In this week's episode Relando Thompkins-Jones shares insights from his extensive experience in higher education to address the parents and families of college students. In this heartfelt open letter, he emphasizes the importance of giving students space to make their own decisions and mistakes, and the value of unconditional love. Thompkins-Jones discusses the pressures students face when their paths diverge from family expectations and the emotional and financial toll of conditional support. He encourages families to engage in open, authentic conversations to foster deeper, more meaningful relationships as students navigate their personal growth and development.

00:00 Introduction: An Open Letter to Parents and Families

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Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

In this episode, Relando discusses the importance of checking in on the "strong" friends in our lives who always support everyone else. He shares practical tips on offering real help, including listening without judgment. He also talks directly to the "strong" friends, affirming that they deserve the same level of care and attention that they so often provide to others. He reminds them to practice self-care, set boundaries, and reach out for help when they need it. Relando emphasizes that we all need community, and asking for support is a sign of strength, not weakness.

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Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

In this week's episode, Relando shares an introductory talk he provided on Critical Race Theory as part of a Social Justice Speaker's Series in April of 2021. Much has happened since then from increased pushback against Pulitzer Prize-winning Journalist Nikole Hannah-Jones and her work in creating the 1619 Project, to efforts in states to effectively ban the teaching of critical race theory. These manifestations of white backlash prove the points made in Critical Race Theory, and reinforce the message that "white privilege is the ability to pass laws that prevent everyone from learning history that makes white people feel uncomfortable." The work continues. In the talk, Relando touches on dominant narratives, the power of story and counter-narratives, and basic tenets of Critical Race Theory.

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

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• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

Contrary to what many of us have been told, there is a place for Black anger and rage in racial justice work. In this week's episode, Relando affirms that there are things that we just should never get used to, and that Black people have every right to be angry about their oppression.

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Pairs Well With

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

Establishing community agreements goes a long way toward building psychological safety between people and groups in social justice work. In this week's episode Relando shares some examples of community agreements that he's found helpful in this process, with the message that establishing community agreements should be a liberatory activity. They are intended to open authentic, radically candid communication instead of limiting it. One key question to ask: "What elements need to be in place for me to show up authentically in the space?"

Blog Posts referenced in this episode:

On Communication: Debate vs Dialogue: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/on-communication-debate-vs-dialogue/

Respecting Diversity in the Classroom & Beyond: Multicultural Guidelines: https://notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com/respecting-diversity-in-the-classroom-multicultural-guidelines/

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

The pandemic has had a disproportionately negative impact on the lives of people with marginalized identities, and the workplace is no exception. In this week's episode, Relando shares a call for organizational leaders to center equity in their decision-making, and an affirmation for staff with marginalized identities in the event that their organizations are unwilling to do that.

Blog Post referenced in this episode:

It's Okay to Shift: https://www.relandothompkinsjones.com/its-okay-to-shift/

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

Acknowledging power dynamics is important in social justice work. When working in closed groups, none of us passes through some invisible barrier that removes our privilege or oppression. In this week's episode, Relando shares four socially just considerations for practitioners to keep at the top of their minds when engaging in group work.

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Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

We make Black History Everyday. We rise, we survive, we fly. Dedicated to Black people everywhere; in this week's episode Relando shares some important imagery that helps to remind him of how we are connected to a larger whole on the path to racial equity and justice.

Blog Post referenced in this episode:

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

If you are passionate about social justice work in education and are currently in the interview phase for a position that works toward inclusion and equity at an institution, it is important to recognize that you are interviewing that institution as much as they are interviewing you. This is especially true if you hold multiple marginalized identities. In this week's episode, Relando shares examples of questions to ask to provide some additional clarity in deciding if the environment you are considering entering into is the right one for you.

Blog Post referenced in this episode:

Original document--"Crowdsource Interview Document for DE&I positions": https://docs.google.com/document/d/1CUDuHkznSS88GEmoAlbezBAqRNrznw4rCFrT921dqP0/mobilebasic

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.

Think of a time where you have let others down in your social justice journey. What happened? How did you feel? What did you do? This week, Relando discusses the importance of embracing both-and-thinking, and taking ownership of the moments when we don't follow through with practicing solidarity in social justice work.

Blog Post referenced in this episode:

Support the podcast by becoming a patron: patreon.com/NAHBlog

Other Important Links:

• Blog: notesfromanaspiringhumanitarian.com

Notes from an Aspiring Humanitarian by Relando Thompkins Jones is a project of Thompkins-Jones Consulting. All Rights Reserved.