1 00:00:00,945 --> 00:00:02,125 - What's up, two Dope Nation. 2 00:00:02,685 --> 00:00:04,085 A I don't know about you, 3 00:00:04,385 --> 00:00:06,885 but I really enjoy going to conferences. 4 00:00:06,945 --> 00:00:10,125 In fact, I think, um, a lot of you, um, may have met me 5 00:00:10,125 --> 00:00:12,645 and Kevin at a conference somewhere, um, 6 00:00:12,945 --> 00:00:15,485 in this nation here in the United States of America. 7 00:00:15,985 --> 00:00:19,365 Um, there's some really great conferences happening this 8 00:00:19,365 --> 00:00:21,885 wintertime, including a dope, uh, 9 00:00:22,445 --> 00:00:26,965 DEIB forum in Philadelphia, uh, DEIB. 10 00:00:26,985 --> 00:00:30,245 For those of you who, um, have your heads down 11 00:00:30,345 --> 00:00:33,485 and are unable to keep up with the latest lingo stands 12 00:00:33,505 --> 00:00:37,205 for Diversity, equity, and Inclusion and Belonging. 13 00:00:37,205 --> 00:00:39,165 Really like that. Next level there, 14 00:00:39,545 --> 00:00:42,645 Carney Sandon Associates helps educators find job 15 00:00:42,645 --> 00:00:46,245 experiences that support their goals as teachers and 16 00:00:46,385 --> 00:00:48,445 or school administrators 17 00:00:48,745 --> 00:00:51,645 and education recruiting firm working with K 18 00:00:51,645 --> 00:00:53,045 through 12 independent, private 19 00:00:53,065 --> 00:00:55,605 and charter schools across the globe, Kearney, 20 00:00:55,625 --> 00:00:57,605 Sandon Associates provides a free 21 00:00:57,605 --> 00:00:59,485 personalized job search service. 22 00:00:59,975 --> 00:01:02,845 Right now, Carney Sando is inviting educators 23 00:01:02,845 --> 00:01:07,445 to their annual DEIB conference in Philadelphia at the end 24 00:01:07,505 --> 00:01:10,445 of January to take part in a two day hiring 25 00:01:10,905 --> 00:01:13,205 and professional development symposium 26 00:01:13,385 --> 00:01:16,205 to support schools equity and inclusion work. 27 00:01:16,585 --> 00:01:19,645 Please visit carney sando.com/two dope. 28 00:01:19,785 --> 00:01:23,805 That's C-A-R-N-E-Y-S-A-N-D-O 29 00:01:23,925 --> 00:01:28,085 e.com/t O-O-D-O-P-E 30 00:01:28,345 --> 00:01:30,725 to schedule a time to speak with a member of their team 31 00:01:31,025 --> 00:01:32,485 and to learn more about this event. 32 00:01:34,335 --> 00:01:36,075 aos good, everybody? Hey, 33 00:01:36,075 --> 00:01:38,915 are you an educator struggling with time and money? 34 00:01:39,395 --> 00:01:40,555 I mean, are we all ? 35 00:01:41,225 --> 00:01:43,235 Well, I want you to meet my friend Alex Ciara, 36 00:01:43,265 --> 00:01:45,835 certified financial planner with Satera Investors, 37 00:01:45,935 --> 00:01:48,275 and he's here to help specializing in 38 00:01:48,275 --> 00:01:49,315 working with educators. 39 00:01:49,315 --> 00:01:52,955 Alex understands the challenges we face from low pay 40 00:01:53,135 --> 00:01:54,675 to complex retirement systems. 41 00:01:55,335 --> 00:01:58,355 His team specializes in holistic financial planning, 42 00:01:59,235 --> 00:02:01,795 focusing on your goals, and creating actionable plans 43 00:02:01,895 --> 00:02:03,715 to improve your chances of success. 44 00:02:04,245 --> 00:02:05,555 Visit his website at 45 00:02:06,295 --> 00:02:10,915 www.toandalex.satterinvestors.com/ 46 00:02:12,115 --> 00:02:13,795 T-O-O-D-O-P-E 47 00:02:14,335 --> 00:02:17,955 to schedule an initial virtual consultation with Alex. 48 00:02:18,425 --> 00:02:20,475 Mention the code to dope on your meeting 49 00:02:21,415 --> 00:02:24,995 and receive 25% off their subscription based 50 00:02:24,995 --> 00:02:26,435 financial planning packages. 