The TeachHER Podcast

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is St. Clair Detrick-Jules. St. Clair is an award-winning filmmaker, photographer, author, activist, and public speaker. She captures personal stories and intimate moments centering Black liberation, immigrant justice, and women's rights. An Afro-Caribbean artist who remains rooted in her community, St. Clair grounds her work in radical love, joy, and the knowledge that a more just world is possible. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: St. Claire Detrick-Jules (Instagram) St. Claire Detrick-Jules (Twitter) Websites Mentioned:  St. Claire Detrick-Jules (Website) Books Mentioned: My Beautiful Black Hair My Hair Is Like The Sun  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Derrin Moore. Derrin Moore has coached gymnastics for over 25 years, including numerous State, Regional, and National Champions. She is the owner of In Flight Gymnastics & Circus in Decatur, GA. She had a goal to reach the underserved communities of Metro Atlanta by providing gymnastics and circus to youth of color. Her goal was reached and is still thriving through her nonprofit Take Flight (official partner of Cirque du Soleil's Cirque du Monde Program). In addition to her gymnastics career, Coach Derrin is also the Director of ELEMENT circus + entertainment (a professional circus troupe that performs throughout the Southeast) and the founder of Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (an advocacy organization helping to guide Black and brown gymnasts through their acrobatic careers). She is also the owner of CooperRose™- an eco-friendly baby brand advocating for natural parenting in communities lacking support. While searching for cloth diapers, Derrin realized there was a completely new world of alternatives to grandma's diapers and huge diaper pins. However, the folks in her community knew nothing about them. She founded CooperRose™ as a means of providing information, resources, and products to parents who may not otherwise be aware of their options. Through the successes of CooperRose™, she founded Mama SoKo Collective: Black Owned Natural Parenting Companies, curating events to promote entrepreneurship and healing in our communities. Each of Derrin Moore's companies began with a burning desire to share knowledge and fill a need. She saw a need and blazed a trail to meet it, clearing a path for others in the process. Whether coaching gymnasts or encouraging moms, Derrin is always ready to fight the good fight. Community engagement, advancement, and advocacy remain at the forefront of her endeavors. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (Instagram) Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (Facebook) Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (Twitter) HBCU Gymnastics Alliance (Instagram) Websites Mentioned:  Brown Girls Do Gymnastics (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Amber Wilson. Amber has over 20 years of non-profit experience as a direct service provider, managing community-based programs, and leading department-wide culture improvement, training, and retention efforts.  Her advocacy, change management, management roles, training, and team building/connecting experience motivated her to transition from nonprofit manager to coach and consultant.  Amber graduated from the Illustrious Dillard University in 2008 with a BA in Mass Communications. In 2012, she received an MPA from the University of New Orleans with a concentration in Non-Profit Leadership.  Today, Amber supports nonprofit and social service organizations in optimizing personal and organizational success through human-centered, compassionate, authentic, and transformative coaching. Amber's work focuses on transformative journeys toward self-discovery and growth that support an individual's professional and personal lives. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Coach Amber (Instagram) Websites Mentioned:  Coach Amber (E-Mail)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Jasmyn Williams. Jasmyn is a proud inner-city educator whose mission is to change the narrative and teaching practices associated with urban school districts. She currently serves as an instructional coach and dean in East Cleveland, Ohio. She is ruthless in her pursuit of raising awareness and accountability for the quality of care and instruction that students receive.  Jasmyn loves supporting Black children and feels that prioritizing teacher wellness and development directly impacts student well-being and achievement. In addition to working in the school building, she is an educational consultant and founder of The Urban Edu. Through speaking engagements, professional development facilitation, and coaching, she works to create meaningful learning opportunities to allow educators to learn, unlearn, and thrive. In all, she is committed to empowering teachers and school leaders to foster a restorative school culture, elevate student experience and achievement, and catalyze healing and transformation within their practice. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: The Urban Edu (Instagram) Websites Mentioned:  The Urban Edu (Website) Books Mentioned: Pushout: The Criminalization of Black Girls in Schools (Amazon) Sing a Rhythm, Dance a Blues: Education for the Liberation of Black and Brown Girls (Amazon) Cultivating Joyful Learning Spaces for Black Girls: Insights into Interrupting School Pushout Sisterhood Heals: The Transformative Power of Healing in Community (Amazon)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Kyonna Hardy. Kyonna is a former high school teacher who taught for almost 10 years and then transitioned to behavioral support services for another 7. She most recently started her own consulting business that focuses primarily on Restorative Practices. Her book Humans 1st Students 2nd was recently released. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Restorative Recipes (Instagram) Restorative Recipes (Facebook) Restorative Recipes (TikTok) Websites Mentioned:  Restorative Recipes (Website) Humans 1st, Students 2nd: Cultivating & Sustaining Meaningful Relationships through Restorative Practices (Amazon)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Stacey Allen. Stacey Allen is an award-winning performance artist, curator, and advocate for arts education, all while being a wife and mother to three beautiful children. Maintaining her artistic practice while navigating Motherhood has come with challenges, but integrating the art of mothering with her insistence on telling Black stories through movement and material culture has been worth the while. She is the founder of Nia's Daughters Movement Collective and also serves as the Director of Artistic Programming at Anderson Center for the Arts. The Fairytale Project” premiered Summer 2022 and toured in Summer 2023. Nia's Daughters Movement Collective received Congressional Recognition for their work telling stories of Freedom in August 2023.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Nia's Daughters Movement Collective (Instagram) Nia's Daughters Movement Collective (Facebook) Stacey Allen (Instagram) Websites Mentioned:  Stacey Allen (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Brandi Clay.  As an accomplished, visionary leader in education with years of teaching, leading, and program development experience, Brandi Clay, Ed.D has significantly contributed to the 21st century education system. Dr. Clay, has been an educator in Title 1 schools since graduating from Dillard University in 2012. Her expertise lies in curriculum writing, teacher development, as well as piloting educational and community outreach initiatives with academic boards and community stakeholders. The goal driven educator possesses the passion necessary to improve the quality of education for all students, as she continues to contest the systemic challenges that plague today's educational system. As a recent Baylor University graduate, Dr. Clay, desires to improve the educational experiences of minority students as she continues to develop The Educational Dreamer (non – profit) and The Ed.D. Series. When she is not enlightening her students or challenging the educational system, Brandi enjoys shopping, traveling, and being an active member of her beloved sorority, Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: The Educational Dreamer (Facebook) The Educational Dreamer (Instagram)   Websites Mentioned: The Educational Dreamer (Website)        

