The cultivation of a thriving school community is both a deeply fulfilling and immensely challenging endeavor—one that is made even more complex as school leaders are tasked with guiding their communities through intricate political and social landscapes. How can school leaders create conditions for critical engagement with multiple perspectives, respect for the opinions of others, and the willingness and intellectual courage to explore opinions that teachers and students might find uncomfortable?
At this year’s Civil Discourse Lab: Grappling with the Discomfort of Pluralism, Close Up, in partnership with the National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), will help school leaders explore the principles of, and best practices in, open inquiry and dialogue while examining how efforts to foster inclusivity, broaden perspectives, and promote opportunities for all connect to preparing youth to participate in a thriving, diverse, and pluralistic democracy.
Dates & Location: July 28-30, 2025, in the Washington, D.C., metropolitan area.
Intended Audience: This program will benefit school heads, assistant heads, division heads, communications directors, diversity directors, and social studies department leaders, among others. Schools are encouraged to attend as teams of up to four participants. If you are not a member of NAIS, please contact us at programsupport@closeup.org for any registration questions.
PROGRAM OVERVIEW > REGISTER TODAY >
