Share Your Voice!
BIPOC Voices is a program, created by POCIS Northwest, that brings together educators of color (teachers, school counselors, and administrators) working in our member schools. In BIPOC Voices, educators share ideas, offer support and encouragement, and discuss ways for our respective schools to implement the ideas and approaches shared by guest speakers and other leaders in DEI-related work.
In fall and spring, POCIS Northwest hosts a BIPOC Voices Summit. See below for more information.
Member schools can find event resources at the Resources for Educators page.
Please ask your POCIS representative for the password.
POCIS Northwest cordially invites faculty, administrators, and staff members of color in member schools to the
Fall 2024 BIPOC Voices Summit
October 15, 2024 from 9:00 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.
at The Evergreen School
Guest Presenter, Liz Kleinrock
Liz Kleinrock (she/her) is a Korean-American trans-racial adoptee, queer, Jewish, antibias, and antiracist educator. She holds multiple roles, including currently serving as the Director of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging at a PK-8th grade school in Washington, DC, authoring books for both children and adults, and consulting and facilitating for organizations and companies. Some of her partnerships include The North Face, Nike, Capital One, and The Smithsonian Asian Pacific American Center. Liz is grateful that her work has been profiled by media outlets such as NPR, The Washington Post, Kinfolk Magazine, CNN, and the Jewish Women’s Archive. In 2018, Liz received Learning for Justice’s Award for Excellence in Teaching, and in 2019, she delivered her TED Talk, “How to Teach Kids to Talk about Taboo Topics.” In the spring of 2021, Liz released her bestselling book, Start Here, Start Now: A Guide to Antibias and Antiracist Work in Your School Community with Heinemann Publishing, and is excited to share the publication of multiple children’s books with HarperCollins on topics such as inclusive holiday celebrations, adoption, and the diversity of the Jewish community. Outside of work, Liz can be found watching horror movies, fly fishing, and spending time with her partner, two bunnies, and their cat.
Past Events
Spring 2024 BIPOC Voices Summit
Building Bridges within Your School: Decentering Cultural Norms on April 25 from 9:00 a.m.- 2:00 p.m. PST at Forest Ridge School of the Sacred Heart
This event took place on April 25, 2024
Fall 2023 BIPOC Voices Summit
Proactive Strategies for Identity Affirmation with special guest Rosetta Lee on October 20, 2023
9:30 a.m. – 2:00 p.m. PST
This event took place on October 20, 2023.
”Honestly the best PD I've attended over the past couple of years! Y'all did a great job in organizing this!
Educator in Bellevue, WA
Spring 2023 BIPOC Voices Summit –Healing Through the Arts on March 11, 2023 9:00 a.m. – 2:00 p.m.
This was the first in-person BIPOC Voices Summit, which took place on Saturday, March 11, 2023 at Seattle Academy of the Arts and Sciences
”All of the presentations and speakers were amazing! I loved each one because they were interactive and research-based. It was incredible to walk out of the event with tools to use with my students. - Teacher in Seattle
Event Details – BIPOC Voices Summit Fall 2024
9:00 – 9:30 a.m. Welcome
9:30 -10:30 a.m. Affinity Groups
10:30 – 10:45 a.m. Break
10:45 – 11:45 a.m. Liz Kleinrock Keynote
11:45 a.m. – 12:45 p.m. Lunch
12:45 – 2:15 p.m. Workshop
2:15 – 2:30 p.m. Closing Activity