!

Join the NoCA POCIS community for an evening of connection, celebration, and inspiration — featuring keynote speaker Charles Vogl, a live performance by Kev Choice Ensemble, community recognitions, dinner, drinks, and more.

If you haven’t grabbed your ticket yet, we’d love to see you there.

Registration is open for United in Purpose: An Evening of Community, Justice, and Joy, hosted by Northern California People of Color in Independent Schools.

Date: Friday, December 5, 2025
Time: 5:30 PM – 10:00 PM
Location: Sacred Heart Schools, Atherton, CA

Join the NoCA POCIS Community as we come together to honor our shared work in independent schools, to uplift our collective voice, and to celebrate the joy and strength we co-create in belonging. For years, the first Friday of December has been a time for Northern California educators to gather at the People of Color Conference (PoCC). United in Purpose continues that tradition — creating space to come together, celebrate, and build community right here at home.

Event Highlights
Keynote Speaker: Charles Vogl, author and thought leader on community and belonging, will share insights on leading with purpose and deepening connections across our schools and communities.
Live Musical Performance: Kev Choice, acclaimed artist, educator, and activist, will perform a vibrant blend of hip-hop, jazz, and classical music.
Community Recognition: We’ll honor leaders within the NoCA PoCIS community who uplift and inspire educators of color.
Dinner & Drinks: Food and drinks included with your ticket as we gather in celebration and solidarity.
Music, Mingling & Vibes: Good tunes, great company, and all the joyful energy — the NoCA PoCIS way.

Registration:
Regular Admission: $40 (Price to increase after November 20th)
Guests and plus-ones are welcome. All guests must purchase a ticket.
This is an adult-only event.
NoCA POCIS is committed to accessibility. If the cost of attendance is a barrier, please email [email protected] to request a fee waiver.

Transportation:
We’re exploring the option of providing shared bus or shuttle transportation to and from the event from Oakland, San Francisco, and San Jose (for an additional cost). If you’re interested, please indicate your preferred pickup location in the checkout form when purchasing your ticket. This will help us gauge demand and plan accordingly.

Register now! We look forward to coming together in community, celebration, and joy.

And we’re back! Enjoyed a fabulous evening in Oakland with our friends from all over the Bay! Stay tuned for much more from Nor Cal!

Monday, May 5th “Grub & Gratitude Wellness Event for Teachers” Join us for a restorative, nourishing event centering healthy eats, great beats, art, and beloved community. The Teaching Well is a non-profit consisting of 100% teachers that is fighting to retain and sustain educators across the country. We’ll have somatic practices, creative projects, and take-away resources to help you thrive, rather than survive, during the final push of the school year!

https://lnkd.in/gKMT7gRh

Hope to see you tonight at the POCIS Happy Hour from 6:30-7:30pm! We will be selling our new POCIS T-shirt’s for $20. 🤗