My guest today is Brian Lightfoot.  Brian is a Ph.D. candidate at the University of Colorado-Boulder and hopes to earn a doctorate in Educational Foundations, Policy and Practice.  He is working on a project involving social capital in hopes of helping students better understand their social connections and to develop skills that will counteract the unequal social networking systems that currently exist.

In this episode, Brian discusses his ideas about taking a community-based research approach that creates a mutually beneficial relationship between communities and researchers.  He advocates for the idea of focusing on student-led programs that can elevate voices and help us really identify which outcomes families and communities really want as we consider how the education system can create better metrics and measurements.   He also argues for taking a larger look at the multiple systems - not just the education system - that are so intertwined in working together to create inequitable barriers for families and communities.

Thank you for tuning in to today’s conversation with Brian Lightfoot.