What happens when a Cape Verdean joins Teach for America and lands in South Dakota—then meets his future wife? You get Jonathan Santos Silva, founder of The Liber Institute, an organization helping rural leaders serve Indigenous students without taking over—by coaching in ways that honor culture and community.

In this conversation, I learned a LOT: from the complex history between Native students and schools to the quiet segregation that still exists today—and yes, the difference between marginalization and erasure. There is a difference, y’all!

Sound Bites:

• “You can’t tell me I can’t be a scientist.”
• “To whom much is given, much is required.”
• “We need true co-conspirators, not allies.”