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Paige Woods. Paige serves as the Chief of Staff for Black Girls Smile, working closely with the entire BGS team to synchronize efforts toward the wellness needs of Black girls and women. As a trained ethnographer, Paige values the story and experiences of people, while her policy background keeps her focused on innovative interventions that increase equity for marginalized communities. She attended Harvard College for her undergraduate degree and received her Master of Science in Comparative Social Policy from the University of Oxford. Paige has worked in social justice spaces that center equity as their guiding praxis throughout her career. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Black Girls Smile (Instagram) Black Girls Smile (Facebook) Black Girls Smile (TikTok) Paige Woods (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Black Girls Smile (Website) Black Girls Smile (Linkedin) Paige Woods (Linkedin)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Angela Shanté Johnson. Angela is a former K-12 classroom teacher, and award-winning author of THE NOISY CLASSROOM, a picture book that she wrote about her third-grade classroom to help soothe childhood anxiety associated with school and change. The second book in the series, THE NOISY CLASSROOM GOES TO THE MUSEUM pubs MAY 2023.  With almost 20 years of experience in education and advocacy work, Angela is focused on using her voice and platform to support, highlight, and make space for marginalized creatives in the arts and in education. In addition to her creative work, Angela works as an educational/DEI consultant supporting creative, educational, and culturally relevant projects, training, and workshops for students, adults, and organizations.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Angela Shanté (Author Instagram) Angela Shanté (Personal Instagram) Angela Shanté (Twitter) Angela Shanté (Facebook) Angela Shanté (TikTok) Websites Mentioned: Angela Shanté (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Qiana O'Leary. Dr. Qiana is an education reformer and author who has spent her years of service founding charter schools, establishing nonprofit organizations, and mentoring students. She believes that a quality education is the foundation for success in life, and hopes to use her influence to create more inspiring learning environments. Dr. Qiana has recently published her first book, Lead with Truth, which challenges educators to create an environment where students are encouraged to find their passions and pursue them passionately. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Minty ES (Instagram) Minty ES (Facebook) Minty ES (Youtube) Websites Mentioned: Minty ES (Website) Dr. Qiana O'Leary (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Devin Moore. At the age of 14, Devin Moore became the Founder of #RaceToSpeakUp, an anti-bullying organization, where he educates youth about bullying prevention and empowers them to be upstanders. Devin is a first time Author of the Devin Speaks Up! children's anti-bullying book. Devin Speaks Up! is about the importance of being okay with being different and loving who you are, speaking up to someone you trust about being bullied, kindness matters, and encourages kids to be upstanders for each other.  An advocate for Anti-Bullying, Devin Hosts Behind The Screen - The Harms of Cyberbullying Webinar which offers open conversations about cyberbullying prevention and discusses ways to implement the #BehindTheScreen Curriculum into schools. As the Host of Humanity Rising's Race To Speak Up Podcast, Devin interviews activists, business leaders, and entrepreneurs about how they create positive changes in their communities.    Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Race To Speak Up (Instagram) Race To Speak Up (Facebook) Race To Speak Up (Twitter) Devin Moore (Linkedin) Websites Mentioned: Race To Speak Up (Website) Race To Speak Up (Youtube)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Silver Moore. Silver is an educator, indigenous Detroiter, and the founder and executive director of Classroom Clapback. Through Classroom Clapback, Silver seeks to clapback at a system of miseducation by developing relevant and rigorous curricula and providing culturally relevant professional development for educators. As an abolitionist educator and Golden Apple Award recipient, she believes her work is justice work and that to be an educator, you must also be an activist. Her work is grounded in the belief that #BlackChildGenius is alive and well. That Black children are inherently valuable, and the liberation of their minds, bodies, and spirits is a necessity, not an adjunct, to their education. Silver has served as an elementary and middle classroom teacher, an Instructional Coach, and the Program Director of the Spirit of Detroit Award recipient, SDM2 Project Education. She maintains a commitment to creating educational spaces within and beyond the classroom walls that cultivates tenacious joy, shapes stubborn hope, and promotes a sense of wonder for Black, Indigenous, and people of color. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: The Classroom Clapback (Facebook) The Classroom Clapback (Instagram) Silver Moore (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: The Classroom Clapback (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Sharee Miller. Sharee is an illustrator and author best known for her acclaimed picture book Don't Touch My Hair. Her other books include Princess Hair, and Michelle's Garden: How the First Lady planted seeds of Change. Sharee is currently working on her debut graphic novel series Curlfriends and the graphic novel adaptation of One Crazy Summer by Rita Willams-Garcia. She is also the illustrator of Sam's Super Seats by Keah Brown and The Shai and Emmie series by Quvenzhané Wallis. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Coily and Cute (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Sharee Miller (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce. Dr. Boyce is an edupreneur driven by her passion to reshape the educational landscape by making culturally responsive teaching a way of life. For the last decade, Boyce has focused her studies and work on matters of racial justice and equity for historically marginalized people with a focus on educational spaces. She currently serves as the Chief Education Officer of Stephanie Boyce & Associates, LLC., the parent company of The FRESH Classroom, Regional Strategic Staffing Specialist at US Prep National Center at Texas Tech University, and professor of African American Studies at the University of Houston. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: The FRESH Classroom (Facebook) The FRESH Classroom (Instagram) The FRESH Classroom (Twitter) The FRESH Classroom (Youtube) Dr. Boyce (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: The FRESH Classroom (Website) The FRESH Classroom (Linkedin) Dr. Boyce (Linkedin)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is TaKiyah Wallace. TaKiyah is the Founder and Executive Director of Brown Girls Do Ballet. TaKiyah began shooting the Brown Girls Do Ballet photo project in 2012 after searching for diverse classical ballet programs in Dallas, Texas, through photos online. She now travels shooting the project and spreading the mission of the Brown Girls Do Ballet organization, which promotes diversity in the arts by providing annual scholarships, a mentor network, and community programs to empower young girls. She is a former Gifted-Education teacher (16 years), television host, and is the Owner/Photographer of Some Sweet Photography. TaKiyah's work has been featured amongst such outlets as Wedding Nouveau, Huffington Post, Washington Post, Pointe Magazine, and Madame Noir. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from the University of North Texas and a Master's Degree from Texas Christian University. Her debut coffee-table book, The Color of Dance, will be released in September 2023. She lives in Dallas, Texas with her family. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Brown Girls Do Ballet (Facebook) Brown Girls Do Ballet (Twitter) Brown Girls Do Ballet (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Brown Girls Do Ballet (Website) Brown Girls Do Ballet (Linkedin)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Megan Wilburn. Megan is a veteran educator with a Master's Degree in School Counseling. As a counselor, she discovered that students often misbehaved due to the lack of tools needed to relieve stress, communicate their needs and frustrations, and that they did not have healthy outlets to help regulate their emotions.  Growing up Megan attended schools in low-income areas and used her experiences to build a rapport with students who, like her friends, needed more safe spaces and fewer consequences. She created MOVE to give students an opportunity to develop the skills needed to navigate tough environments and avoid premature death and jail. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: MOVE (Instagram) MOVE (Facebook) Megan Wilburn (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: MOVE (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Tameka Kee. Tameka is our Founder & CEO, leading the strategic vision and direction of The Power of Girls. Tameka has over 15 years of experience in experiential marketing, community development and partnership activation. She has also held community relations positions with the Atlanta Falcons (NFL) and Atlanta Dream (WNBA) where she developed programming focused on health and wellness, youth mentoring and women's initiatives. A graduate of Old Dominion University, Tameka earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration and marketing. She is a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc and previously served on committees for GoGirlGo! and Usher's New Look Foundation. