Alumni of Color Conference

Rewriting the Narrative: Persistence as Innovation

This year we invited interested participants to reimagine persistence not as endurance alone, but as a creative force that has driven meaningful transformation. This gathering put a spotlight on strategies that not only respond to current challenges but also empowered educators to shape the future of schooling with intention and imagination.

Although the traditional conference on campus is over, AOCC is still active! We are piloting an AOCC "satellite site" to continue the energy of the conference with alumni, current students, and newly accepted students in the Atlanta area. Join us on April 4th, 2026.

Register for AOCC in ATL
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Our Mission and Who We Are

AOCC Mission

The mission of the AOCC is to inspire and impact the improvement of the education sector by annually convening alumni, students, practitioners, artists, and scholars both from the Harvard Graduate School of Education and across the nation in order to share best practices and cutting edge research on strengthening that practices and competencies of Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion that pertains to people of color in educational spaces.

The conference is open and welcoming to participants from all backgrounds who seek to engage thoughtfully in conversations about race, class, and education.

"Inspiring. Rejuvenating. Empowering." These are some of the words used to describe the experience of attending the annual HGSE Alumni of Color Conference (AOCC) — which is not your typical academic conference.

The Harvard Graduate School of Education is committed to open discourse and academic freedom. Since its inception in 2003, The Alumni of Color Conference (AOCC) has become a learning space to connect and think critically about issues of race, class, and education as they pertain to all people—and in particular, to Communities of Color. It is an opportunity to bring people of various perspectives together and celebrate the diversity of thought, even though perspectives and ideas may be difficult or challenging to hear. An invitation to speak at the Harvard Graduate School of Education does not imply an endorsement of the speaker’s views or values by HGSE, Harvard University, or members of its community. Further, please keep in mind that that the ideas and opinions expressed by groups and individuals during AOCC do not reflect the views and values of the Graduate School of Education or Harvard University.