Middle School
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Conference
Embedded Files
Schedule at a Glance
Schedule at a Glance
Program details and registration coming this fall.
8:00 – 8:30 AM | Arrival and Registration
9:00 – 10:00 AM | Opening Keynote
10:10 – 11:10 AM | Workshops
11:20 AM – 12:20 PM | Affinity Groups
12:30 - 1:10 PM | Lunch
1:15– 2:15 PM | Workshops
2:25 – 3:00 PM | Closing Keynote
Keynote Speakers
Keynote Speakers
Arshay Cooper is an award-winning author and rowing advocate who grew up on the West Side of Chicago. In 1997, he joined and later became captain of America's first all-Black high school rowing team at Manley High School, an experience that transformed his life. He is the protagonist of the acclaimed film "A Most Beautiful Thing." Cooper founded the A Most Beautiful Thing Inclusion Fund, a national award-winning nonprofit that introduces thousands of under-resourced youth to rowing worldwide. His memoir and work have inspired community-building initiatives that bring together people from diverse backgrounds, including police officers and inner-city youth.
Dr. Rosalynne E. Duff (she/her) is the Founder and CEO of Mental Wrap Practice. She is a veteran educator, spiritual leader, and community healer with over fifteen years of experience across K–12 classrooms, higher education, and ministry. She holds a Ph.D. in Teaching and Learning (curriculum and instruction). In 2019, Dr. Duff became a certified meditation instructor in Cognitively-Based Compassion Training (CBCT) through Emory University's Center for Contemplative Science and Compassion-Based Ethics. She has devoted her life to cultivating spaces where educators, students, and leaders feel seen, supported, and spiritually grounded.
Registration and Ticket Information
Registration and Ticket Information
Tickets | $135/person
AISNE's Student Conferences are exclusively available to students in AISNE member schools.
Ticket & Cancellation Policies
There is a limit of 15 students and 2 chaperones per school. This helps ensure access to the event for as many schools as possible.
1 chaperone is required for 1 – 10 students. 2 chaperones are required for 11 – 15 students.
Chaperones must be present for the entire conference and must be employees of an AISNE member school.
Tickets are non-refundable and may not be transferred from one school to another. Please do not buy more tickets than you anticipate using.
Registration Process
Step 1
Purchase the number of tickets (student and chaperone) that you intend to send to the conference.
If you do not know which students will attend, use the placeholder name "John Doe" on the Eventbrite registration page.
Step 2
After event registration closes, AISNE will send you a Google form in which you will name all student attendees, their chosen affinity groups, and other pertinent information.
Financial Aid
To further equity and inclusion at our student conferences, AISNE may support schools that face financial challenges in attending the Middle School Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Conference or the High School Students of Color Conference.
If you are interested in applying for financial assistance for your students, please email eliza@aisne.org before you complete your school’s registration. Please describe the reason(s) you are requesting financial support. Applications are reviewed on a first-come, first-served basis. We look forward to supporting your students’ participation in this valuable educational event.
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