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Tameka Kee (Instagram) The Power of Girls (Instagram) The Power of Girls (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: The Power of Girls (Website) The Power of Girls (Linkedin)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Aj Crabill. Improving student outcomes is AJ Crabill's focus. He serves as Conservator at DeSoto, Texas ISD. During his guidance, DeSoto improved from F ratings in academics, finance, and governance to B ratings. He's also Faculty at Leadership Institute of Nevada and Director of Governance at the Council of the Great City Schools. He served as Deputy Commissioner at the Texas Education Agency and spearheaded reforms as board chair of Kansas City Public Schools that doubled the percentage of students who are literate and numerate. Crabill is a recipient of the Education Commission of the State's James Bryant Conant Award. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Aj Crabill (Twitter) Websites Mentioned: Aj Crabill (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Janae Marks. Janae Marks is the critically acclaimed author of middle grade novels From the Desk of Zoe Washington, A Soft Place to Land, and On Air with Zoe Washington. She has an MFA in Writing for Children from The New School. She is also part of the middle grade anthology Hope Wins. Her novels have been named Best Book of the Year by Parents Magazine, Chicago Public Library, the Boston Globe, the Bank Street College of Education, and others. From the Desk of Zoe Washington is currently in development with Disney Branded Television to become an original movie, executive produced by Kerry Washington. Janae grew up in the New York City suburbs, where she loved to read and write. She holds a B.A. in English Literature from Tufts University and a Master of Fine Arts in Writing for Children from The New School. Janae lives in Connecticut with her family. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Janae Marks (Instagram) Janae Marks (Twitter) Websites Mentioned: Janae Marks (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Sha'Rell Webb. Sha'Rell was the first African American to be named an Education Specialist for NASA's Lunar and Planetary Institute in its history! In this role, she collaborated with various scientists who conducted Planetary Science Research and Space Sciences. Firing her boss to follow her dreams of entrepreneurship and with a strong personal conviction that youth can do “Amazing Things” with the proper encouragement and guidance, Mrs. Webb founded Coding with a Twist, LLC. Coding With a Twist is an organization committed to introducing the underestimated to the world of computer science, coding, robotics and all things STEM. As a former science teacher and all-around educator, Sha'Rell has an uncanny knack for inspiring and motivating all children to learn, to include children with disabilities. She uses this skill set to develop customized curriculum for children on the autism spectrum. Her curriculum includes sensory friendly STEM based experiences that foster a love for science and enhance their communication skills. She believes that early exposure to such experiences is vital to establishing a trajectory of positive educational experiences and success post high school. Her curriculum has been implemented in numerous STEM camps throughout the city and adopted to be appropriate for children on the spectrum as young as 3-4 years old. Sha'Rell's energy is infectious and her passion for early intervention through STEM is undeniable.  Sha'Rell's Personal Motto is “On Fire to Inspire”! Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Sha'Rell Webb (Instagram) Coding with a Twist (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: Sha'Rell Webb (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Locha Brooks, originally from St. Louis, Missouri now residing in the great state of Texas in the DFW area. She is the founder and CEO of 1st Class Educator, LLC - one of the leading school consulting firms providing staff development and assistance to educational organizations. Ms. Brooks has a passion for promoting diversity, equity, inclusion, and access which is shown throughout her organization's commitments. With the help of her 1st Class Educator team, they continue to lead professional development initiatives on various topics from cultural competency training, behavioral intervention and support, classroom management, beginning teacher assistance and much more. Locha is the proud mother of two wonderful boys, Pharaoh and Sire. When she is not helping educators and future entrepreneurs perfect their craft, you'll find her spending time with her children and traveling the world. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Locha Brooks (Instagram) Locha Brooks (Twitter) 1st Class Educator (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: 1st Class Educator  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dawnavyn James. Dawnavyn is an early childhood, elementary, and Black history educator, professor, and Black history researcher. She has given presentations and led workshops promoting Black history teaching in early childhood and elementary classrooms. Dawnavyn is writing a book with Stenhouse Publishers titled, Beyond February which will center her experiences teaching Black histories in elementary classrooms. Dawnavyn is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at the University at Buffalo and is a fellow at the Center for K-12 Black History and Racial Literacy Education. She is also the founder of The Black History Club, an organization that empowers and equips teachers and students with information and resources that will benefit themselves, their families, and the community.   Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Queendom Teaching Instagram The Black History Club Instagram Queendom Teaching Twitter Websites Mentioned:  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Mariama J. Lockington. Mariama J. Lockington is an adoptee, author, and educator. She has been telling stories and making her own books since the second grade, when she wore shortalls and flower leggings every day to school. Mariama is the author of two middle grade novels, For Black Girls Like Me (2019) and In the Key of Us (2022), both of which have earned five starred reviews. Her debut YA novel Forever is Now will be out in May of 2023. Mariama calls many places home, but currently lives in Kentucky with her wife, her little sausage dog, Henry and an abundance of plants. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Mariama J. Lockington (Instagram) Mariama J. Lockington (Twitter)  Mariama J. Lockington (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: Mariama J. Lockington (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dawn D. Florence. Dawn D. Florence is the loving wife of a retired U.S. Naval Officer; proud mother of three extraordinary adult children; dedicated, life-long educator; and the Founder and President of Little Sistahs in the Know, Inc. A 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, Little Sistahs in the Know (LSK) has taken an asset-based approach to empowering girls to seize their future. For nearly two decades, it has been LSK's mission to build high self-esteem and foster a positive self-image in African American girls by bringing them together to read and discuss books written about them, by providing a venue for them to share ideas and express themselves, and by cultivating an awareness of their rich heritage and culture. Born and raised in New Jersey, but has lived all over; from Mobile, AL to Northern CA to Southeastern VA to Southern CA to Naples, Italy, Dawn received an undergraduate degree in Computer Science from Spelman College and a master's degree in Computer Science from the University of Pennsylvania's School of Engineering. A self-proclaimed, chronic career switcher – software engineer, college instructor, preschool computer teacher, stay-at-home mom (a.k.a. COO of Florence Family Enterprises), substitute teacher, non-profit corporation founder and president, elementary school office automation technician – Dawn completed Regent University's Career Switcher Program in 2012 and became a math teacher at Norview Middle School in Norfolk, VA. A published author, Dawn's journey is shared in Chapter 4, “My Eighth Life,” of We Switched Career! Alternative Licensure Teacher's Journey's to the Classroom.  During her tenure at Norview Middle School, Dawn and her team developed a school-based, extended day model program for Little Sistahs in the Know.  In addition to the hundreds of girls touched by LSK's home-based program, LSK's school program has positively impacted the lives of dozens of Little Sistahs during their educational experiences. In 2019, Dawn became a marketing teacher at Norview High School, where she recently entered her 11th year in secondary education. Today, Dawn continues her work to carry out the mission of Little Sistahs in the Know with programming at Norview High School. What began on August 21, 2005, in the living room of their Chula Vista, CA home as a “book club” for Dawn's oldest daughter, Ayanna, and a few other girls who looked like her and their moms, continues to empower African Americans girls 3,000 miles away in Norfolk, VA. Through a love of reading, an appreciation of their culture, and the knowledge of their rich heritage, while strengthening the bonds of sisterhood, it continues to be Dawn's purpose and passion to build up our girls…one book at a time! Dawn currently resides in Chesapeake, VA with her husband Dennis, their two young adult children, Nzingha and Baraka (Ayanna has spread her wings and left the nest!) and their furry family members: Mufasa, Pip, and Ms. Rex.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guests Social Media Info: Little Sistahs in the Know (Instagram) Little Sistahs in the Know (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: Little Sistahs in the Know (Website)