51 00:02:26,815 --> 00:02:27,995 You can get more info 52 00:02:28,215 --> 00:02:31,635 and a link to their website in the podcast description. 53 00:02:32,375 --> 00:02:34,195 SATERA Investors is the marketing name 54 00:02:34,195 --> 00:02:35,675 of Satera Investment Services. 55 00:02:36,125 --> 00:02:38,675 Securities and insurance products are offered 56 00:02:38,675 --> 00:02:41,315 through Satera Investment Services, LLC, 57 00:02:41,315 --> 00:02:43,355 doing insurance business in California 58 00:02:43,695 --> 00:02:47,675 as C-F-G-S-T-C Insurance Agency, LLC. 59 00:02:48,175 --> 00:02:51,955 Member F slash SIC. 60 00:02:52,835 --> 00:02:53,995 Advisory services are offered 61 00:02:53,995 --> 00:02:56,075 through Satera Investment Advisors, 62 00:02:56,255 --> 00:02:58,235 LLL C California Insurance, 63 00:02:58,235 --> 00:03:01,485 license number zero L 0 5 6 5 0. 64 00:03:01,875 --> 00:03:03,045 Alexander Hira, 65 00:03:03,165 --> 00:03:07,845 CFP is located at 6 0 5 East Huntington Drive, suite 2 0 3, 66 00:03:08,005 --> 00:03:10,885 Monrovia, California 9 1 0 1 6, 67 00:03:11,345 --> 00:03:13,045 and can be reached at phone number 68 00:03:13,305 --> 00:03:16,725 (626) 408-1333. 69 00:03:17,515 --> 00:03:20,005 Extension 3 0 6. 70 00:03:44,585 --> 00:03:48,405 Hey, what is good? Two Dope Nation. How y'all doing? 71 00:03:49,235 --> 00:03:52,605 It's, uh, Sunday afternoon Here in the Mile High City, 72 00:03:52,865 --> 00:03:55,205 but of course, you know, two Tudo teachers 73 00:03:55,205 --> 00:03:57,285 and a mic is global. 74 00:03:57,585 --> 00:04:00,805 We are worldwide. Uh, my name is Al Munoz. 75 00:04:01,545 --> 00:04:05,565 I'm the producer of Tudo Productions 76 00:04:05,705 --> 00:04:08,885 and co-host of this amazing Tudo teachers 77 00:04:08,885 --> 00:04:10,565 and white podcast where we look 78 00:04:10,705 --> 00:04:14,125 to remix the conversation on race, power and education. 79 00:04:14,665 --> 00:04:16,405 Um, I'm here. Kevin is not here. 80 00:04:16,405 --> 00:04:17,765 Kevin doesn't work on Sundays. 81 00:04:18,185 --> 00:04:22,605 Um, and so Kevin is just ke Kevin's just doing Kevin things. 82 00:04:22,675 --> 00:04:24,405 He's Kevin, everything he gets to do, everything he wants 83 00:04:24,405 --> 00:04:26,725 to do, uh, no, but, uh, real talk 84 00:04:26,725 --> 00:04:27,765 before y'all come for Kevin. 85 00:04:28,065 --> 00:04:31,125 Uh, Kevin is an assistant principal in his first year 86 00:04:31,865 --> 00:04:33,165 as an assistant principal, 87 00:04:33,585 --> 00:04:37,005 and he's going through it in January 88 00:04:37,785 --> 00:04:39,205 out in these education streets. 89 00:04:39,385 --> 00:04:43,045 But, uh, we have an amazing conversation, um, that, uh, 90 00:04:43,085 --> 00:04:46,005 I think you're really gonna enjoy with an opportunity to 91 00:04:46,665 --> 00:04:49,125 engage with some dope folks, some dope members 92 00:04:49,145 --> 00:04:52,565 of the two Dope Nation out here, um, who are gonna kind 93 00:04:52,565 --> 00:04:54,685 of talk to you about the work that they do, the people 94 00:04:54,685 --> 00:04:58,245 that they are, and this event that you definitely don't want 95 00:04:58,245 --> 00:04:59,565 to miss, you want to be a proud of. 96 00:04:59,905 --> 00:05:01,565 If you are a new listener, if you are coming 97 00:05:01,585 --> 00:05:02,685 to the two Dope Teachers 98 00:05:02,685 --> 00:05:04,805 and Mike podcast for the first time, where you been at, 99 00:05:04,815 --> 00:05:05,845 we've been here eight years, 100 00:05:06,275 --> 00:05:09,805 like is eight years we've been here, um, you know, 101 00:05:09,835 --> 00:05:11,085 from, from the Salad days. 102 00:05:11,105 --> 00:05:12,925 But we welcome you one way or the other. 