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Summary
In this conversation, Dr. Tiffany M. Nyachae engages with Dr. Erica R. Davila, Dr. Aja D. Reynolds, and Dr. Asif Wilson to discuss their experiences and perspectives on activism, education, and community. They explore the challenges of balancing academic responsibilities with activist work, the importance of building genuine relationships within communities, and the complexities of navigating the Chicago Public Schools system. The discussion also touches on issues of class, the need for transparency in academia, and the significance of supporting Students of Color in their educational journeys.

Takeaways
Activism and academia can intersect in meaningful ways.
There is a deep responsibility to support Black and Brown graduate students.
Being in community is essential for effective activism.
Balancing personal well-being with activist work is crucial.
Relationships are foundational to successful community work.
Navigating the Chicago Public Schools system reveals systemic challenges.
Class dynamics significantly impact experiences in academia.
Students of Color need support in navigating higher education.
The struggle for social justice requires sustainable practices.

Sound Bites
"How do we do this and not die?"
"The relationship is the actual work."
"We need to feed folks. We need to pay folks."

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In this episode, Dr. Tiffany M. Nyachae discusses the complexities of reading instruction, emphasizing the need to center the experiences and needs of Students of Color. She critiques both the Science of Reading and balanced literacy approaches for failing to adequately address these needs. Dr. Nyachae advocates for explicit instruction in reading while also recognizing the importance of teacher expertise and the socio-political context of literacy education. She calls for a more nuanced understanding of literacy that goes beyond ideological debates and focuses on practical solutions for teachers and students in racially, ethnically, and economically diverse classrooms.

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This episode is inspired by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s best-selling book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy as well as her second book, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning. I am in conversation with Stacy Joy, award-winning veteran teacher of 40 years in the Los Angeles Unified School District. During our conversation, she remembers the many changes in education (and what remains the same) from technology to curriculum. Ms. Joy also shares her experiences over the years, her perspectives and practices regarding culturally and historically responsive teaching, and the changes she would like to see in schools with high populations of Black and Brown students. Finally, she offers so many other schooling possibilities for teachers and students through freedom dreaming around culturally and historically responsive teaching/schooling.

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This episode is inspired by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s best-selling book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy as well as her second book, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning. I am in conversation with DeAngelo Blanchard, a NYC dance artist and educator. During our conversation, he reflects on his work in dance education with high school students, pursuing passions outside of teaching, unlearning deficit-thinking and harmful practices, and his advocacy for equity and access to culturally and historically responsive teaching for Children of Color.

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This episode is inspired by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s best-selling book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy as well as her second book, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning. I am in conversation with Ivelisse Ramos Brannon, former NYC public high school English teacher, curricular consultant, and Ph.D. student at Harvard University. At the time of this interview, she was still teaching at Central Park East High School in East Harlem. She describes how she embodies and implements culturally and historically responsive literacy in her classroom through love and criticality. Ivelisse also discusses how and why we need to make sure we are cultivating genius and fostering joy among teachers in addition to students if we are to ever create the kinds of schools that will strongly benefit students of Color.

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In this episode, Dr. Shamari Reid joins me as co-host in our interview with Dr. Gholdy Muhammad about her best-selling book and inspiration for this series, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy as well as the sequel, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning.

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This episode marks the beginning of our series, "Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy Now!: The Brilliance and Joy of Students of Color" series which is inspired by Dr. Gholdy Muhammad’s best-selling book, Cultivating Genius: An Equity Model for Culturally and Historically Responsive Literacy as well as her second book, Unearthing Joy: A Guide to Culturally and Historically Responsive Teaching and Learning. For this gathering, I am in conversation with husband and wife, Edreys and Alexa Wajed, and another dope couple, Dr. Victoria Duran and Emil Stephen. We discuss how these parents cultivate the genius, passion, and creativity that already exists in their children; preserve their spirits and joy; and what they wish and demand from their children’s educational experiences.

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Joined by her former middle school students, Kenya Sanders and Chelsea Thornton, Dr. Tiffany M. Nyachae discusses her podcast and the challenges she faced in maintaining it. She talks about the technical aspects of recording and editing, as well as the difficulties of balancing her academic career with podcasting. She reflects on the importance of community and the need for educators to have a platform to share their experiences and insights. Dr. Nyachae also discusses her desire to create a resource for teachers and hopes to engage with her audience to address their concerns and provide support. The conversation explores the importance of education, history, and political engagement. It emphasizes the need for teachers and adults to promote Black pride and pro-Blackness. The lack of teaching civics and social studies is highlighted as a contributing factor to the misunderstanding of political strategy when it comes to the current presidential election. The conversation also delves into the significance of local elections and the need for community action. The guests discuss the complacency of academia and the importance of caring about issues that may seem far away like the genocide of the Palestinian people in Gaza. The episode concludes with plans for future discussions on movies and series that center around people of color and education.

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