Today, our guest is Keisha D. Bussey. Keisha has been an educator for the past 20 years and has a love and passion for dance. She is a God-fearing woman. Keisha D. Bussey, is a true “Valley Girl”, originally born and raised in Harlingen, Texas. Keisha has been dancing since she was in her mother's womb. She discovered her love for dance at the Boys & Girls Club as a young girl. She later moved to Alexandria, Louisiana while at Bolton High School and continued to have a love for dance. She has been professionally trained at different dance studios and colleges. Her love for dance continues to grow daily as she teaches. She resides in Houston, Texas teaching dance to elementary students at Carter Academy Elementary School for the Performing Arts. She has also collaborated to create a written dance curriculum for grade levels K-5. Keisha is an active member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority Incorporated in the Houston area. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Keisha D. Bussey (Facebook) Keisha D. Bussey (Twitter) Keisha D. Bussey (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Keisha D. Bussey (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Roechelle Croskey. Roechelle Croskey, a Birmingham, Alabama native, understands the adversity young women will encounter in life. Roechelle created ELITE Girls Mentoring to help young women achieve their aspirations while developing leadership skills and promoting positive mental health. She is passionate about mentoring and encouraging the youth to uncover their hidden talents while overcoming life's obstacles. Roechelle has been featured in numerous media publications for her contributions to education and community development initiatives. Roechelle specializes in educational program management and community advocacy.  Currently, she is a Program Manager for Braven, Inc, a nonprofit organization that offers a foundational career course for sophomore students at Spelman College to ensure they have equitable access to the American workforce post graduation. Roechelle's life commitment is being an advocate for young girls to help them alleviate barriers placed against them to accomplish their life aspirations. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: ELITE Girls Mentoring (Facebook) ELITE Girls Mentoring (Instagram) ELITE Girls Mentoring (Twitter) ELITE Girls Mentoring (Linkedin) Websites Mentioned: ELITE Girls Mentoring (Website)          

