In 2016, Val Brown recognized a silence in the education community regarding issues of race, and a gap in learning opportunities for educators. In response she founded #ClearTheAir, a platform for educators to learn about the intersections of history, racism, and education.

In 2019, she reached out to Integrated Schools to see if we might walk this road towards anti-racist school integration together. However, she had a question – as a Black mom, she asked, “do I belong at Integrated Schools? Is there a place for me?”

This is a question we have been wrestling with internally for some time. Leadership team member, Ali Takata recently published a blog post highlighting the gap she has felt in our ability to address a multiracial audience and announcing our intentions to grow from a primarily White organization into a truly multiracial organization.

While we know that this process needs to be slow and deliberate, we are also deeply committed to seeing it through. With that in mind, and given that the podcast has been lacking a regular co-host, we felt it was time to bring someone new on board, and we are so grateful that Val agreed. She will be with us at least though May of 2022 to co-host, lend her insights, and help model what a truly multiracial coalition could be.

In this first episode, we get to know her backstory, why she cares, and what we hope this season will achieve.

LINKS:

• Val Brown on Twitter
• Ali’s Blog Post
• White Lips to White Ears by IS Advisory Board Member, Matt Gonzales
• #ClearTheAir
• Dr. Mica Pollock

Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further.

Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – @integratedschls on twitter, IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us [email protected].

The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits.

This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits.

Music by Kevin Casey.

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