NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is now open.

2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL)
Inclusion in the New Legal Landscape
July 8–9, 2025
NAIS Headquarters, Washington, DC

2025 Emergent Design Lab: Inclusion in the New Legal Landscape

What do you need to know about the new legal landscape for inclusion and belonging work, and what are the most effective programs that independent schools can still legally pursue?

In this two-day workshop, law professor and inclusion expert Kenji Yoshino will answer these questions. First, the workshop will explain how Supreme Court precedents, congressional statutes, and recent executive orders have transformed how the work of organizational equality can be conducted today. Delivered in a lively and accessible way, this legal primer will provide essential information about relevant law on this topic.

Second, the workshop will explore two legal and effective strategies for advancing inclusion in independent schools. The first strategy, called “Uncovering Talent,” draws on Yoshino’s first book, Covering, to underscore how a culture of authenticity and psychological safety benefits every person within a community. The second strategy, “Allyship for All,” draws on Yoshino’s most recent book, Say the Right Thing, to stress how every person in a community can both give and receive the allyship crucial to organizational health.

By the end of the workshop, you'll be equipped to play both defense and offense. You'll understand the new legal constraints on your work, and how you can nonetheless advance inclusion in transformational ways.

What is the NAIS Emergent Design Lab?

The NAIS Emergent Design Lab (EDL) is a leadership and professional development experience that encourages participants to use and share design principles, action research, collaborative skill-building, and best and emerging practices. Together we develop innovative solutions and models that independent schools can use to address challenges and opportunities related to inclusion and social responsibility inside and out of the classroom. 

Emergent design is a human-centered, constructivist approach to planning and development. Emergent design seeks to adapt and respond to a project’s unique environmental conditions, rather than forcing implementation of a standardized or static planning approach. Emergent design invites participation by those most impacted by any change envisioned to better plan and respond to challenges and opportunities in informed and collaborative ways.  

Audience

EDL designers recommend participants register in school teams, if possible. Teams can consist of: 

• Heads of school
• Division heads
• Senior administrators
• Diversity directors and educators
• Student support staff
• HR professionals

Registration Information 

Registration for the 2025 NAIS Emergent Design Lab is now open.

*Contact us for more information about the benefits of NAIS membership, including discounted event pricing.

Hotel Accommodations

NAIS has reserved a block of rooms at the discounted rate of $189/night (plus tax) at the St. Gregory Hotel (2033 M St. NW, Washington, DC 20036). Book your room here by June 13 to get the discounted rate. The institute takes place at NAIS Headquarters, a short walk from the St. Gregory Hotel.   

Schedule

Please plan to arrive at the NAIS Headquarters by 8:30 AM ET on July 8 (breakfast will be available beginning at 7:45 AM ET) and depart no earlier than 4:30 PM ET on July 9.

DAY 1

• 9:00 – 9:15 AM: Introductions, overview, and goal setting
• 9:15 – 10:15 AM (with break): Background of legal concepts; Constitutional law: Title VII and executive orders
• 10:30 AM – 12:00 PM: Inclusion in the context of the new legal landscape
• 1:00 – 2:15 PM: Deep dives into inclusion case studies and the law
• 2:30 – 4:00 PM: Uncovering Talent
• 4:00 – 4:30 PM: Debrief and Q&A

DAY 2

• 9:00 – 9:15 AM: Overview of the Allyship curriculum
• 9:15 – 11:15 AM (with break): Principles 1-3: The Ally’s Guide to Resilience and Curiosity
• 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM: Principles 4-5: The Ally’s Guide to Disagreements and Apologies
• 2:15 – 4:15 PM: Principles 6-7: Allyship for All: The Empathy Triangle
• 4:15 – 4:30 PM: Q&A and closing

2025 Faculty

• Kenji Yoshino, Chief Justice Earl Warren Professor of Constitutional Law, New York University School of Law

Cancellation Policy

Cancellations must be received in writing at institutes@nais.org. Cancellations received up to 30 days before the program's start date (June 8) will be fully refunded, less a $75 administrative fee. Cancellations received less than 30 days prior to the program will not be refunded.

Contact Information

Please contact institutes@nais.org or 202-973-9700 with any questions.