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Ssanyu Lukoma. Ssanyu is a teenage entrepreneur, author, and public speaker. In 2018, at 13 years old, she founded Brown Kids Read, a non-profit organization dedicated to motivating all children, but especially children of color, to read more diverse literature. Since then, she has created an online and pop-up bookstore called The Brown Reads Bookshelf and hosts a podcast called The Book Junkie.  Most recently, she wrote a children's picture book entitled Suubi's Sunny Smile through a publishing company she founded, Share a Smile Books. Suubi's Sunny Smile comprises prominent heritage and dental hygiene themes, but most importantly, has a vital anti-bullying message. She was compelled to write a story featuring Suubi, a main character of color, whose inspiring journey will show young readers that what makes us unique, can be our greatest strength.  Ssanyu is now in the process of publishing her next book -- Chi-Chi's Toothy Grin! Additionally, She is a junior broadcaster and Junior Advisory Board Member for KiDz HuB Media Network, a member of the Homeschool National Honor Society, and she has been playing basketball for seven years. She has also presented to corporations including Flywire and JPMorgan Chase about Teenage entrepreneurship, and Diversity, Equity & Inclusion.  Additionally, she presents goal-setting workshops for public high school students along with other workshops to help them stay motivated. Her ultimate goal is to inspire and motivate others to leave a positive impact on the world!  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Ssanyu Lukoma (Instagram) Ssanyu Lukoma (Twitter) Brown Kids Read (Instagram) Suubi's Sunny Smile (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Ssanyu Lukoma (Website) Brown Kids Read (Website) Book Junkie (Podcast) Suubi's Sunny Smile (Purchase)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Ahmya Rivera. Ahmya Rivera is a high-school-aged leader, learner, and advocate. Being Founder of Youth Upholding Democracy (YUD) proves she's passionate about creating positive change. Along with this, she actively works to provide students STEAM exploration opportunities and female role models. To this end, she created “STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book”! A children's book full of interactive activities that takes students through the empowering story of a young female leader. Ahmya is also in seven leadership positions in community, state-wide, and international organizations. Through these positions, she has mentored over 28 young learners, developed multiple free curriculums, and provided the first student-led computer science summit in North Carolina. Social Media: Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Twitter) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Ahmya Rivera (Linkedin) STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book (Instagram) STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book (Facebook) STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book (Linkedin) Websites Mentioned: STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book (Kickstarter) STEAM Quest: Story-based Activity Book (Website)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Khristi Adams. Khristi Lauren Adams is a speaker, author, youth advocate and ordained Baptist minister.  Khristi is the author of Parable of the Brown Girl, Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way and its middle grade version Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way. The books are published by Broadleaf and Beaming Books. Parable of the Brown Girl has received awards for Best Young Adult Book from The African American Literary Awards and the New York Black Librarians Caucus. Khristi also works as Dean of Spiritual Life & Equity at the Hill School and is an instructor of Religious Studies. Khristi is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Advertising and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where she obtained a Master of Divinity degree. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Twitter) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Khristi Adams (Instagram) Khristi Adams (Facebook) Khristi Adams (Twitter)  Black Girls Unbossed (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Khristi Adams (Website) Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way (Amazon) Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way (Barnes & Noble) Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way (Amazon) Black Girls Unbossed: Young World Changers Leading the Way (Barnes & Noble) Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color (Amazon) Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color (Barnes & Noble)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Tammy Garnes. Tammy Garnes is the Vice President of Education & Understanding at ARRAY, overseeing education and social impact projects including ARRAY Crew. Garnes' previous experience includes being a communications executive in the public education sector and a film producer in the entertainment industry. A graduate of the Peter Stark Producing Program at the University of Southern California, Garnes is a former producer whose credits include: Roots – Celebrating 25 Years, Dancing in September, and Biker Boyz. ARRAY 101 is an online education initiative delivering dynamic social impact learning guides for our ARRAY Releasing films and ARRAY Filmworks original content. Available to educational organizations and institutions and to the public for free, ARRAY 101 expands our mission to amplify storytelling by Black artists, people of color and women directors of all kinds. The learning companions provoke important conversations among students, educators, families, and communities around who we are and how we engage in the world. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Twitter) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: ARRAY 101 (Twitter) ARRAY (Instagram) ARRAY (Facebook) Websites Mentioned:  ARRAY 101 (Website) ARRAY (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is McKenzie Stokes. Dr. Stokes holds a PhD in applied social and community psychology as well as a graduate certificate in Family Life Education and Coaching. Dr. Stokes is currently a postdoctoral fellow with the National Science Foundation, where she conducts research on how racial processes and family relationships impact the mental health of Black teens and young adults. She is particularly interested in understanding how the intersection of multiple social identities (like gender and race) uniquely impacts the experiences of Black youth and families across the diaspora. McKenzie ultimately plans to use her research to develop culturally relevant and evidence-based programs to reduce the prevalence of mental health disorders/symptoms among Black people in the U.S. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Dr. McKenzie Stokes (Twitter) Dr. McKenzie Stokes (Instagram)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Kenisha Dennis. Kenisha Dennis founded Black Girls Can Inc. to help foster the next generation of Black Girl talent within the areas of STEM, Entrepreneurship, Financial Literacy, Arts and Wellness by providing free enrichment programs to middle school and high school girls in the NYC and DMV area. Kenisha is a native of New York and has always taken a significant interest in the betterment and progression of Black Girls by initiating conversations throughout her school, home, and church community. She received her BA from the University of Bridgeport and Masters in Integrated Marketing from Georgetown University. Presently, Kenisha serves as a passionate brand storyteller and Marketing Leader at Facebook (now known as Meta).  With less than 5 years in the nonprofit space, Black Girls Can Inc. is programming is currently offered in NYC and D.C public schools with plans to increase its local and regional footprint and has reached more than 5,000 girls to date. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Black Girls Can (Instagram) Black Girls Can (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: Black Girls Can Inc. (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones. Cierra Kaler-Jones, Ph.D. (she/her) is a social justice educator, researcher, and artist based in Washington, DC. As a community-based researcher, Dr. Kaler-Jones's research broadly focuses on how to create and sustain educational spaces rooted in joy and love, while refuting control and management tactics in schools that deny young people opportunities for creativity and critical consciousness-building. Her heart's work includes running a program that uses art and education to fuel social change through the co-creation of healing-centered spaces for and with Black girls and TGNC (transgender, non-conforming) young people. Over the past ten years, Cierra has learned alongside preschoolers, K-12 students, college students, and adults. With her roots in dance and arts education, Cierra has also taught classes on U.S. history, public policy, and social change & leadership. She was the Assistant Director of a youth dance company for two years. She is now a member of a professional dance company.    In her current role, Cierra is the Director of Storytelling for Communities for Just Schools Fund, a donor collaborative that resources education justice organizing across North America.   Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Dr. Cierra Jade (Instagram) Cierra Jade (Twitter) Websites Mentioned: Dr. Cierra Kaler Jones (Website) Unlock Your Story (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Stephanie McGary. Stephanie is a Licensed Professional Counselor and Registered Play Therapist who currently runs a private practice called Tots N' Teachers, providing mental health counseling to tots (children) and counseling and consultation to educators and schools. Stephanie is also a child therapist at Vogel Alcove, a non-profit preschool serving children and families experiencing homelessness. She is a native of Dallas, Tx and enjoys working at the intersection of mental health and education. She is the aunt of an amazing nephew named Luke, loves to be outdoors, and enjoys volunteering in her community.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Tots N' Teachers (Instagram) Stephanie McGary (Linkedin) Websites Mentioned: Tots N' Teachers (Website)  

