In this exciting and unprecedented episode, we hear from five different voices who come from various industries, including education, fitness and corporate spaces. Through our dialogue, while you will certainly identify similar threads, you will also bear witness to the unique challenges, complexities and opportunities that exist around being anti-racist and raising our youth in today’s culture. 

Gavin Smith is an educator, and Assistant Principal in Boston Public Schools. He is the former runner up for Teacher of the Year in Massachusetts where he taught Biology for 7 years. Gavin is of Jamaican origin spending the majority of his childhood between Jamaica, West Indies and Long Island, New York. He has worked at a variety of schools in Boston including alternative high schools, charter high schools, and exam schools. Gavin is a firm believer in education being a means of social change, and an advocate for children as a member of the mentoring group Minds Matter Boston. He is the co-founder of YMOC (Young Men of Color), a group designed to create safe space for intergenerational conversation and community building amongst men of color in the Boston area. One of his biggest goals is to diversify the workforce particularly within the STEM field. Gavin holds degrees from Northeastern University, Simmons University, and Boston College. He is an avid runner, Knicks fan and lover of all things black.

Alyssa is the Director of Community Relations and an Instructor/Coach at Rev’d Indoor Cycling. You can find her on Instagram as @therealapbp and catch her classes in person at Rev’d in all studios or online at www.revdondemand.com. 

Mike is a Physical Education teacher at Shore Country Day School in Beverly, MA by day and a spin instructor/coach at Rev’d Indoor Cycling by nights and weekends. You can catch his online spin classes on www.revdondemand.com or in person at any Rev’d location. Follow him @themikeonabike.

Asia is a 20-something year old, trying to survive this thing called adulting, and wanting to help others along the way. She is the creator & co-host of the Done With Adulting podcast, as well as the editor and producer of the episodes.  During the day, Asia works as the Corporate Relations Manager for the Greater Boston Food Bank. Follow Asia on Instagram @simplyasianoelle

Originally from New Jersey, Jareed is another Boston based, 20 something year old who never backs down from a challenge. In addition to co-hosting Done With Adulting Podcast, Jareed is also our talent coordinator, social media manager, and content advisor, all while holding down a corporate career at Salesforce. Follow Jareed on Instagram @bgreatordietryn

Conversations in Courage is where we lean into transformation, leadership, and social justice. If this episode moved you, share it with a friend and leave a review so more people can join us.

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Until next time—be well, be courageous.