Join me for a thought-provoking conversation on multiracial identity in Episode 10 of The Liberation Lab Podcast, featuring Meagan Smith and Jazmine Jarvis of Mixed In America.

About My Guests:

Co-founders Meagan and Jazmine are mixed identity specialists dedicated to healing and empowering the mixed community. Some of the ways they do this is by facilitating trauma-informed workshops, programs, events, seminars, lectures, online courses, and coaching services for the mixed-race community.

In their 4+ years as Mixed Identity Specialists, they have worked with hundreds of mixed-race individuals across the United States, Canada, and the UK. They have built a community organization via Instagram specifically for mixed-race people with over 27,000 followers. Meagan and Jazmine have held 40+ programs and facilitated healing spaces for schools such as the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Seattle Academy of Arts and Sciences, and Biola University.

Follow their work on Instagram and their website.

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About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠⁠myliberationlab.com⁠⁠, and click the Book A Consultation⁠⁠ button.

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Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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Welcome back, disruptive educators! What does it mean to lead with love? In this episode, we sit down with Brittany Janay Kess to discuss the intersection of leadership and love. We reflect on how love may be present at home but lacking in school, making liberation impossible. Don't miss out on this powerful conversation! Share with your teacher bestie.

About My Guest

When asked, “What is your why?” for engaging in justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (JEDI) work, Brittany’s answer (in the tune of Tank & The Bangas) is, “I love Black folk.” For over a decade, Brittany Janay has served as a strategist, consultant, learning experience designer, advocate, and community builder. She experiences the question “Why?” as a love language and strives to embody leadership as a love practice.  Brittany Janay is the Founder of In Loving Accountability Coaching & Consulting and creator of Liberated Love Notes: Critical Self-Reflections and Affirmations for The Culture. This affirmation card deck centers the experiences of Black folks existing in and healing from predominantly white spaces.

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About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠⁠myliberationlab.com⁠⁠, and click the Book A Consultation⁠⁠ button.

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Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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We're back with Episode 08! In this episode, I have my brother Joe Truss on, and we're taking a deep dive into the insidious ways that white supremacy culture shows up in our schools, and how we can work together to dismantle it and create a better future for all students.

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About My Guest

Joe Truss is a racial equity consultant and coach, working to dismantle white supremacy culture in schools and districts. He has two decades of experience as a teacher and principal. Visit his website. 

Register for the Dismantling WSC in Schools 2023 conference. The theme is Creating Conscious Curriculum. Join us to get clarity on how to approach assessing, creating, and implementing a curriculum that genuinely supports our students. You will see best practices from presenters, learn about resources, and have opportunities to improve your curriculum. This event is specifically crafted for teams looking to start or sustain their antiracist work. You can also attend individually. Click here to register.

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About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠⁠myliberationlab.com⁠⁠, and click the Book A Consultation⁠⁠ button.

__

Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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We're back with Episode 7! Join me on this episode of the podcast as I delve into the fascinating topic of Black History and its impact on the lives of young Black students. Our guest, Ernest Crim III, shares his personal story of how learning about Black History saved his life and sheds light on the deficient teaching of Black History in schools.

Through our conversation, we explore the vital role that Black History plays in forming Black brilliance in schools and the consequences of neglecting this essential part of our collective history. With insights from my guest and a deep dive into the importance of Black History education, this episode is a must-listen for anyone interested in the power of education to transform lives.

About My Guest

Ernest Crim III is a cultural and educational consultant who uses anti-racist historical narratives rooted in Black History to empower and educate families and train educators on how to best reach their students through a lens of SEL & cultural competency. Mr. Crim, a south side of Chicago native and University of Illinois graduate, is a former high school history educator of 12 years, who now teaches Black History to the world through social media with a reach of over 500,000. Additionally, he is the CEO of Crim’s Cultural Consulting LLC, an international speaker, an author of two bestsellers, and a passionate progressive education activist, who has been featured on ABC, WGN, PBS, CBS, NBC & Newsweek, among various other outlets. To Ernest, his purpose is to creatively strategize how we can use our glorious past to create a better future, entrenched in equitable practices.