103 00:05:13,185 --> 00:05:15,925 Um, you are welcome to become a citizen of Two Dope Nation. 104 00:05:16,065 --> 00:05:19,485 We do have open borders, we do have, um, 105 00:05:19,915 --> 00:05:22,285 very lax citizenship requirements. 106 00:05:22,305 --> 00:05:23,325 You just got state open with us. 107 00:05:23,705 --> 00:05:25,605 And, um, and that's the only requirement. 108 00:05:25,825 --> 00:05:27,445 But you can follow us on social media, 109 00:05:27,545 --> 00:05:29,845 on all platforms at two Dope Teachers. 110 00:05:30,055 --> 00:05:32,205 We're on X, we're on TikTok, we're on t. 111 00:05:32,205 --> 00:05:33,965 We're, I was gonna say we're on X and Twitter. 112 00:05:33,985 --> 00:05:35,805 That's not, that's not a thing. 113 00:05:36,145 --> 00:05:37,765 Uh, you can find us on Facebook, 114 00:05:37,785 --> 00:05:40,645 you can find us on Instagram, you can find me on LinkedIn. 115 00:05:41,185 --> 00:05:44,765 Um, just look for two dope teachers and you will find us. 116 00:05:45,065 --> 00:05:47,445 If you would like to find old episodes, go 117 00:05:47,445 --> 00:05:50,165 to two dope teachers.com where you can, uh, 118 00:05:50,625 --> 00:05:53,525 you can check out all 350 episodes 119 00:05:53,525 --> 00:05:54,805 that we've done in these eight years. 120 00:05:55,385 --> 00:05:58,925 Um, and so we are here. So, uh, check us out. 121 00:05:59,065 --> 00:06:02,325 If you're really passionate about supporting, uh, people 122 00:06:02,345 --> 00:06:05,765 of color produced digital media that is independent, 123 00:06:05,905 --> 00:06:08,685 you can do what our partners at both Carney Sando 124 00:06:09,025 --> 00:06:13,045 and at, um, at Satara Investors LLC have done, which is 125 00:06:13,045 --> 00:06:15,805 to invest a little bit in the work that we are doing. 126 00:06:16,145 --> 00:06:18,885 Um, and if you wanna chip in a few dollars a month, 127 00:06:19,075 --> 00:06:21,525 head over to patreon.com/two dope teachers 128 00:06:21,525 --> 00:06:25,125 and a mic where at the $15 a month level, you get a sticker. 129 00:06:25,425 --> 00:06:28,405 And if you're seeing the video, this is the sticker 130 00:06:28,515 --> 00:06:31,565 that you get designed by our guy Sham, uh, 131 00:06:31,565 --> 00:06:35,165 street artist here in the Mile High City. 132 00:06:35,785 --> 00:06:38,405 Um, so super excited about this conversation. 133 00:06:38,525 --> 00:06:41,005 I wanna go ahead and just give a, um, 134 00:06:41,275 --> 00:06:42,485 just give a full disclosure. 135 00:06:42,945 --> 00:06:46,965 Um, we have partnered here and there with Carney Sando 136 00:06:46,965 --> 00:06:48,765 and Associates, and amazing organization 137 00:06:48,995 --> 00:06:50,005 that supports our work 138 00:06:50,005 --> 00:06:52,325 and is doing important work in spaces 139 00:06:52,355 --> 00:06:55,725 that maybe you may not think of as being hotbeds 140 00:06:55,745 --> 00:06:58,645 for diversity, equity, inclusion, and belonging work. 141 00:06:58,785 --> 00:07:02,485 So, uh, wanna go ahead and welcome my guests. 