Educational Equity Emancipation

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry takes you on a transformative journey towards equity and inclusivity in education. This summer Professional Learning Series is designed to empower parents, caregivers, educators, and leaders to make a meaningful impact in their local schools. Dr. Berry introduces the Equity Maturity Matrix, so you can discover where your school or district stands. Dr. Berry p...

Send a text  Join Dr. Almitra Berry as she shares powerful insights into empowering schools through bold leadership and harnessing the transformative force of parent power for achieving equity. Discover the key strategies, innovative approaches, and practical steps to foster a culture of empowerment and inclusivity in educational institutions. Explore the crucial role of strong leadership and th...

Send a text Join Dr. Berry as she immerses us in the captivating realm of African American Vernacular and Chicano English. Prepare to uncover the fascinating truth behind the meticulously structured grammar, pronunciation, and usage rules that define these distinctive dialects. Journey through the intricate tapestry woven by African, Spanish, and English influences, shaping the vibrant languages w...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry embarks on a transformative journey in education. As part of the summer Professional Learning Series, this episode focuses on the influence of racism on learners and how educators can address it in curriculum materials and instructional practices. Dr. Berry's passion for creating positive educational experiences shines through as she delves into...

Send a text In this powerful episode, Dr. Almitra Berry takes you on a transformative journey to unlock the full potential of children, with a special focus on children and adolescents of color. Join us as we delve into the essential topic of agency and its profound impact on children's success. Discover actionable strategies and insights that empower parents, caregivers, educators, and leade...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry delves into the concept of equity in K-12 education and its profound significance. Dr. Berry, a dedicated advocate for creating equity in schools, invites parents, caregivers, educators, leaders, and supporters to participate in her inspiring summer Professional Learning Series. Through thought-provoking discussions, she aims to empower individuals to...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry sits down with educational technology entrepreneur Heather Wiederstein to discuss the intersectionality of Black and Brown communities, queer identity, book banning, and the demonization of race and identity in America. In this thought-provoking podcast, they discuss how Black and Brown communities and queer identity intersect with one another in the world of...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry sits down with Leslie Kelly, Program Coordinator with the Office of the Fresno County Superintendent of Schools in California, who supervises the Teachers of Color Alliance for Educational Empowerment (TCAEE): a Grow-Your-Own teaching pipeline aimed at increasing the number of African American teachers in Fresno County. They discuss ways to empower ed...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry sits down with Lakeisha Covert, an award-winning educator and YouTube personality known as "your destiny cheer captain." Covert is the founder of The Christmas Experience, a non-profit that serves children and families in need, a bestselling author, and a certified professional coach who specializes in life planning, personal growth, and destiny ful...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry tackles the critical topic of adolescent mental health. Joining the discussion are Jay Goyal, CEO of Alongside, a startup dedicated to addressing the youth mental health crisis, and Dr. Elsa Friis, head of mental health at Alongside. Together, they shed light on various aspects of mental health, starting with debunking misconceptions and examining its percept...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry interviews Rachel Sato, an associate director of education with the Anti-Defamation League (ADL). Sato shares how ADL works to implement school-wide discussion-based and active learning activities that examine identities, reflect on biased behavior, and learn new ways to challenge bias and bullying in students, staff, and society. The organization sup...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry interviews Louie T. McClain II, founder of Melanin Origins, a global publishing company that specializes in children’s books about lesser-known African American pioneers. McClain shares his insights on the importance of cultural education and the need for a coalition of Black individuals to come together to create cultural centers for Black children t...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry and her guest, Dr. Kareem Moncree-Moffett discuss the significance of teachers in the classroom and how math is integrated into everyday life. The educators also addressed the issue of math trauma that students of color may experience, suggesting that math can be taught in a way that is more accessible and relevant to students. Dr. Moncree-Moffett highlights...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry discusses the impact of systemic oppression and racism on success in society. She addresses a workshop participant’s question of whether the group mindset of minorities affects their ability to succeed and explains the uniqueness of each individual's mindset. She also explores the four equity indicators she introduced in Episode 4 and their relev...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry discusses the frenzy around banning books in American schools while school shootings are happening once a week in America. She shares data on efforts to prevent teachers from teaching accurate American history and current events, including that 17 states in the U.S. have laws with gag orders to prevent discussion of these topics! She shares the data a...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry interviews Florence Avignon, founder and executive director of See Beyond Educational Consulting in Los Angeles, and former California Teacher of the Year. She and Dr. Berry talk about the concept of "justice-informed" settings for youth who have encounters with the legal system, and the reduction in the number of youths in justice-informed...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry discusses the critical role of literacy in creating equity and freedom. She emphasizes the importance of teaching children to read and makes a connection between reading and freedom. She shares the story of one community’s fight for literacy in and her speaker's own journey in coming to teach marginalized learners with a focus on literacy. Dr. Berry, a c...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry discusses student engagement and culture in education. She emphasizes the importance of understanding how students listen and show engagement, and how cultural background affects this. Dr. Berry challenges the notion of active listening and encourages seeking knowledge and comprehension. She also explains how educators can create a classroom culture t...

Send a text In this Episode, Dr. Almitra Berry discusses the history and impact of the N-word, a derogatory term used against Black people since the 18th century. She shares her personal experience of being called the N-word as a child and highlights the NAACP's official statement on the word's painful and inhumane connotations. She also talks about the use of the word in schools and emp...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Almitra Berry highlights the issue of policing in schools and shares staggering statistics from a recent investigation by a State Attorney General's office. The investigation revealed that incidents involving Black and Latinx students were more likely to result in severe policing outcomes, even for minor situations that did not require police intervention. Thi...

Send a text Dr. Almitra Berry shares exciting updates for the show, including upcoming interviews with everyday equity warriors and professional learning workshops starting June 1st. Listeners are encouraged to subscribe to her YouTube channel for the best experience. Dr. Berry also teases a special election-year focus for Season 2, aimed at increasing awareness of the politics impacting K-12 educ...

Send a text This episode discusses the difference between equity and charity in education. The speaker argues that the education system can be abysmal, particularly for children of color, low-income students, and marginalized groups. She discusses the tendency of educators to approach these students with pity and working with them in the name of charity, which is not equitable. Instead, the speake...

Send a text The podcast episode discusses the importance of authentic equity in education and addressing issues faced by marginalized and oppressed children worldwide. The death of George Floyd has brought diversity, equity, inclusion, and anti-racism to the forefront, resulting in an increase in positions for Chief Diversity Officers and Diversity professionals. However, there is a high turnover...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry challenges the common label "at risk" given to children from low-income households, those with incarcerated or addicted parents, or those who face challenging circumstances. Instead, she urges us to see these children as individuals with potential, calling them "children at promise". Dr. Berry shares her recent experience in one community...

Send a text In this episode, Dr. Berry talks about the significance of Black History Month and why it should not be limited to a single month of the year. She emphasizes the importance of infusing Black history and culture throughout the curriculum throughout K-12, as it is a part of American and world history.   Dr. Berry also explores the difference between Black History Month and other ethnic h...