SoCal POCIS 2024-25 Events

SoCal POCIS invites all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

People with Asian heritage and those under the Asian American Pacific Islander umbrella tend to be labeled as the “model minority” where we are unfairly generalized and stereotyped, which means that our actual experiences are rendered invisible or invalid. This also pits us against other marginalized groups to prevent solidarity. In this presentation, we will explore the complex aspects of what it means to be AAPI in America, explore the history of anti-Asian hate, and extend our knowledge to better understand our students.

About Drew:

Dr. Drew Ishii is a SoCal POCIS board member and the chair of the AsEA Conference Southern California team. He also served as a co-chair of the NAIS People of Color Conference in Anaheim. Drew has facilitated workshops at many independent schools, and spoken at numerous national and international conferences.  He has conducted professional development sessions, and led many DEIB initiatives. He is currently the chair of the mathematics department at Sage Hill School.

When: Thursday, March 7, 6:00 – 8:00 pm

Where: Vistamar School 737 Hawaii St., El Segundo, CA 90245

*Light refreshments will be served.

SoCal POCIS invites all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators to a Zoom panel.

What do an elementary school librarian, a middle school art teacher, an assistant head of school, and a Senior Leader/Director of Diversity have in common? A deep commitment to diversity and equity work at their schools in their spheres of influence. Don’t miss this opportunity to hear your colleagues speak about the variety of ways to put the “Work” into action. Panelists will speak about their personal and professional journey to doing the work they love in their sphere of influence at their schools! Each of us has a role to play. Come deepen your commitment to yours!

Panelists

Ricco Siasoco

Waverly – Senior Leader/Director of Diversity

Sandi Crozier

Wildwood – Elementary Librarian / DEIB Curriculum Coordinator

Flavia Zuniga-West

Harvard Westlake – Middle School Art Teacher & Activist

Rasheda Carroll

Westland – Assistant Head of School

Join us for our Professional Development event and book signing with Dr. Liza Talusan – The Identity Conscious Educator. Building Habits and Skills for More Inclusive Schools:

Schools are spaces of learning, critical thinking, and discourse where people wrestle with new ideas, concepts, and experiences. To achieve inclusive spaces, decisions are made daily about curriculum, discipline, policies, practices, programs, and procedures. All of this happens through the lens of identity.

Identity very much informs our daily work, even if we have not built the habits and skills for seeing its impact. Building an identity-conscious practice means realizing that who we are informs and impacts how we act, interact, and how we see the world around us. To do this, we need tools to explore what our identities are, how they shape our views, and how we might work towards greater inclusion and equity.

Understanding the impact of identity helps us to build more inclusive, compassionate, curious, and critical spaces for learning and growing.

The tools Dr. Talusan will cover in this session to help you build a more inclusive practice:

1. Critical Check-Ins

2. What is an identity-conscious practice

3. Understanding Proximity

4. What is your risk threshold?

5. Moving to Action

For all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

When: Wednesday, May 1st
Where: Mayfield Senior School

500 Bellefontaine St.
Pasadena, CA 91105

*Lunch will be served.

Independent school staff, faculty, and administrators, please join us as we celebrate our 25th Anniversary at the City Club in DTLA.

????Hors d’oeuvres and open bar (beer and wine)
????Live DJ, music and dancing
????Party favors
????Special guest: Dr. Steven Jones

Special tribute to our original member schools
????Campbell Hall
????The Country School
????Wildwood School
????Westridge School

Don’t miss the celebration!

When: Thursday, October 12, 6:00 pm – 9:00 pm
Where: City Club LA, 555 S. Flower Street, 51st Floor

Admission: Free for member school faculty, staff, and administrators

Attire: Business Casual

Facilitated by Dr. Steven Jones and Dr. Shelly Tochluk

Our morning will begin with a whole group discussion, then participants will break into two race-based affinity groups BIPOC and White Anti-Racist, to examine group dynamics and practice reflection.

Dr. Jones will lead the BIPOC group for a time of healing deepening understanding and moving toward restorative actions. The White Anti-Racist group with Dr. Tochluk will spend the day addressing anti-racism and activism.

For all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

When: Saturday, September 23th, 9:00 am – 3:30 pm
Where: Westland School

*Light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Join us for our Speaker Series event with Dr. Curtis Acosta, an award-winning educator named one of the “Top 10 Latinos to Watch in US Politics” by Huffington Post. Dr. Acosta has also been featured in documentaries and the Daily Show, CNN, PBS, and many other news outlets.

He is also a prolific writer, with articles and chapters featured in journals such as Voiced in Urban Education and books such as Educational Courage.

For all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

When: Saturday, May 13th, 10:00 am-12:00 pm
Where: WESTRIDGE SCHOOL

324 Madeline Dr.
Pasadena, CA 91105

*Light breakfast will be served.

SoCal POCIS invites all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

People with Asian heritage and those under the Asian American Pacific Islander umbrella tend to be labeled as the “model minority” where we are unfairly generalized and stereotyped, which means that our actual experiences are rendered invisible or invalid. This also pits us against other marginalized groups to prevent solidarity. In this presentation, we will explore the complex aspects of what it means to be AAPI in America, explore the history of anti-Asian hate, and extend our knowledge to better understand our students.

About Drew:

Dr. Drew Ishii is a SoCal POCIS board member and the chair of the AsEA Conference Southern California team. He also served as a co-chair of the NAIS People of Color Conference in Anaheim. Dr. Drew has facilitated workshops at many independent schools, spoken at national and international conferences, and trained faculty in diversity issues. He currently works at Sage Hill in Southern California.

When: Saturday, January 28, 9:30 – 11:30 am

Where: Francis Parker School, 6501 Linda Vista Road, San Diego, CA 92111

*Light morning refreshments will be served.

Please register here by Jan. 23

Facilitated by Dr. Steven Jones and Dr. Shelly Tochluk

Our morning will begin with a whole group discussion, then participants will break into two race-based affinity groups BIPOC and White Anti-Racist, to
examine group dynamics and practice reflection.

Dr. Jones will lead the BIPOC group for a time of healing deepening understanding and moving toward restorative actions. The White Anti-Racist group will spend the day addressing anti-racism and activism.

For all independent school staff, faculty, and administrators.

When: Saturday, November 12th, 12:00 pm – 4:30 pm
Where: The Wesley School

*Light breakfast and lunch will be served.

Register here