To be credible when educating others about diversity and inclusion, an organization must first show commitment to D&I internally. That belief is behind this week’s leadership conference of the National Parent Teacher Association.

“In order for National PTA to be relevant, we have to be relevant to the communities that we serve,” said Dr. Renee Jackson, manager of school relations and diversity for NPTA. “Today’s PTA is very diverse, and we try to make sure that our leadership is reflective of the communities and the children that we serve.”

Now in its seventh year, the National PTA Emerging Minority Leaders Conference, being held this week in Crystal City, Virginia, provides educational opportunities for up-and-coming, ethnically diverse leaders.

“This conference is held to help strengthen minority leadership and it…allows them a chance to network and come together and gather best practices to take back to the grassroots level,” said Jackson.

NPTA’s commitment to D&I gives it credibility in educating others on an array of topics, including bridging the diversity gap, building advocacy campaigns, and assembling a diverse leadership team, she said.

“You have to be very deliberate when you’re dealing with diversity,” said Jackson. “It can’t be isolated. It has to be very deliberate and strategic in the work that you do. We try to make sure that we have a common thread of diversity throughout every part of our organization, in every department, and in everything that we do, because we want to make sure that PTAs are welcoming for all families.”