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About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠⁠myliberationlab.com⁠⁠, and click the Book A Consultation⁠⁠ button.

__

Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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If you're like many educators, you might have inherited the belief that silent students are the best ones. In this episode, we dive into the power of centering student voices in education. Join us as we explore the transformative impact of empowering students to have a say in their own learning journey. I sat down with Eva Jean-Charles and Jamaal Thomas of Black on Black Education to discuss the importance of valuing and uplifting student perspectives, fostering meaningful student engagement, and creating inclusive and student-centered learning environments.

About My Guests

BOBE Founders, Evalaurene Jean-Charles, and Jamaal Thomas actively participate in panel discussions, speaking engagements, and podcast features aligned with our mission. Their goal is worthy of imitation: they inspire Black and Brown youth to become change agents in the fight to revolutionize education by advocating for student-centered approaches to education. Support their nonprofit by clicking here.

About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠⁠myliberationlab.com⁠⁠, and click the Book A Consultation⁠⁠ button.

__

Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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In Episode 05 of The Liberation Lab Podcast, we welcome Dr. Byron McClure and Dr. Kelsie Reed, authors of Hacking Deficit Thinking, to discuss their book and how it can help educators challenge deficit thinking in their schools and classrooms. We dive into the origins of deficit thinking and how it can impact students' educational experiences. We also explore the key concepts in Hacking Deficit Thinking, including cultural proficiency's importance and asset-based thinking's power. Finally, we discuss practical strategies that educators can use to shift from deficit to asset-based thinking in their teaching practice.

About My Guests

Dr. Byron McClure, D.Ed., is a nationally certified school psychologist and founder of Lessons For SEL. He uses research and human-centered design thinking to build empathy, ideate, co-create solutions, and design equitable resources that put the needs of people front and center. While formerly serving as the assistant director of school redesign at a high school in Southeast, DC, he reimagined social-emotional learning within an inner-city community. Dr. McClure is the co-author of Hacking Deficit Thinking: 8 reframes that will change the way you think about strength-based practices and equity in schools.

Dr. Kelsie Reed, Ph.D. is., is a nationally certified school psychologist who presently works at the elementary school level in Prince George’s County Public Schools in Maryland. She graduated from Loyola University Chicago in 2020 and was the recipient of two university awards for her dissertation titled, “Investigating Exclusionary Discipline: Teachers, Deficit Thinking, and Root Cause Analysis.” Dr. Reed is the co-author of Hacking Deficit Thinking: 8 reframes that will change how you think about strength-based practices and equity in schools.

Connect with them here.

About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at ⁠myliberationlab.com⁠, and click the ⁠"Book a Consultation" button⁠. 

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Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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In this episode of The Liberation Lab Podcast, we sit down with Colin Seale to discuss his work at ThinkLaw and his book Tangible Equity. We dive into Colin's background and the initiatives that thinkLaw is implementing to help students and teachers. We also explore the key themes and ideas in Tangible Equity, such as critical thinking, equity, and social justice, and discuss how they can be used to improve educational outcomes for all students. Finally, we look toward the future of education and equity in America and discuss how we can all take action to create a more equitable education system. Tune in for an inspiring conversation on the power of education and equity!

About My Guest:

Colin Seale was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, where struggles in his upbringing gave birth to his passion for educational equity. Tracked early into gifted and talented programs, Colin was afforded opportunities his neighborhood peers were not. Using lessons from his experience as a math teacher, later as an attorney, and now as a keynote speaker, contributor to Forbes, The 74, Edutopia and Education Post and author of Thinking Like a Lawyer: A Framework for Teaching Critical Thinking to All Students (Prufrock Press, 2020) and Tangible Equity: A Guide for Leveraging Student Identity, Culture, and Power to Unlock Excellence In and Beyond the Classroom (Routledge, May 2022), Colin founded thinkLaw (www.thinklaw.us), a multi-award-winning organization to help educators leverage inquiry-based instructional strategies to close the critical thinking gap and ensure they teach and reach all students, regardless of race, zip code or what side of the poverty line they are born into. When he’s not serving as the world’s most fervent critical thinking advocate or tweeting from @ColinESeale, Colin proudly serves as the world’s greatest entertainer to his two young children.

