‘We cannot build equity without healing justice.’ This week, we are joined by Dr. Amber Johnson: professor, parent, and peer. We talk equity in education and what must take place for equity to be built-healing. As Dr. Johnson goes on to explain ‘we cannot build equity in a place where people impacted are still actively being harmed.’

We at SoE couldn’t have asked for a better episode to conclude our first season as Dr. Johnson relates what we do at the micro level to macro systems and justice. Whether you’re taking a listen to this stand alone episode or have journeyed with us throughout our first season-thank you for taking the time and listening to the voices of those directly impacted by educational inequity.

Need an educational advocate? Visit www.voice-is.com. 

For this episode of The State of Education, we are joined by freedom fighter Brittini Gray. A fierce community leader, organizer, and advocate-she spends her time building access and pathways to healing and justice. Brittini comes to us bringing her experience supporting youth leadership and equity within educational systems. As an impact drive and person centered leader, we can all learn from the wisdom she so gracefully shares in this episode. 

The State of Education examines inequitable education across the country and shares strategies, information, and tools to equip those directly impacted with the supports they may need in their own struggle to hold educational institutions accountable. 

This episode carries a trigger warning as our special guest, Darrious Varner, shares his struggle of depression and suicidal ideation as a young student and queer, Black artist. Please listen with caution and care.

Darrious is a brilliantly talented playwright, director, and producer who recently debuted his play, “My Infinite Sadness,” in St. Louis. His portrayal of the inner dialogue that he experienced as he managed the impact of depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation as a young person was powerful and brings to light the struggles that many youth (and adults) face in silence. Darrious joins us as a guest to amplify this struggle and affirm that those experiencing similar issues in their lives are not alone. With this episode, we also hope to equip listeners with tools that can support youth in schools through accommodations, modifications, and services.

To support and learn more about Darrious, visit his website at ddarebmusic.com or check out his music on Spotify, iTunes, and Apple Music. You can follow him on social media at @ddarebionic and find him on facebook at DDare Bionic-Music. 

On this episode of The State of Education, we are joined by community organizer, artist, and mentor, Eric ‘Prospect’ White. Prospect shares his experiences of participating in the St. Louis desegregation program and the impact it had on his life.

This episode takes a turn to learn from the lived experiences of an active community member who saw a gap and a need present in the quality of education local children had access to, then set out to provide it by co-developing programs with impacted youth. While the gross disparities in education remain seemingly insurmountable, Prospect demonstrates that one solution is action and that community action is powerful.

More About Street Reach: Established in the Summer of 2014, St. Louis, Missouri based Street Reach works with Cherokee neighborhood youth in co-creating practical, actionable, positive social change through art. Street Reach utilizes a multidimensional approach of visual and performance art, crafting, academics, and physical fitness as a bridge to self-awareness, community building, and economic empowerment.

On this episode of The State of Education, we are visited by Sayer Johnson. Sayer, a leader in St. Louis and within the queer and trans expansive community, joins us on this episode as a trans masculine parent of four children, one of which is adoptive and also identifies as trans masculine.

Sayer shares his journey as a parent alongside the stories of his children, with a special focus on his 6th grader who is socially and medically transitioning in middle school. His story of navigating school systems and communities advocating for queer and trans expansive folks is one that needs to be amplified across the country.

Sayer is also founder of the Metro Trans Umbrella Group (MTUG). More information about MTUG and the community services it provides can be found here.

Our students are often asked (or required) to ‘leave it at the door’ when they step into schools. By ‘it,’ the assumption is whatever occurs outside of school...culture, experiences, family, trauma, community, etc. But we don’t live in silos and we shouldn’t be requiring our students to pretend as if they do either. 

On this episode of ‘The State of Education,’ we are joined by the dynamic duo, Zenique and Jermar. Each side of this pair works to support youth both in and out of schools through visibility, mentoring, educating, and through building healthy relationships. Zenique comes to us with experience supporting young girls of color through modeling awareness of self, healthy boundaries, consent, and by building brave spaces to address the sexual violence these girls have already experienced in their lives. Jermar joins us with direct experiences supporting young boys of color who have already been ensnared by the criminal system by supporting their journeys back to community. Now, Jermar mentors and advocates for students of color in the districts he works within in hopes to increase visibility and representation of men of color in social work and education. 

In this episode of The State of Education, we are joined by Bess. Mother of four biracial children and committed advocate, she shares the multiple barriers she is facing for one of her children with a suspected diagnosis of Dyslexia. This episode is one that follows a chronological journey of advocacy that listeners can follow. 

Join Bess’s journey to learn more about the common shared story of navigating education with dyslexia. 

It’s no secret that our education system fails many students, but disproportionately impacts students of color, students with disabilities, and queer and trans expansive students. In order to equip ourselves with what we need to combat educational inequities across the country, we must hear from those directly impacted.

On our first episode of The State of Education, we are joined by Spann. Now a brilliant poet, spoken word artist, and social justice activist, Spann has an intimate history with what many refer to as the School to Prison Pipeline. Plagued by harsh disciplinary practices that resulted in frequent suspensions, an expulsion, and school instability throughout his entire educational career, he shares at a first hand account of how the STPP has impacted his life.

Throughout his story, we hope to build awareness, tools, and skills in order to help listeners combat educational inequity in their own communities. To view companion materials with this episode, or to support this podcast, visit our Patreon page. Through using a community membership model we hope to make educational advocacy accessible for as many families as possible.