Student Diversity Leadership Conference

The Student Diversity Leadership Conference (SDLC) is a multiracial, multicultural gathering of student leaders from independent high schools across North America. The conference focuses on self-reflection, forming allies, and building community and is led by a diverse team of trained adult and peer facilitators. Participating students develop cross-cultural communication skills, design effective strategies for social justice practice through dialogue and the arts, and learn the foundations of allyship and networking principles.

High school students Arianna, Dahlia, and Rubina represented Oak Grove at the SDLC, which took place over two days from 8am to 10pm and 11pm respectively. As trained facilitators the students took part and facilitated a number of workshops and shared that they left the conference feeling very inspired.

“The days were long, and it was a lot, because you had to be very social. But it was also such an amazing experience,” said Arianna. “There was always stuff going on, and they made it really fun. Being around so many people and listening to what other schools are struggling with was incredible – you could relate but also learn things and get new ideas.”

Rubina, who also attended the conference last year, explained that she was especially excited about the affinity spaces provided to students based on their specific racial or ethnic identity, or gender or sexual orientation. “It was a really high energy but safe space to get up and say what you want,” she said. “Everyone felt empowered to share their experience and make themselves vulnerable. I really felt like I had a voice.”

Dahlia agreed and said that she enjoyed the diversity of the activities at the conference and feels excited about bringing some of them back to Oak Grove. “We did some Spectrum activities, which covered both light topics about pop culture and more serious topics like social economics and racial identity,” she said. “I felt that by including more fun topics the group was made to feel more relaxed and that made it easier to talk about the more difficult topics, so I’d like to bring that to Oak Grove.”

“I felt that by including more fun topics the group was made to feel more relaxed and that made it easier to talk about the more difficult topics, so I’d like to bring that to Oak Grove.” -Dahlia, 11th Grade

Arianna added that she would be eager to include not just the high school but younger students in activities as well. “What I learned from this experience is that in order for you to really listen and pay attention it has to start from the beginning,” she said. “So I’d like to introduce the younger kids at Oak Grove to topics around diversity, equity, and inclusion and give them the opportunity to learn about it.”