142 00:07:02,985 --> 00:07:07,045 Um, Kim Garner is the Chief Operating Officer of Place, 143 00:07:07,195 --> 00:07:09,365 placement Group and Director of conferences. 144 00:07:09,865 --> 00:07:12,445 And then we've got Brandon Jacobs, which I realize 145 00:07:12,445 --> 00:07:14,645 that you are not the former New York Giants running back, 146 00:07:15,025 --> 00:07:18,085 uh, the Practice Leader, diversity, equity, 147 00:07:18,085 --> 00:07:20,845 inclusion and Belonging Consulting practice, search 148 00:07:20,945 --> 00:07:22,885 and Consulting services. 149 00:07:23,355 --> 00:07:25,125 Welcome to the show, my friends. 150 00:07:26,145 --> 00:07:28,055 - Hello. Thank you so much for having us. 151 00:07:28,485 --> 00:07:30,495 - Yeah, thanks for having us, and sorry to disappoint you. 152 00:07:30,495 --> 00:07:32,135 I'm a little smaller than him, but, uh, 153 00:07:32,475 --> 00:07:33,895 - He was a big dude. He was really 154 00:07:33,895 --> 00:07:34,895 - Big. 155 00:07:34,895 --> 00:07:35,135 Dude was big guy. He was a big guy. 156 00:07:35,135 --> 00:07:36,615 Still is a big guy, I think, too. Yeah. 157 00:07:36,965 --> 00:07:39,135 - Yeah. I feel like most of us are smaller than that. 158 00:07:39,135 --> 00:07:42,695 Brandon Jacobs , um, . So he's a big dude. 159 00:07:42,995 --> 00:07:44,215 Um, well, listen, uh, 160 00:07:44,345 --> 00:07:47,495 let's hear a little bit about you all first. 161 00:07:47,835 --> 00:07:51,295 Um, you both are, uh, with Carney Sando, um, 162 00:07:51,595 --> 00:07:55,055 and doing this really important consulting service. 163 00:07:55,515 --> 00:07:57,295 Um, but tell me a little bit about yourselves. 164 00:07:57,485 --> 00:08:01,095 Just, um, the thing that I get really interested in, um, 165 00:08:01,925 --> 00:08:05,375 when it comes to doing conversations about education, I love 166 00:08:05,375 --> 00:08:08,535 to hear what kind of students, the people 167 00:08:08,535 --> 00:08:09,695 who come on the show or, 168 00:08:09,755 --> 00:08:12,175 so you can pick any moment in your life. 169 00:08:12,595 --> 00:08:15,735 Um, so it could be, uh, it could be like, you know, 170 00:08:15,735 --> 00:08:17,615 little Brandon back in first grade, 171 00:08:17,675 --> 00:08:19,695 or it can be college student, grad student, 172 00:08:19,695 --> 00:08:20,895 Brandon, like, whatever it is. 173 00:08:21,275 --> 00:08:23,655 Um, I like to talk about middle school for me. 174 00:08:24,195 --> 00:08:27,815 Um, seventh grade is, I think, well, first of all, 175 00:08:27,815 --> 00:08:29,535 I think seventh grade is my inner child. 176 00:08:29,655 --> 00:08:32,135 I think my, my inner child is a 12-year-old, uh, 177 00:08:32,155 --> 00:08:34,215 who wants lots of attention, who is really tiny. 178 00:08:34,755 --> 00:08:37,215 Um, I was really annoying in middle school, 179 00:08:37,635 --> 00:08:38,655 so annoying in middle school. 180 00:08:38,715 --> 00:08:40,135 If there was a bad idea, 181 00:08:40,375 --> 00:08:42,455 I was gonna do it not to hurt people. 182 00:08:42,815 --> 00:08:44,415 I never was hurtful to people. 183 00:08:44,935 --> 00:08:47,535 I was just obnoxious and you could dare me 184 00:08:47,535 --> 00:08:49,295 to do almost anything. 185 00:08:49,675 --> 00:08:51,095 And I would almost always do it. 186 00:08:51,275 --> 00:08:55,015 And so when I think of my 23 years in the classroom, 187 00:08:55,725 --> 00:08:58,565 I always think about before I come down super hard on kids, 188 00:08:58,665 --> 00:09:00,885 I'm like, okay, remember yourself. 