Cultures Connecting at Bridge Conference 2026

School's Out Washington is holding their annual Bridge Conference on October 26 & 27th this year, with the theme "The Art of Being Water." The theme "invites us to embrace the power of adaptability, resilience, connection, and collective flow. Like water, we learn to move with purpose—reshaping our path, filling spaces with possibility, and finding ways forward where none seemed possible. This theme calls on the expanded learning field to remain grounded while fluid, balancing action with reflection and honoring both movement and stillness."

Members of Our Cultures Connecting team are presenting at the conference, which you can read about below. Visit the conference website to learn more and get tickets.

The Art of Facilitation: Leading through Emotions in Discourse about Race by Dr. Caprice Hollins and Ilsa Govan

Schools are not neutral spaces. Every day, educators are asked to lead, mediate, and hold space for conversations that carry the weight of generations. The current political context contributes to heightened emotions and racial tensions. And you, no matter how experienced, bring your own history too. When a student says something harmful, a colleague dismisses a lived experience, or a systemic issue needs examining, the most powerful thing you can do is to know yourself well enough to stay present and grounded, even when every instinct tells you to fight, flee, or freeze. Through honest storytelling, self-reflection, and hands-on practice, you'll learn to recognize what activates you, strategies to respond instead of react, and ways to hold space for the emotional responses of others. 

Weaving Without Erasing: Equitable Enculturation for Diverse Communities by Richard Kim

What does it look like when a community truly makes room for everyone — not just at the edges, but at the center? This session explores the principles and practices of equitable enculturation: the intentional work of forming communities where diverse peoples are not merely welcomed but genuinely woven into the fabric of shared life.We'll examine how power, identity, and belonging intersect in community formation, and offer practical frameworks for leaders navigating the complexity of cultural integration without succumbing to assimilation. Participants will leave with concrete tools for fostering dignity-centered community cultures that honor difference while building genuine cohesion.