About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at myliberationlab.com, and click the "Book a Consultation" button. 

__

Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

Instagram - YouTube - TikTok

Welcome to The Liberation Lab Podcast! In this episode, we are honored to have Amanda Faun, a Black biracial, queer mother of five residing in the rural Midwest, join us as our guest. Amanda is an activist, anti-racist educator, and radical homeschooler. Her writing and coursework can be found on her Instagram community page @arborandwood.

Today, we are diving deep into the topic of colorism and how it affects personal identity and its impact on antiracism and justice work. Amanda shares her experiences with colorism and how it has shaped her journey as a Black biracial woman. Throughout the episode, we discuss the ways in which colorism intersects with racism and how it affects individuals within the Black community. We explore how internalized colorism can affect one's sense of self-worth and impede progress in the fight for social justice. We also discuss the importance of acknowledging and addressing colorism within the antiracism movement and how it can hinder progress if left unaddressed.

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About Liberation Lab

The one-size-fits-all approach to education is leaving us drained. Ready to disrupt the status quo?

Whether you're looking to revamp your curriculum, implement new teaching strategies, or develop a culture of innovation in your organization, we can help. To book your discovery call and learn how we can help you create meaningful change in your school or business, visit our website at myliberationlab.com, and click the "Book a Consultation" button. 

__

Connect

 Join Bobby and the Liberation Lab Community in creating a more just and equitable education system. Follow him for valuable insights and updates on his work in the field. 

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Episode 01: Liberation Needs Black Women

In this episode, we explore the crucial role that Black women play in the fight for liberation and social justice. From the civil rights movement to Black Lives Matter, Black women have been at the forefront of every major struggle for equality and human rights in America. But despite their vital contributions, Black women continue to face systemic barriers and oppression in all sectors of society. They are often underrepresented, undervalued, and marginalized, despite being the backbone of our communities. We'll discuss the urgent need for Black women's voices to be heard and uplifted in all areas of our society, from politics to entertainment to academia. We'll also examine how their flourishing is essential for their well-being and the collective flourishing of our entire society.

About My Guests:

Janice Z. Gassam Asare, Ph.D., founded B.W.G. Business Solutions, an award-winning consultancy designed to help organizations create cultures built on racial equity. Dr. Janice facilitates workshops, provides guidance, and delivers keynote speeches and "Awareness Talks" to spark meaningful dialogue about racial equity in the workplace. Dr. Janice has had the opportunity to collaborate with Google, Amazon, Yale University, Nordstrom, H&M, and Paypal/Venmo, among many others. She hosts the Dirty Diversity Dinner Series, a free public workshop that addresses issues around diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging. Dr. Janice is the author of two best-selling books, Dirty Diversity: A Practical Guide to Foster an Equitable and Inclusive Workplace for All and The Pink Elephant: A Practical Guide to Creating an Anti-racist Organization. She is a senior contributing writer for Forbes, having authored over 300 articles. In 2022, Dr. Janice was recognized as one of LinkedIn's Top Voices in Racial Equity. Dr.Janice is a Ph.D.-trained Industrial-Organizational Psychologist who teaches business undergraduate and graduate courses. She is a TEDx speaker and the host of the Dirty Diversity podcast, where she discusses all things diversity, equity, and inclusion.

Joquina Reed is the creator and curator behind the social media platforms, The Anti-Blackness Reader Project and Divesting From Whiteness. She is also the creator of the Please Say Black and Divesting From Whiteness podcasts. She works to A.C.T. right by advocating for self and others, practicing critical compassion, and moving through spaces with transformative transparency. She holds an M.A. in Communication Studies and is a published researcher, conference presenter, and speaker. Kina is a JEDI (Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion) practitioner and owner of J. Reed Consulting LLC. She's in the business of equipping people, places, and organizations with tools to identify and amplify the needs of the least protected and to create opportunities to enlarge a mutual vision of shared humanity.