189 00:09:01,525 --> 00:09:03,285 Remember the patients that you needed . 190 00:09:03,625 --> 00:09:05,725 So, um, if y'all would like to introduce yourselves 191 00:09:05,825 --> 00:09:08,765 and, you know, sort of share a little something about, um, 192 00:09:08,895 --> 00:09:11,765 about a student version of yourselves. 193 00:09:12,185 --> 00:09:13,445 Let, should think about that a little bit. 194 00:09:13,865 --> 00:09:15,445 - Sounds good. Tim, you wanna go first? 195 00:09:16,235 --> 00:09:18,445 - Sure. Um, so thank you so much for 196 00:09:18,445 --> 00:09:20,325 that introduction, Kim Garner. 197 00:09:20,425 --> 00:09:22,485 Uh, my pronouns are the sheer, 198 00:09:23,145 --> 00:09:25,965 and as a student, I guess I would say 199 00:09:26,705 --> 00:09:31,005 all throughout my educational career, I was a shy student. 200 00:09:31,765 --> 00:09:36,445 I was quiet. And what really, um, kind 201 00:09:36,445 --> 00:09:37,765 of made me come out of my shell 202 00:09:37,765 --> 00:09:40,805 or be able to express myself more was writing. 203 00:09:41,025 --> 00:09:45,625 So English became my favorite subject in school just 204 00:09:45,625 --> 00:09:47,305 because I enjoyed reading, 205 00:09:47,325 --> 00:09:49,825 but I also really enjoyed the different writing assignments, 206 00:09:49,845 --> 00:09:52,065 and that's just how things came to life. 207 00:09:52,065 --> 00:09:54,105 And it was easier for me to express myself 208 00:09:54,165 --> 00:09:55,945 as being a shyer person. 209 00:09:56,685 --> 00:09:58,905 Um, so that really started 210 00:09:58,905 --> 00:10:00,665 to come out in middle school and high school. 211 00:10:01,005 --> 00:10:04,425 Um, my love for writing to really, um, 212 00:10:04,695 --> 00:10:06,425 express my emotions. 213 00:10:06,825 --> 00:10:10,425 - I love that. And, and I can even tell just the, you know, 214 00:10:10,485 --> 00:10:13,785 how intentional you are with the words that you choose, like 215 00:10:13,785 --> 00:10:14,945 that I'm like, this is a writer 216 00:10:15,045 --> 00:10:16,705 that's like sitting across me. 217 00:10:16,705 --> 00:10:18,145 That that's amazing. Thank you for sharing 218 00:10:18,145 --> 00:10:19,185 that. What about you, Brandon? 219 00:10:19,775 --> 00:10:21,985 - Yeah. So, uh, yeah, again, thanks for having us. 220 00:10:21,985 --> 00:10:23,065 Really appreciate it being here. 221 00:10:23,405 --> 00:10:25,585 Um, I would actually give you maybe two versions 222 00:10:25,585 --> 00:10:26,785 of the student, I guess is myself. 223 00:10:26,785 --> 00:10:29,465 And one of them I think interesting is kinda why I am, 224 00:10:29,745 --> 00:10:31,465 I think both actually why I am where I'm today. 225 00:10:31,525 --> 00:10:33,785 So I would say to me that the story about me 226 00:10:33,785 --> 00:10:36,825 as a student is I was the only, uh, I'd say even in, 227 00:10:36,825 --> 00:10:38,625 even in growing up, I went to private high school. 228 00:10:38,905 --> 00:10:40,465 I was lucky enough to go through an access program 229 00:10:40,465 --> 00:10:41,625 that changed my life forever, right? 230 00:10:41,625 --> 00:10:44,745 That allowed me to go from inner, uh, somewhat inner city, 231 00:10:45,005 --> 00:10:47,185 uh, kind of areas in New Jersey to go to one 232 00:10:47,185 --> 00:10:49,145 of the top private boarding schools in the country, right? 