The 2021-2022 school year is fast approaching and neither parents nor students can afford to jump into this school year blindly. Because as we all know, COVID-19 turned everything that our nation once knew about getting a public K-12 education upside down.

2020 was the first year that students and parents were forced to adapt to an online learning model without much warning or precedent.

So as students, parents, and school administrators continue to embrace our new normal this school year, we're sharing some practical and seldom discussed advice so you can ensure that your child gets the top-notch education that they deserve no matter what school they go to.

In this episode of the Ed Gap Evolution podcast, we’re speaking with Pam Phillips, and this isn’t her first time on the podcast. She’s actually my mother and I interviewed her on the topic of homeschooling in episode (3) of the podcast.

She’s back on the show! But this time, she gives advice on 3 impactful ways that every parent can help their child have a successful school year.

Pam also gives tips on how you can advocate for your child’s education if your child attends public school in the U.S. 

In this episode, we recommend that every parent who has a student in public school get involved in your school's Parent Teacher Association.

To learn more about the National Parent Teacher Association you can visit: https://www.pta.org 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can!

Simply subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode.

You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast. This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

Please visit our website to show your support Edgapevolution.com

Educated, Diverse and Unforgettable Opinions on The Future of K-12 Education

In this episode of the Ed Gap Evolution Podcast, we're switching things up. If you're a frequent flier here, you've probably noticed that there's one question I make sure to ask every guest. Sometimes, I change few words in the question depending on how the conversation is flowing, but it pretty much stays the same.

The question: What is the world taking too long to realize about the way that we educate children, and how are you changing that?

In this episode, I’ve clipped sound bites of the answer to that question spoken by each of the 10 guests that I've interviewed on the podcast thus far. And I challenge you to listen closely to see if you discover a recurring theme in each answer.

If you are tuning in for the very first time, here’s your chance to get a quick sample of each episode so you can decide which ones you want to listen to in full.

If you enjoy this episode and want to support the podcast, you can!

Simply subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and download your favorite episodes.

If you listen to the show on Apple Podcasts, please rate us and leave a review. Your positive rating and review make it easier for more people to discover the podcast.

Also, when you subscribe, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode.

To learn more about the Ed Gap Evolution Podcast and to support our work, please visit www.edgapevolution.com 

Enjoy! :)

The Standard American Diet is one of the deadliest diets around. It consists of foods like fries, steak, chips, microwaveable food, and cheese, to name a few.

These foods are made from harmful ingredients and require harmful cooking methods before they land in your hand or on your plate for eating. (Fried foods, High-fat dairy, Processed foods, Red and deli meat, super sugary beverages)

"You are what you eat" is a popular saying because it's absolutely true. As a human being, the food that you put into your body influences how the cells in your body function, how your organs function, and even how you look physically!

So imagine the slow and steady damage being caused to a child’s brain and total body development when they eat chips, candy, and all sorts of unnatural foods on a regular basis. 

Now imagine what a child can do and become when the food they eat is providing them with total nutrients for clearer thinking and bigger energy.

In this episode, we’re talking to nutritionist, entrepreneur, wife, and mom of two, Racheal Armooh.

Racheal is a former pediatric nurse who is passionate about helping families embrace healthier lifestyles.

Her approach to helping her own children develop a love for healthy living includes normalizing eating to live versus eating the Standard American Diet.

If you’re interested in learning more about helping your family or community eat healthier without a side of struggle, then this just might be the episode for you.

We’re talking:

• Racheal’s important yet heartbreaking experience as a former pediatric nurse

To learn more about healthy eating, wellness, and to stay in touch with Racheal:

Visit: www.rachealeats.com 

For Racheal’s Tea: www.whatstheteabyre.com

Instagram: @rachealeats

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can!

Simply subscribe wherever you get your podcasts and download your favorite episodes.

If you listen to the show on Apple Podcasts, please rate us and leave a review. Your positive rating and review make it easier for more people to discover the podcast.

 Also, when you subscribe, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode.

To learn more about the Ed Gap Evolution Podcast and to support our work, please visit www.edgapevolution.com 

Thank you! :)

In this episode, we unwrap a few searing hot topics, and you'll just have to listen to find out.

My family sacrificed financial stability so that my mom could stay at home and homeschool us.

We were able to learn through her teaching, hands-on play, and all sorts of out-of-the-box experiences that 99% of the children I went to elementary school with, and even my friends that I had to separate from when I went to homeschool, never received.

And although some of my old friends and classmates from those elementary school days are doing well for themselves, many are unfortunately dead, in jail, abusing substances - so far away from living their life to the fullest, and that didn’t have to happen.

This snippet of my story is just one scenario of Black children battling a more vicious slew of obstacles in America on their pursuit to a lifetime of greatness.

The Ed Gap Evolution podcast exists in the same spirit my mother harnessed when she pulled us out of school to homeschool us.

It’s a spirit of self-sufficiency, of celebrating the joys of education and opportunities for education in everyday life. The spirit of unconventional education and becoming resourceful about achieving your life’s goals.

