It's Complicated with Orlando Bowen

Orlando Bowen transparently shares his heart and reiterates his why for this podcast again.  He leaves you with inspirational, empowering words that will move you to action as we get off the sidelines of being non-racist and grow/learn how to become anti-racist.  

Skye Bowen, an educator of 20 years teaches us all the POWER behind Restorative Justice practices in schools.  Mistakes are things that we all are prone to as human beings, especially in our teenage years.  When youth make mistakes in school by crossing boundaries or breaking the rules, instead of pushing them out and /or suspending them the most successful way to have the youth come back and experience community, personal and academic success is to restore them.  As educators there should be a desire to  want to know what youth have been through, understand the reason behind their actions, while holding them accountable with unconditional love and support.   Black boys and girls are being mainstreamed into special education and are suspended and/or kicked out of school at a much higher rate than youth who don't share their race.  Orlando and  Skye talk about what can be done about it in an institutionalized racist system (the education system).  It won't be easy, but we have to grow so take a listen but know, It's Complicated.  

Orlando and his white defence attorney David Humphreys have a very open and honest conversation about the legal system that is impacted with institutionalized racism, how black people (specifically black men) in that system, are targeted and how we are to respond when found within this system.  David Humphrey is a criminal defence attorney and was the third lawyer Orlando interviewed during his case of police brutality.  What he was looking for was justice, what they both found was something very different.  It's upsetting yet causes us to hope...It's Complicated. 

Orlando speaks to two black young people, Rylie Clemmons & Taijah Armstrong, as they express what their personal experience has been during the pandemic and during the heightened racial climate.  They talk candidly about where they are in their mental and emotional state and what they are actively doing to be a part of the solution.  It's not easy, it's possible and it's complicated. 

How do you know when you should have "The Talk" with your kids about what is happening in our world, our society, our communities.  Systemic racism is embedded in every area that is inevitably going to impact our children and if we don't prepare them does that make parents that are in denial of the system that impacts us all or just protective of the innocence that exists in children?  Does it fill our children with fear or faith within a system that was not designed with them in mind.  Listen to the conversation as Orlando and former CFL Legend Chuck Ealy speak on what it was in the past and what it is now as they both discuss the importance of having "The Talk".  It's Complicated.

Orlando shares what he went through when he was looking for legal representation during his traumatic experience with police brutality.  He shares how, after he was acquitted of all charges, he was compelled to go back and train police with racial sensitivity training because as far as he is concerned there is no Us and Them.  There is only US.  It's Complicated.  

Orlando shares his story and asks us all the question that we all have to answer at some point.  When we are faced with racism in any form do we respond from a place of fear or faith.  If we respond from fear, racism will be what we experience and we will continue the cycle that comes along with this experience.  If we choose to respond from a place of faith, there will be opportunities to build bridges and grow from a place of understanding.  Are you ready...?

Robin Whalen, President of Church + State & Ron Tite, Founder of Church + State as well as the author of Think Do Say, speak about how they have been affected by George Floyd's murder and how it has impacted the way they lead their teams and hire new staff.  Orlando asks difficult questions that both Ron & Robin answer with the kind of transparency we all need to share. Listen as they all discuss how we as a black community should approach conversations regarding racism from an educational approach or a, let me enlighten you approach.  It's complicated.

Orlando Bowen and Michael 'Pinball' Clemmons talk about how they have left their mark in history and empower us to know we too can leave a real mark in history during this time during a pandemic and  extremely challenging times within society specifically connected to racism.  Listen and learn how you can specifically become a History Maker.

In this episode Orlando speaks with two seasoned educators, Skye Bowen and Antonella Kalaitzis, who talk about the frustration they experience as educators in a system embedded with racism.  Listen as they speak on how we as a society, especially educators, can make a difference right now.