233 00:10:49,445 --> 00:10:51,185 Um, but I would say even in that case, 234 00:10:51,185 --> 00:10:52,305 when I was in public side, I grew up in 235 00:10:52,305 --> 00:10:53,425 a pretty, uh, diverse city. 236 00:10:53,705 --> 00:10:55,905 I was in honors classes and tracked 237 00:10:55,905 --> 00:10:57,065 and all those things in middle school, 238 00:10:57,405 --> 00:11:00,305 and I was most times the only black male in a lot 239 00:11:00,305 --> 00:11:01,585 of my classes growing up as well too, 240 00:11:01,585 --> 00:11:03,345 because of the fact I was in honors tracks. 241 00:11:03,805 --> 00:11:07,185 Uh, that got exponentially more different when I got to, 242 00:11:07,185 --> 00:11:09,065 they were similar, I guess when I got to high school, 243 00:11:09,135 --> 00:11:12,065 when I was in the only, I was one of the only males in my, 244 00:11:12,125 --> 00:11:13,905 my independent high school as well too, 245 00:11:13,905 --> 00:11:14,945 in my class and grade. 246 00:11:15,125 --> 00:11:17,345 Um, got to college and the same thing. 247 00:11:17,345 --> 00:11:19,145 So I think the student I would give you actually is the one 248 00:11:19,145 --> 00:11:22,145 that I'll never forget my junior year in high in college 249 00:11:22,175 --> 00:11:24,025 when I had my first black male teacher, okay. 250 00:11:24,025 --> 00:11:26,705 When I was like, this is what, this is like , 251 00:11:26,745 --> 00:11:30,105 I remember that student being the first time being free from 252 00:11:30,105 --> 00:11:32,585 that for, for like in my, in my lifetime, right? 253 00:11:32,585 --> 00:11:34,945 So for me, that was something that, um, 254 00:11:35,705 --> 00:11:37,425 I don't think I realized a student I didn't have growing up 255 00:11:37,425 --> 00:11:38,585 is because I didn't really know what I missed 256 00:11:38,585 --> 00:11:40,305 until I got ultimately that teacher 257 00:11:40,365 --> 00:11:42,945 and I are still close, um, still on my phone 258 00:11:43,005 --> 00:11:44,865 and to this day, 15, 20 years later, right? 259 00:11:44,885 --> 00:11:47,265 So that impact, I think is kind of where I am today. 260 00:11:47,285 --> 00:11:48,745 And I think the other part I would give you 261 00:11:48,745 --> 00:11:50,305 as student is I'm actually older now, 262 00:11:50,305 --> 00:11:51,545 is grad school student Brandon. 263 00:11:51,605 --> 00:11:53,680 Mm-Hmm. Working on my dissertation now is 264 00:11:53,680 --> 00:11:55,365 that I was diagnosed with a DHD 265 00:11:55,365 --> 00:11:56,485 later in life than most folks. 266 00:11:56,705 --> 00:11:58,245 Um, it wasn't until I was, 267 00:11:58,605 --> 00:12:00,405 I think 32, 33, something like that. 268 00:12:00,405 --> 00:12:02,605 Oh, wow. That I was like, hold on a second, this makes a lot 269 00:12:02,605 --> 00:12:04,125 of sense now even I'm dealing 270 00:12:04,125 --> 00:12:05,365 with students and, and understanding that. 271 00:12:05,365 --> 00:12:06,765 But really to personally deal with that, 272 00:12:06,825 --> 00:12:08,645 and then went back in my head in time 273 00:12:08,665 --> 00:12:11,325 and realized how different my experience would've been if I 274 00:12:11,485 --> 00:12:13,085 had that earlier diagnoses probably. 275 00:12:13,265 --> 00:12:15,685 Um, but, and that a lot of that came down to my parents, 276 00:12:15,805 --> 00:12:17,245 I think rightfully so, not wanting their, 277 00:12:17,245 --> 00:12:20,725 their black male student, young boy to be kind of, yeah. 278 00:12:20,905 --> 00:12:23,525 Um, in their opinion, kind of typecasted or whatever it is. 279 00:12:23,525 --> 00:12:25,085 And I don't blame them for it back then, 280 00:12:25,185 --> 00:12:26,205 but I still think about what 281 00:12:26,205 --> 00:12:27,245 my world would've been like differently. 