Kelly Maxwell reflects on how coming out as a lesbian in the 1990s sparked a deeper examination of her whiteness and a lifelong commitment to understanding her relationship to privilege and oppression. She traces her journey from growing up in an almost exclusively white small town in Ohio to dedicating 17 years to social justice education through intergroup dialogue at The Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan.

Kelly also shares stories from her family life as part of a multiracial, interracial, two-mom household, and how those dynamics shape her personal and professional values on justice. She speaks candidly about the tensions of institutional “neutrality,” and how she works to align her values with her responsibilities on campus and in her role as Board Chair of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center, a nonprofit that supports colleges and universities in using dialogic practice to create transformational change in the pursuit of equity and justice.

You can connect with Kelly on Linkedin.

00:00 Introduction to Intergroup Dialogue

00:45 Personal Transformation Through Dialogue

01:23 Impact on Students and Alumni

02:08 Power Dynamics in Dialogue

03:09 Transition to Administration

04:13 Symbolism and Personal Reminders

05:21 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories

06:30 Guest Introduction: Kelly Maxwell

08:09 Kelly's Background and Early Influences

09:53 Discovering Intergroup Dialogue

11:36 Navigating Privilege and Oppression

19:36 Professional Journey and Personal Life

23:52 Adoption and Family Dynamics

26:36 Addressing School Inequities

31:13 The Role of Educators in Social Justice

34:27 Personal Accountability and Family Influence

37:29 Navigating Internalized Oppression and Superiority

42:57 Financial Literacy and Class Awareness

44:00 Impact of Intergroup Dialogue

50:49 Challenges in Higher Education Administration

01:03:14 Reflections on Dialogue and Social Justice

01:10:15 Conclusion and Call to Action

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