When senior Sonia Barinskaya almost ripped the roof off the Hubbard Music Center with a wonderful rendition of “Alphie” to start the second day of the Illuminators Gathering at Loomis Chaffee, the stage was set for another invigorating day.   

And when the day’s main speaker, Bettina Love, a professor at Columbia University and a much-acclaimed author and sought-after speaker, took the stage, that energy went up a notch, if possible. She was serious, she was humorous, and her voice needed no amplification from a microphone, even though she was in front of one.   

About 150 educators from New York, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, New Hampshire, Massachusetts, Maine, Connecticut, and as far away as Ohio, attended the gathering, hosted by Loomis’ Center for Inclusive Excellence & Belonging, on Tuesday, November 11, and Wednesday, November 12.    

When the national People of Color Conference was paused in 2025, Loomis Chaffee decided to host a regional gathering, calling it the Illuminators Gathering. The term “illuminators" comes from the book, How to Know A Person, by New York Times columnist David Brooks, in which he describes illuminators as those who “shine the brightness of their care on people and make them feel bigger, respected, lit up.”   

Attendees heard from several college and university administrators and professors, including Bates College president and professor of politics Garry W. Jenkins and Amin Abdul-Malik Gonzalez ‘96, vice president and dean of admission and financial aid at Wesleyan University.   

Roland Davis, the dean of inclusive excellence and belonging at Loomis Chaffee, who was instrumental in pulling together the gathering, opened and closed the two-day conference. His final message included a thank you to all who attended. As attendees got up to leave, one stood up to thank him, sparking a standing ovation, fitting since he had been one of the Loomis Chaffee leaders to stand up and host the event.   

“At a time when the concepts of diversity, equity, and belonging are being debated and, at times, distorted in public discourse, a gathering like this provides something deeply needed: connection, reflection, and renewal,” Roland said in an interview. "Educators who support students from underrepresented backgrounds often do this work quietly, tirelessly, and sometimes in isolation. The Illuminators Gathering is about giving them space to breathe, to learn, and to be in community with others who understand both the joy and the complexity of what they do.” 

He had another desire for what the two days might bring to educators.  

“I hope people leave reminded of their why — why they chose this work in the first place,” Roland said. “It’s easy to get caught in the grind of school life, where joy and purpose can get buried under emails, meetings, and expectations. My hope is that attendees walk away feeling seen, grounded, and re-energized to return to their schools with new clarity, community, and courage. More tangibly, I hope they take away fresh ideas from the scholars presenting here — ideas about belonging, identity, and joy-centered education that they can weave into their daily practice. But at its core, the real takeaway is belonging itself: feeling it here and carrying it back home.” 

Alexis Liston, the dean of community life at Kimball Union Academy in New Hampshire, awaiting the closing of the gathering, said she was excited for her work ahead. 

“It is hard work being an educator today, and especially being an educator who deeply cares about making sure all students have a space to be seen, to feel values, and to bring value, and there are days it feels like we’re pushing a boulder up a hill. ... To be in a space with so many educators who are so deeply committed to this work is incredible,” Alexis said. “It is inspiring. It is really invigorating. I'm ready to go back to our campus and just get to work.” 

Ms. Liston also was thankful for how the conference was framed, that professors and educators from the college level were being brought in “so that we could attend this space as a self-care. I really loved that.” 

In the interview, Roland said he was thankful for all who made the event happen. 

“I’m deeply grateful to the Loomis Chaffee community for rallying behind this vision and helping bring it to life,” Roland said. 

The first day started with Loomis Chaffee students bringing the crowd to life as they welcomed all to campus. The four presidents of PRISM — seniors Aster Conway-Reppert, Abdoulaye Sow, Cookie Danchaivijitr, and junior Tiger Song — were followed on the stage by junior Alice Li providing a musical interlude on the piano. 

“We see you, we appreciate you, and we are glad you are here,” Aster told the educators. 

Abdoulaye thanked the audience for what they do, saying that leaders are helped along by people such as those sitting in the room, “people who saw us, believed in us, and helped us believe in ourselves.”