282 00:12:27,425 --> 00:12:30,245 So, um, I think about both of those students, kind of the, 283 00:12:30,245 --> 00:12:32,085 the before one and the now one a little bit, 284 00:12:32,085 --> 00:12:33,325 and how different that could have been, 285 00:12:33,345 --> 00:12:35,445 but wouldn't change over the world, obviously. 286 00:12:35,545 --> 00:12:39,205 But, um, definitely I think I struggled through education 287 00:12:39,205 --> 00:12:40,605 through the most part until I kind of got 288 00:12:40,605 --> 00:12:41,885 to the point in which I got to college. 289 00:12:42,105 --> 00:12:44,005 But, um, again, it, it, 290 00:12:44,005 --> 00:12:46,325 it all adds up to the same thing in the end. So, no, that's 291 00:12:46,325 --> 00:12:47,325 - Amazing. 292 00:12:47,325 --> 00:12:48,525 Thank you for sharing that. It, it's funny 293 00:12:48,525 --> 00:12:51,805 because I'm seeing, I'm seeing a lot of parallels, um, 294 00:12:52,265 --> 00:12:53,645 you know, between the three of us, 295 00:12:53,665 --> 00:12:57,045 but also with Kevin, who I wish was here to be a part 296 00:12:57,045 --> 00:12:59,885 of this conversation, maybe at another point down the line 297 00:12:59,955 --> 00:13:02,605 because Kevin, um, attended, uh, 298 00:13:02,725 --> 00:13:05,805 Highlands Ranch High School here in Denver, Colorado, which 299 00:13:06,475 --> 00:13:07,965 it's become more diverse 300 00:13:08,185 --> 00:13:10,285 as living in Denver has become 301 00:13:10,285 --> 00:13:11,365 less and less affordable. 302 00:13:11,465 --> 00:13:14,245 So, um, you know, uh, communities 303 00:13:14,245 --> 00:13:16,285 of color are finding themselves displaced 304 00:13:16,705 --> 00:13:17,805 and in other areas, 305 00:13:18,025 --> 00:13:21,285 but at the time, it was an overwhelmingly, um, 306 00:13:21,415 --> 00:13:23,125 white population at the school. 307 00:13:23,665 --> 00:13:25,045 Um, and Kevin was one of, 308 00:13:25,165 --> 00:13:28,445 I think six black students in a school of 3000, I think. 309 00:13:29,025 --> 00:13:31,405 And, um, they used to call themselves a black falcons 310 00:13:31,625 --> 00:13:32,645 and all this kind of thing, 311 00:13:32,785 --> 00:13:34,845 but sort of that kind of, that feeling of kind 312 00:13:34,845 --> 00:13:36,285 of being the only one. 313 00:13:36,285 --> 00:13:38,365 And then the other thing, Brandon, that, that you said 314 00:13:38,795 --> 00:13:42,405 that really, so just this week I was having a conversation, 315 00:13:43,145 --> 00:13:47,085 um, in one of my PhD classes, so dissertation gang, 316 00:13:47,185 --> 00:13:48,525 I'm not quite there yet, . 317 00:13:48,545 --> 00:13:52,325 Um, but, um, one thing that, that we were discussing was 318 00:13:52,325 --> 00:13:55,405 that fine line between providing access 319 00:13:55,425 --> 00:13:57,405 to neurodivergent students of color 320 00:13:57,865 --> 00:14:01,765 and over diagnosing particularly boys of color 321 00:14:02,155 --> 00:14:03,205 with having these things. 322 00:14:03,425 --> 00:14:07,685 So when you talk about A DHD, it's like, we want folks 323 00:14:07,745 --> 00:14:09,725 to receive the services and supports, 324 00:14:09,725 --> 00:14:12,565 but we also know that historically there's an over-diagnosis 325 00:14:12,865 --> 00:14:17,765 and over di over sort of, um, assignment to, uh, 326 00:14:18,225 --> 00:14:21,645 to special education for, uh, boys of color. 