So I hope that as you listen to or share an episode of the Ed Gap Evolution podcast with your friends, family, and network, you keep in mind that each episode can benefit every child in many ways.

Whether opening up an adult's mind to a new way to educate, sending parents directly to paid resources for kids, helping parents who cannot afford programs pull ideas to try at home, or helping an entrepreneur invent something great for children's enrichment - here, we believe that the imagination and possibilities for a better and brighter future know no boundaries.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can!

Simply subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode.

In this episode, we discuss the power of art. Angela Pinaglia, a cinematographer, educator, and producer shares how she uses documentary-film storytelling to help teens transform the way they view their world.

Angela serves as the Artistic Director at Docs In Progress, a non-profit organization that educates, inspires and transforms the way people view their world through documentary film by providing individuals the tools to tell stories.

Every spring and summer, Docs In Progress offers documentary filmmaking workshops which give youth participants the tools to express themselves through video in a fun and educational small group environment. Teens (ages 13-17) from across the U.S. are encouraged to participate. 

Throughout this episode, we discuss many ways in which documentary filmmaking develops a teenager’s high-level critical thinking, problem-solving, creativity, and even leadership skills.

We also delve into Angela’s rich story as a Baltimore-based Dominican-American filmmaker from Miami, Florida. 

We're dropping the details on:

The Docs In Progress Filmmaking Program for Teens

Angela’s exciting career pivot towards filmmaking in her early thirties

Her thought process and lessons learned behind her very own original films

How a teacher’s care can change a child’s total outlook on life, and much more!

To learn more about the Filmmaking Workshop for Teens at Docs In Progress visit:

Website: www.docsinprogress.org/youth 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can! Simply subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode.

In this episode, we’re talking to the Founder and Program Director at NextWave STEM, Udit Agarwal. NextWave STEM provides K-12 students with innovative educational experiences using emerging technologies, in over 200 U.S. schools nationwide. The program is expanding rapidly. 

During our talk, Udit goes in-depth about the awesome curricula that the company offers students in schools on subjects like Solar and Renewable Energy, Coding and Robotics, and the Internet of Things.

The fact of the matter is, today's children simply aren’t interested into counting apples and bananas during math class anymore. They’d much rather calculate how much money their school saved by switching to solar panels, data storage related to the Internet of Things, and all sorts of topics that were once considered “too advanced for kids.”

Fortunately, society is waking up to the fact that the limit does not exist for what children can accomplish. But let’s face it, children’s accomplishments *can* be stunted if we adults do not provide them with proper support and resources for exploring their interests and spectacular talents.

Not only does Udit share his outlook on education in America, the economy, and the future of jobs, but we also get his take on the difference between American classrooms versus his educational experience in India before moving to the U.S. as a teen.

You can support the Ed Gap Evolution podcast by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast! This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

To learn more about bringing NextWave STEM to your school visit:

Website: https://nextwavestem.com/ 

Instagram: @nextwavestem

Twitter: @NextWaveSTEM

Email: [email protected]

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode!

You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast. This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

To make a donation to the show, grab inspiring apparel for kids, or download your copy of "Every Kid's Book of Incredible Affirmations", please visit our website to show your support!

Edgapevolution.com

You can support the Ed Gap Evolution podcast by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast! This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

Like any job, being a teacher comes with grueling responsibilities that are essential in order for the classroom to run effectively, and for students to receive the best education possible. But the truth is, no matter how much effort a school makes to improve the way that it operates, a student’s enthusiasm for learning, and ability to access resources to thrive, depend heavily on the parent/caretaker’s ability to be active and supportive in their education.

In this episode, Baltimore City School teacher Susana Reyes is giving you her behind-the-scenes perspective on what it actually takes to be an effective teacher in a public school. Not only that, we discuss Susana’s unconventional journey to becoming a kindergarten teacher that all started at her former partner’s art exhibit!

She walks us through her experience as a Latinx student who didn’t see representation in the classroom growing up, and opens up about how she blossomed into being proud of her heritage, and excited about the future thanks to the support of family, friends, mentors, and prioritizing her mental health through therapy.

We’re talking:

• The importance of cultural representation in education

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can subscribe to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode!

Traditionally, on the Ed Gap Evolution podcast, we share a website and social media account with a resource that our guests want to share with you.

Susana is a full-time teacher and mom! She does not have an organization to promote. Rather, she wanted to shout out to Z & Z Housing Group. A Baltimore, MD-based realty group owned by her son’s father, who is his main role model. As we know, positive role models help children think up bigger ideas about who they can become. 

To grab inspiring apparel for kids and adults, and if you'd like to support the podcast monetarily, please visit our website to help us get the word out!  Edgapevolution.com

Every child is born with genius-level talent. But it can be difficult for a child to put their talent to use when social factors like their environment, relationships, and even household income influence their ability to grab ahold of vital educational resources that are also FUN and engaging.

