Belmont Public Schools proudly hosted its inaugural Bridges to Equity Conference on Saturday, November 7, with nearly 200 educators and community members registered for a day of learning and connection centered on this year's theme: Fostering Inclusive Learning Communities Through Connection, Reflection, and Action.

The conference provided participants with actionable strategies to integrate Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Well-Being (DEIW) principles into their work, strengthen social-emotional learning, and prioritize mental health and well-being.

The day opened with an inspiring keynote from Marible Carvajal, educator, community leader, and founder of Hispanas Amigas. Marible shared her personal story and the important work she is doing to help others find their voice.

Participants chose from 15 engaging workshops covering a wide range of topics, including ableism and special education, inclusive technology, navigating difficult conversations, cultivating well-being at work, the school-to-prison pipeline, equity in math instruction, and more. Over lunch, presenters and participants also had time to network, exchange ideas, and continue conversations sparked during the workshops.

Thank you to everyone who helped make this inaugural conference such an amazing day of learning, connection, and action! A special thank you to our conference supporters for making it possible: Belmont Against Racism, Belmont METCO Program, Foundation for Belmont Education (FBE), and Anne Mahon.