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, we have a solo episode with our founder Kristi.  Kristi is an educator and EdD candidate at Texas Southern University. Her dissertation focus is the impact of social emotional learning practices on the discipline rates of African American middle school girls. Kristi is the founder of the Innocent Brown Girl Project, an educational consulting firm that curates curriculum and professional development for educators and advocates of African American and Latina girls. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Jillian “JJ” Simmons. Jillian is a veteran radio/tv host, Self-Love Coach, 3 X author and speaker from Cincinnati, Ohio. She has captivated audiences in major cities across the country, including New York City at the legendary WBLS-FM, where she worked alongside “The Queen of All Media,” Wendy Williams, Indianapolis, IN, Houston, TX, Atlanta, GA and more. Today, her compelling message has been transforming audiences across four continents, Australia, Europe, North American and Africa! She has earned the reputation of being “transparent and real” which reflects who Simmons is on and off the stage. Many speakers talk about self-love, but JJ speaks to the power of self-love and provokes audiences to do the inner work of self-discovery to find their own paths to self-love. Jillian isn't just delivering a speech, she is delivering lasting impact. While JJ has always had an innate desire to empower women, raising a daughter has deepened her desire to foster change in the lives of young girls.  Through the I'm Me Foundation, which she founded, JJ encourages at-risk middle and high school girls to be the best version of themselves, by exposing them to leaders and influencers in the community who provide career and social development. “As a survivor of domestic abuse, Simmons authored a book entitled Without Bruises that chronicles her journey from hurt to healing. In it, she sheds light on the often-missed signs of emotional and mental abuse and how she braved her own path to cultivate a healthy relationship.  JJ's engagements also include women's empowerment, domestic abuse, college and high school, motivational and faith-based. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Jillian “JJ” Simmons (Instagram) JJ's I'm Me Foundation (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Jillian “JJ” Simmons (Website) JJ's I'm Me Foundation (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Queinnise Miller. Even after more than 20 years as an educator, Dr. Queinnise Miller continues to have a passion for teaching, learning and leading. As a teacher, motivational speaker, trainer, author, and educational leader, Dr. Miller is driven by a belief that all children deserve a world class education regardless of cultural or economic background. Her proudest work has been that of a school principal where she believes her job is to support and serve the people who make the magic happen, the people who really make the difference, teachers. In her book Dr. Miller shares her story as a teacher in an urban school and offers advice, suggestions, and insights for aspiring, new, and veteran teachers. Dr. Miller holds a Bachelor's degree in Spanish, a Master's in Educational Administration and a Doctorate degree of Philosophy in Educational Leadership. She is also a mother of two beautiful children.    Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Dr. Queinnise Miller (Twitter) Dr. Queinnise Miller (Instagram) Dr. Queinnise Miller (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: Dr. Queinnise Miller (Linktr.ee)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Tara Haskins. Tara is honored to serve as the Founding School Leader of Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy. Following her graduation from Hampton University, Tara joined the New Teacher Project (TNTP) and taught middle school English and Language Arts in Shreveport, Louisiana. It was here that she developed a middle school all-girls mentoring program that focused on mindfulness, college preparation, and community service. Tara then joined KIPP Voyage Academy for Girls in Houston, where she taught U.S. History and served as a History and later an English content lead. She also led school-wide culture systems as Dean of Restorative Justice and Culture. Her implementation of school-wide restorative practices that led to out of school suspensions decreasing by half in a single year. As a former History teacher and Dean of Restorative Justice and Culture, she values representative history and centering the power of relationships.  As KC Girls Prep grows, she continues to create spaces that amplify the voices of students and families. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Tara Haskins (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Kansas City Girls Preparatory Academy (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dr. Michelle Fennick. Dr. Fennick began her career as an educator over 30 years ago as a teaching assistant and later became a teacher after earning her B.S. at the University of Houston. She was a non-traditional student and graduated cum laude. She received her master's degree of education and Ph.D. in educational administration from Prairie View A&M. Dr. Fennick was also congratulated on receiving her Ph.D. by the House of Representatives of the Texas Legislature.  Michelle has worked at both the elementary and secondary level as a teacher, she has been an athletic coach, district trainer, assistant principal, campus principal and was named First Year Principal of the Year and central office administrator for the nation's seventh largest school district. Dr. Fennick was selected as a Master Teacher in Chicago Public Schools for a cohort of new principals. She has authored and co-authored a long list of educational articles and has received numerous awards.  She served as Education Preparation Program Director, Dissertation Chair and Adjunct Professor at Houston Baptist University. She works as a consultant and serves as CEO of We Wear Crowns by Dr. Michelle. Additionally, she shares her expertise with others by teaching workshops, public speaking events, and serving on a range of educational committees and boards.  Dr. Fennick is also a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, Alpha Kappa Omega Chapter. She is happily married to Luther Fennick Jr. and together they co-founded The Fennick Foundation. Dr. Fennick is extremely proud of her dynamic and beautiful daughter, Terena , a Texas State University graduate. She and her daughter Terena Cloud hosted a Radio Talk Show, Candid Conversations on MJWJ. The Fennicks have an adorable teacup chihuahua, Ozzy, that is certainly a member of the family. Most recently, Dr. Fennick wrote and published two books as an indie writer that share her testimony of her love for Christ and His redemptive power. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: We Wear Crowns (Instagram) Dr. Michelle (Instagram) Dr. Michelle (Twitter) We Wear Crowns by Dr. Michelle (Facebook) Websites Mentioned: We Wear Crowns (Website)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Rev. Khristi Lauren Adams. Khristi is a speaker, author, youth advocate and ordained Baptist minister.  Khristi is the author of Parable of the Brown Girl which is published by Fortress Press and released February 2020. The book highlights the cultural and spiritual truths that emerge from the lives of young black girls. Parable of the Brown Girl has received awards for Best Young Adult from The African American Literary Awards and the New York Black Librarians Caucus. She is currently working on her next book, Unbossed: How Black Girls Are Leading the Way (Spring, 2022) with Broadleaf Books and a middle grade version of the book with Beaming Books. She works as the Dean of Spiritual Life & Equity at the Hill School in Pottstown, Pennsylvania. She is the Founder & Director of “The Becoming Conference”, an annual conference designed to empower, educate & inspire girls between the ages of 13-18. Khristi is a graduate of Temple University with a degree in Advertising and a graduate of Princeton Theological Seminary where she obtained a Master of Divinity degree. Khristi is an alum of the 2017 class of Lead New Jersey, a select group of fellows participating in a year-long program designed to educate, transform, and empower the next generation of leaders from the public, social, and private sectors. She also currently sits on the advisory board for Word Made Flesh, a non-profit organization existing to serve among the most vulnerable of the world's poor. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Khristi Adams (Instagram) Khristi Adams (Facebook) Khristi Adams (Twitter)  Black Girls Unbossed (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Khristi Adams (Website) Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color (Amazon) Parable of the Brown Girl: The Sacred Lives of Girls of Color (Barnes & Noble)    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Theresa Ann Dickerson. Theresa is a research fellow studying health disparities, a recently published writer in the American Journal of Public Health, and the founder of a social impact initiative called Project Girl Undefined: Empowering Girls Through Education. Though native to Fayetteville, NC, Theresa made her way to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania to attend the University of Pittsburgh on an academic scholarship. In college, Theresa studied English Writing, Spanish, and the Conceptual Foundations of Medicine.  Theresa recently graduated with a Master of Science in Medical Physiology from  Case Western Reserve University. She is currently leading a team of students researching the impacts of social determinants of health on the success of cardiovascular surgery as well as developing a trauma-informed hospital based music education program with a team of medical and doctoral students for pediatric trauma patients in Cleveland, Ohio.  Theresa is passionate about improving health care through narrative medicine, research in health disparities, and public health policy and advocacy. She is currently applying to medical school. Though dedicated to her school work, Theresa always finds time to pour into her community by volunteering with hospice patients and mentoring young girls and women.   Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Theresa Dickerson (Instagram) Project Girl Undefined (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Project Girl Undefined      

