Leading for Equity Institute | March 12 - 13, 2026 | Chicago

Thursday, March 12 - Friday, March 13, 2026 | 8:00 am – 4:00 pm Pacific

Loyola University Chicago Water Tower Campus, Beane Hall

*NEP is not affiliated with Loyola, and Loyola is not a sponsor or co-sponsor of the Conference.

For nearly three decades, the National Equity Project equipped educators and leaders with the tools and strategies needed to drive meaningful change through our Leading For Equity™ (LFE) Institutes. Participants engage in deep reflection, dialogue, and planning, guided by expert facilitators. The program is designed to strengthen relationships, build new alliances across differences, and enhance collaborative efforts toward achieving equity goals.

This immersive two-day, in-person Institute provides individuals and teams with the tools, strategies, and support needed to effectively address educational inequities and create lasting impact in their schools and communities.

Key focuses of the Institute include:

• Examining the historical context and impact of racism and bias on institutional policies and practices
• Identifying individual and organizational barriers to successful change initiatives
• Emphasizing the role of emotional intelligence and trust in leading equity efforts
• Developing concrete skills for navigating challenges and driving progress toward equity objectives

Participants gain access to research-based protocols, tools, and resources that support equity-focused leadership and team development. The Institute's experiential approach, grounded in the National Equity Project’s Leading for Equity Framework, fosters leadership growth from the inside out, empowering attendees to lead with increased agency, purpose, and efficacy.

Whether attending as an individual or part of a team, the Leading for Equity Institute offers a transformative opportunity to deepen commitment, strengthen relationships, and develop effective strategies for advancing educational equity.

Join us at the Leading For Equity™ Institute to experience a learning community dedicated to creating lasting change in education.

Participants will receive pre-reads and resources prior to the meeting via email. Please add [email protected] to your contacts to ensure you receive course communications. Breakfast and lunch will be provided on both institute days.

We are intensely focused on humanizing our spaces. We focus on interactivity and connection by providing frequent body breaks, and attending to learning, practice, and healing in community.

In an effort to create accessible spaces for everyone, we ask that participants refrain from wearing scented products such as perfume/colognes, hair products, cosmetics, and scented lotions while attending our event, as these products can trigger serious health issues for those with fragrance allergies and/or chemical sensitivities. For more information on being fragrance-free, visit this Fragrance Free Toolkit.

Institute Fee: $1,200 per person

Limited discounted registration tickets are available for this event. If you require discounted registration, please contact [email protected]. Requests will be reviewed on a case by case basis.

Registration by credit card on Eventbrite is our preferred method. We are a small (but mighty) organization and processing and collecting check payments for our events has a high administrative impact.

Please visit our registration page on our website for information on paying by check or purchase order and our cancellation and registration transfer policy.

Contact the National Equity Project at with questions.

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