The TeachHER Podcast
The TeachHER Podcast, powered by The Innocent Brown Girl Project features leaders in the field of girls education and empowerment. Our mission is to convey strategies for "Grit and Grace" with educators and advocates of African American and Latina Girls.
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Episode 54: St. Clair Detrick-Jules
06/04/2024
Episode 54: St. Clair Detrick-Jules
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned: Books Mentioned:
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Episdoe 53: Derrin Moore
05/03/2024
Episdoe 53: Derrin Moore
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 52: Amber Wilson
04/26/2024
Episode 52: Amber Wilson
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 51: Jasmyn Williams
04/11/2024
Episode 51: Jasmyn Williams
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned: Books Mentioned:
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Episode 50: Kyonna Hardy
04/04/2024
Episode 50: Kyonna Hardy
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 49: Stacey Allen
03/22/2024
Episode 49: Stacey Allen
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 48: Dr. Brandi Clay
08/16/2023
Episode 48: Dr. Brandi Clay
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 47: Paige Woods
07/30/2023
Episode 47: Paige Woods
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 46: Angela Shanté
07/19/2023
Episode 46: Angela Shanté
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 45: Dr. Qiana O’Leary
07/14/2023
Episode 45: Dr. Qiana O’Leary
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 44: Devin Moore
07/06/2023
Episode 44: Devin Moore
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 43: Silver Moore
06/28/2023
Episode 43: Silver Moore
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 42: Sharee Miller
06/07/2023
Episode 42: Sharee Miller
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 41: Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce
05/24/2023
Episode 41: Dr. Stephanie R. Boyce
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 40: TaKiyah Wallace
05/03/2023
Episode 40: TaKiyah Wallace
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 39: Megan Wilburn
04/26/2023
Episode 39: Megan Wilburn
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 38: Tameka Kee
04/19/2023
Episode 38: Tameka Kee
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 37: AJ Crabill
04/12/2023
Episode 37: AJ Crabill
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 36: Janae Marks
04/05/2023
Episode 36: Janae Marks
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 35: Sha’Rell Webb
03/29/2023
Episode 35: Sha’Rell Webb
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 34: Locha Brooks
03/23/2023
Episode 34: Locha Brooks
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 33: Dawnavyn James
03/02/2023
Episode 33: Dawnavyn James
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 32: Mariama J. Lockington
02/22/2023
Episode 32: Mariama J. Lockington
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 31: Dawn D. Florence
02/15/2023
Episode 31: Dawn D. Florence
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: Guests Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 30: Keisha D. Bussey
02/08/2023
Episode 30: Keisha D. Bussey
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 29 Roechelle Croskey
02/01/2023
Episode 29 Roechelle Croskey
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 28: Ssanyu Lukoma
01/18/2023
Episode 28: Ssanyu Lukoma
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 27: Ahmya Rivera
05/02/2022
Episode 27: Ahmya Rivera
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 26: Khristi Adams
04/16/2022
Episode 26: Khristi Adams
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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Episode 25: Tammy Garnes
04/02/2022
Episode 25: Tammy Garnes
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: Guest Social Media Info: Websites Mentioned:
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