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Dominique M. Williams. Dominique is a well-being advocate for girls and women. She is the CEO of Inspiring and Empowering Ladies an organization dedicated to inspiring, empowering, and equipping girls and women to develop a greater sense of self. Dominique believes that Without a clear vision about yourself and your life, you will not be able to take ownership or accountability. Dominique enjoys being a mom of two beautiful children, reading, writing, traveling the globe, shopping, listening to music, cooking, and being in the company of loved ones. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Dominique M. Williams (Instagram) Websites Mentioned: Inspiring and Empowering Ladies (Website) Inspiring and Empowering Ladies (Books and Journals)

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Analise Harris. Founder of Curls on the Block, Analise currently works as an adjunct professor at Community College of Denver. Hailing from Waukegan, Illinois, after obtaining a degree in Sociology and Communications at Creighton University, she moved to Denver in 2011 as a founding corps member of City Year Denver. Inspired by the year of service and evaluating her life goals, Analise pursued an alternative teaching license from Metropolitan State University and obtained her Master's in Education with a certification in Special Education. During her work as an educator, Analise realized that girls of color were often receiving extreme punishments, experiencing lower self esteem and essentially not having good self care starting as early as elementary school. More than not, those issues were linked to their hair, not taking off a hoodie or bandana, being teased for a bad hair day and asking for basic supplies such as hair ties or hair gel. In order to address the glaring issues, Analise started offering safe spaces for girls to explore beauty and hair care needs, eventually creating the standards based curriculum Curls on The Block. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Curls on The Block (Instagram) Curls on The Block  (Facebook) Curls on The Block (Twitter) Websites Mentioned: Curls on The Block (Website) Harriet's Yellow Jacket (Books)        

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Jillian Bradfield. A native of College Park, GA, Jillian is a proud product of the Atlanta Public School System. Jillian graduated  from Frederick Douglass High School in the City of Atlanta, Savannah State University (Savannah, GA), where she obtained a B.S. in Sociology with a Minor in English,  and Shorter University with an M.A. in Organizational Leadership. Jillian's goal is to let today's troubled youth know that she understands what they are going through and to speak to the unpopular kid, the bully, those that feel invisible and every child in between. She also wants to encourage positive dialogue between adolescent girls and boys to show them communication and attitude is key when understanding one another". Jillian is the author of 3 books: “Write On Girl!: A Fun Guided Journal for Preteen Girls”, “Quaran-TEEN: A 52 Week Guided Journal to Help Teens Escape and Conquer Their Anxiety Vol.1” and “Write On Boy!: A Fun Critical Thinking Journal for Adolescent Boys”. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram) The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website) Guest Social Media Info: Jilley Bean Books (Instagram) Jilley Bean Books  (Facebook) Jilley Bean Books  (Twitter) Websites Mentioned: Jilley Bean Books (Website) Jilley Bean Books (Amazon)      

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Kirby Felder. Kirby didn't begin a career in education the conventional way. She studied Technical Theatre at Hampton University and worked as a theatre technician. During this time, she worked with a children's theatre that gave her new insight into how theatre impacts children. A few years later, Kirby was motivated to begin her teaching career and finally followed her grandmother's wise words to become an educator. She is now an elementary theatre teacher in Atlanta, GA, where she has taught for five years. Prior to teaching theatre, Kirby was a kindergarten and first-grade teacher, where she regularly integrated her love of the arts into the classroom. When she's not at school, you can catch her on YouTube on Xploration Theatre, where she performs theatrical read-alouds, puppet shows, and fun lessons for early learners. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Xploration Theatre (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/xplorationtheatre/ Xploration Theatre (Facebook)- https://www.facebook.com/xplorationtheatre Websites Mentioned-  Xploration Theatre (LinkTree)- https://linktr.ee/xplorationtheatre The Kennedy Center- https://www.kennedy-center.org/education/resources-for-educators/classroom-resources/

