Get ready for PoCC 2024 in Denver by throwin’ it back to PoCC 2023 in St. Louis. Amani Reed and Abe Wehmiller sit down for a conversation with educator, activist, artist, and author Christopher Emdin, recorded immediately prior to his closing keynote address at last year’s conference. He shares thoughts on what keeps him up at night in the world of education, how we can make serendipitous moments less accidental, and why he considers science “the most poppin’ discipline.”

Emdin is the Maxine Greene Chair for Distinguished Contributions to Education and professor of science education at Teachers College, Columbia University; the director of creativity, innovation and entrepreneurship at the STEAM DREAM and Ideal Lab; an alumni fellow at the Hip-Hop Archive and Hutchins Center at Harvard University; and a scholar in residence at Lincoln Center. He is the author of The New York Times bestseller For White Folks Who Teach in the Hood… and the Rest of Y’all Too, as well as numerous other education-focused works. His belief in hip-hop as a voice for the voiceless led him to create #HipHopEd, a multiplatform and cross-curricular initiative that explores the intersections of hip-hop and education.

In the first episode of our official relaunch under the NAIS podcast umbrella, André Withers sits down with the PoCC 2024 local committee co-chairs to learn a bit about what to expect from this year’s conference. Give a listen as two Denver school leaders share their own deep histories with PoCC, their hopes for next month’s gathering, and some tips on exploring the Mile High City. Embedded in their stories, you’ll hear the larger story of how PoCC has evolved over the years, and the many meanings it has for educators and students today.

Marti Champion has been the head of middle school at Graland Country Day School in Denver’s Hilltop neighborhood since 2017. She previously worked at Graland as an English teacher and a dean of students. Sumant Bhat joined Denver’s Stanley British Primary School as head of school in 2020. Immediately prior to that, he served as the head of middle school at St. Anne’s Episcopal School in Denver. On behalf of their entire local planning committee, they are excited to welcome PoCC and SDLC attendees to their city.