Fenn to Host February 17th Multicultural Educators Forum on DEI in Challenging Times

On February 17, Fenn's Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) Team will host the School's 2026 Multicultural Educators Forum for faculty, staff, and administrators at independent schools across New England. This year's forum will explore the theme of DEI in Challenging Times.

Dr. Jarvis Givens, Harvard University professor and author of four books including the newly-released I’ll Make Me a World: The 100-Year Journey of Black History Month, will serve as the opening keynote speaker, and closing keynote speaker will be Dr. Liza Talusan, nationally- and internationally sought-after facilitator, educator, scholar-practitioner, and award-winning author of The Identity-Conscious Educator and Identity-Conscious Practice in Action.  

Following Dr. Givens' presentation will be two lunch seatings and two corresponding identical rounds of workshops that will include the following:

• Excellent Teaching: Meeting Kids’ Academic Needs led by Lawrence Academy's Assistant Dean of Academic Affairs: Director of Learning Support, Jen McAleer, and Dean of Faculty & Academic Affairs, Christine Torigian;
   
• Financial Aid and Equity of Experience led by Concord Academy's Head of School Henry Fairfax and Chief Enrollment Manager Mbakwe Okafor;
   
• Identity Mapping led by RoseMarie Wallace, Director of Diversity, Equity, and Belonging at Tabor Academy; and
   
• Analog Advantages: Intentional Use of Technology in the Classroom led by Fenn educators Sara Jackson, Heather Stewart, and Liz Wei.

Additional forum details can be found at this LINK, and interested educators should register HERE by Thursday, February 12. 

"We are excited and energized by the content of this program and the speakers who are joining us," shared Fenn's DEI Director Simone Hutchings. "We look very forward to having our Fenn faculty and staff engage in the program and collaborate with peer educators whom we will be equally thrilled to host on campus." 

Since February 2010, Fenn has hosted the Multicultural Educators Forum to provide independent school colleagues across New England with a daylong opportunity to engage in conversation and reflection about our work fostering school communities that are diverse, inclusive, and just. By design, these forums are interactive and offer a variety of avenues for faculty, staff, and administrators to share progress they have made and challenges they face. In addition to being exposed to new perspectives and building new skills, these forums also offer valuable networking opportunities for DEI practitioners.