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Breenae Washington. Breenae is an engineer with a passion for diversity and inclusion. Growing up, she excelled at math and science but often questioned her abilities because she didn't see other girls who shared her interests. Despite the lack of representation, with the support of her family and teachers, she found the strength to take the road less traveled. After receiving her degree from the Missouri University of Science and Technology and starting a career in IT, she quickly noticed that the lack of diversity in STEM/STEAM was still a serious issue. This fueled her desire to make a difference. Today, her mission is to bridge the gender and diversity gap in STEM/STEAM through early exposure and education. She hopes that young girls can see themselves throughout the pages of this story and are inspired to learn more. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: The STEAM Queens (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/thesteamqueens/ The STEAM Queens (Facebook)- https://www.facebook.com/TheSTEAMQueens/ Websites Mentioned-  The STEAM Queens- https://www.thesteamqueens.com/ Code.Org- https://code.org/ Scratch- https://scratch.mit.edu/ Tynker.com- https://www.tynker.com

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Brittany Rhodes. Brittany is a math tutor, former GED Math Instructor, and Founder and General MATHager of Black Girl MATHgic (BGM). BGM is a movement dedicated to increasing math confidence, awareness, enthusiasm, identity, fluency, and persistence in children, with a focus on girls and black children, who are disproportionately impacted by math anxiety. BGM's flagship product is the Black Girl MATHgic Box, which is the first and only monthly subscription box designed to increase math confidence and decrease math anxiety in girls on a 3rd-8th grade math level. Black Girl MATHgic has been featured in Black Enterprise, BEYONCE.com, Forbes, National Math & Science Initiative, and more, and named STEM Toy Expert's 2020 Best STEM Subscription Box for Kids: Best for GRL PWR and one of Hello Subscription's 2020 Best Subscription Boxes for Kids. Brittany received her Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Spelman College and her Master of Business Administration in Marketing, Communication, and Organizational Behavior from the Tepper School of Business at Carnegie Mellon University. Brittany is a proud native of Detroit, where she lives with her husband, Oscar. Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Black Girl Mathgic(Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/blackgirlmathgic/ Black Girl Mathgic (Twitter)- https://twitter.com/blkgirlmathgic Black Girl Mathgic (Facebook)- https://www.facebook.com/blackgirlmathgic Websites Mentioned-  Black Girl Mathgic- https://blackgirlmathgic.com/ We Use Math: http://weusemath.org/

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Chelsae Moreland. Chelsea is a mother, self-published author of the book “B is For Black Girl” and a year 7 teacher. She is a graduate of The Southern University of Baton Rouge- the greatest HBCU in all the land!! (*Note those are her words not mine) Chelsae loves having a direct impact on young people's lives, speaking life into them and helping them to see their greatness!! Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Chelsae (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/lacaliforniana/ B is for Black Girl (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/bisforblackgirl/ Websites Mentioned-  B is for Black Girl- https://bisforblackgirl.com/    

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Ashley Y. Lipscomb. Ashley is the Co-founder & CEO of the Institute for Anti-Racist Education, Inc. and she has a wealth of experience working with, motivating, and advocating for students and educators. A graduate of Hampton University (BA English and Master in Teaching), Harvard Divinity School (MDiv), and Montclair State University (Certificate in Supervision). She has committed her life's work to the liberation and healing of her community and education is where she believes a more just world can be created.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Ashley (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/ashley_yolanda/ Ashley (Twitter)- https://twitter.com/ashley_yolandaL The Institute for Anti-Racist Education (Instagram)- https://www.instagram.com/antiracistedinstitute/ Websites Mentioned-  The Institute for Anti-Racist Education- https://www.antiracisted.org/

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Keisha Bussey. Keisha D. Bussey has been an educator for the past 19 years and has a love and passion for dance. She is a God-fearing woman. She is a Dance Educator, Speaker, and Owner & Artistic Director of Fierce6 Elite Dance & Fitness. Keisha has been dancing since she was in her mother's womb. She started dancing at the Boys & Girls Club as a young girl. She resides in Houston, Texas teaching dance to elementary students at Carter Academy for the Performing Arts.  Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Keisha (Website)- https://keishadbussey.com/ Keisha (Instagram)- @dancingkeishachancetodance

Welcome to the TeachHER Podcast Powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project. Our mission is to convey strategies for Grit & Grace with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls. Thank you for joining us today. Today, our guest is Cierra, a social justice educator, writer, and scholar based in Washington, DC. She is currently a Ph.D. candidate in the Department of Teaching and Learning, Policy and Leadership at the University of Maryland - College Park studying minority and urban education. Through her research, she aims to highlight Black girls' stories and their arts-based practices (i.e. movement, music, hair) and how they use them as mechanisms for identity development and resistance. She is also the Education Anew Fellow with Communities for Just Schools Fund and Teaching for Change, and previously served as a fellow with the White House Initiative on Educational Excellence for African Americans.  As an educator, Cierra has worked with preschool students, K-12 students, and college students. She is also an arts education advocate – she teaches dance classes for all ages, choreographs for local companies, and runs programming that offers culturally-sustaining arts-based curriculum for girls.  She is also the founder of Unlock Your Story, a coaching and consulting business aimed at helping people tap into the stories that they are bravely meant to share with the world through writing coaching, public speaking coaching, storytelling workshops, and diversity and inclusion through storytelling consulting. Listen Now Social Media: TeachHER Podcast (Instagram)- @the_TeachHERPodcast The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Instagram)- @theinnocentbrowngirlproject The Innocent Brown Girl Project (Website)- www.theinnocentbrowngirlproject.com Guest Social Media Info: Cierra (Website)- https://www.cierrakalerjones.com/ Cierra (Instagram)-@_cierrajade_ Websites Mentioned:  Teaching Tolerance (Website)- https://www.tolerance.org/