If we want today’s children to become adults that make our world a better place, then we must show them how to turn a dream into reality. We have to encourage kids to “Be. The Dream”

In this episode, we’re talking to Tonee Lawson, Founder and Executive Directos at The Be. Org - a non-profit based in Baltimore, MD that encourages and nurtures youth to live above socially-imposed limitations; to develop character, talents, and leadership skills allowing them to go beyond a dream and achieve remarkable excellence.

We’re talking:

• How an emphasis on social-emotional learning helps kids more naturally embrace and understand technical and advanced education concepts.

• Tonee’s journey from college to career, and an unexpected launch into entrepreneurship

• How the Be. Org’s is partnering with Black Girl’s Cook to host The Food Playground 

• How we as adults can set ourselves free from socially-imposed limitations and Be remarkable.

• The potentially complex process of funding a non-profit program, plus a bonus lesson on philanthropy and so much more!

So if you’ve ever wondered what it takes to start a non-profit program or what it looks like to develop a child-centered program from start to finish, not only should you listen to this episode, but you can also check out Tonee’s contact information below if you’re a small nonprofit in need of strategic communication consulting.

How to get involved with The Be. Org

Website: https://www.thebeorg.com/home 

Instagram: @thebeorg

Email: [email protected] 

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode!

You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast! This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

To grab inspiring apparel for kids and adults, and if you'd like to support the podcast monetarily, please visit our website to show your solidarity! Edgapevolution.com 

Embrace the evolution, y’all

Did you know that the world’s first piece of paper was made from cannabis? Before cannabis became largely known as a smokable herb, it was revered for its versatility, and used to make all sorts of inventions and everyday items, even cars!

In this episode, we’re speaking with startup founder and cannabis children’s book author, Brian Sekandi, about his book newly published book, Kids of Cannabis. We explore the importance of ending cannabis stigma in order to spark innovation and help prepare children for the job market that they’ll meet in the near future.

Kid of Cannabis is a story about three kids whose parents work in the fast-growing cannabis CBD industry. Because of the widespread cannabis stigma, the characters haven’t told any of their friends what their parents do for work until today.

In addition to the book, we discuss Brian’s own relationship with cannabis as a child, his creative process when writing the book, the danger of leaving cannabis out of conventional agriculture and horticulture education, the benefit of doing what’s right in life even when you’re nervous—and what's it's like running the industry-leading cannabis job search engine company in North America.

Ways to order copies of Kids of Cannabis for you and yours:

Visit www.kidsofcannabis.com 

Or order here on Amazon

LinkedIn

@BrianSekandi (author)

@Careers Cannabis (publisher)

Instagram

@ib.sekandi

@careerscannabis 

Twitter

@theChairmanb

@careerscannabiz 

To search for jobs in the cannabis industry visit: careerscannabis.com

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode!

You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts or sharing this episode on your social media. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast! This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

To grab inspiring apparel for kids and adults, and if you'd like to support the podcast monetarily, please visit our website to show your solidarity! Edgapevolution.com 

Embrace the evolution, y’all

This episode is part 2 of a 2-part episode. I recommend downloading parts one and two now, for a smooth listen.

About this episode:

Managing the present while planning for your future can feel like you’re fighting an uphill battle, even to us adults.

So imagine the overwhelm that threatens high school kids who are expected to transition from childhood to adulthood, say goodbye to their High school routine and friends, choose a college, then a major.

And let’s be serious, parents don’t always have the time to help kids create a game plan for college success. Even more, knowing how to squeeze every drop of value from the college experience is not common knowledge. Therefore, most students graduate High school and then college without reaching their peak potential. 

In this episode, we’re talking to Reginald (Reg) Ryder M.Ed. He holds 30 years of experience as a Higher Education professional and is the founder of Thriving Life Coaching, a company that helps reshape the way that college-bound High school seniors, and college students, experience school.

Throughout the episode, Reg drops a boatload of wisdom. We’re talking

• How to increase your student's chance of scoring scholarships

We also dig into Reg’s story as a 1st generation college student, former basketball coach, husband, dad, and twin!

So if you’ve ever wondered why some students have college scholarships coming out of the wazoo while others struggle to complete one application, or question whether college is even the best next step for every High school grad, then tune in! You’re going to love this episode.

How to get in touch with Reg at Thriving Life Coaching

Website: reginaldryder.com

You can find him on LinkedIn as Reginald Ryder, M.Ed.

If you enjoyed this episode and want to support the podcast, you can by subscribing to the show on Apple Podcasts or wherever you listen to your podcasts. That way, you will get notified when the next episode is released and you'll never miss an episode!

You can show your support by leaving a rating and review on Apple Podcasts. Reviews and ratings help more people find and listen to the podcast! This means more children get the resources that they need to thrive.

To grab inspiring apparel for kids and adults, and if you'd like to support the podcast monetarily, please visit our website to show your solidarity! edgapevolution.com 

Thank you :)