327 00:14:21,905 --> 00:14:24,205 And, um, this is great stuff. 328 00:14:24,405 --> 00:14:26,765 I, I wanna kind of follow up on something really quickly, 329 00:14:26,865 --> 00:14:28,845 and I think we'll touch on this a little bit 330 00:14:28,985 --> 00:14:31,245 as we continue the conversation. 331 00:14:31,865 --> 00:14:35,565 Um, so a couple of terms that I've become really aware 332 00:14:35,565 --> 00:14:38,885 of since learning about your organization, um, have to do 333 00:14:38,885 --> 00:14:41,725 with private school versus independent school. 334 00:14:42,225 --> 00:14:43,565 Um, so maybe Kim 335 00:14:43,565 --> 00:14:46,245 and then Brandon, if, if you could speak a little to 336 00:14:46,995 --> 00:14:49,485 what the, if any, if there's a distinction 337 00:14:49,485 --> 00:14:51,845 or if those terms are used interchangeably. 338 00:14:53,425 --> 00:14:58,395 - Sure. Um, so we work primarily with pre-K through 12 339 00:14:59,105 --> 00:15:00,115 secondary schools. 340 00:15:00,415 --> 00:15:05,355 Um, and so for us, so we work with private, independent 341 00:15:05,495 --> 00:15:07,315 as well as charter schools. 342 00:15:08,055 --> 00:15:11,815 And basically they're schools that are not run 343 00:15:11,875 --> 00:15:14,815 by the government, um, your city or town. 344 00:15:15,195 --> 00:15:16,935 And they can be religious affiliated, 345 00:15:16,965 --> 00:15:19,375 they can be single sex education. 346 00:15:19,955 --> 00:15:24,735 Um, there's just a variety of different, um, terms or, 347 00:15:24,795 --> 00:15:27,335 or a variety of different topics, or, sorry, not topics. 348 00:15:27,335 --> 00:15:29,335 There's a variety of different, um, 349 00:15:29,565 --> 00:15:30,975 definitions of what it could be. 350 00:15:31,035 --> 00:15:32,815 And some are got it, some are much larger, 351 00:15:33,085 --> 00:15:37,415 some are much smaller, some are more niche, um, in terms of, 352 00:15:38,115 --> 00:15:40,175 um, what they offer to their students. 353 00:15:40,795 --> 00:15:44,735 Um, but they are governed by their own board of advisors. 354 00:15:45,205 --> 00:15:47,175 Yeah. Brandon, I'll kick it to you. 355 00:15:47,645 --> 00:15:48,775 - Yeah, I would agree. Same way. 356 00:15:48,775 --> 00:15:50,135 I think the, the word independent, 357 00:15:50,135 --> 00:15:51,575 and this has been thrown around the last couple years, 358 00:15:51,625 --> 00:15:53,095 we're really, and we're a big proponent 359 00:15:53,095 --> 00:15:55,335 and a big sponsor, infra fan of, uh, 360 00:15:55,335 --> 00:15:57,095 the National Association of Independent Schools, 361 00:15:57,095 --> 00:15:58,615 or NIS as people might call it. 362 00:15:58,915 --> 00:16:00,695 Um, and so for us that distinction 363 00:16:00,695 --> 00:16:03,815 between truly being independent of, again, jurisdiction 364 00:16:03,815 --> 00:16:05,375 around that situation, I think it's huge. 365 00:16:05,995 --> 00:16:08,135 Um, and I think for a lot of folks, my wife's an educator 366 00:16:08,135 --> 00:16:10,375 as well too, any independent school world not being kind 367 00:16:10,375 --> 00:16:13,735 of tethered to, I think some of the traditional more sense 368 00:16:13,735 --> 00:16:15,335 of, of the public kind of sense of it. 369 00:16:15,585 --> 00:16:16,895 Again, they're all great places. 370 00:16:16,925 --> 00:16:19,295 They all do great things, but the independent nature of 371 00:16:19,295 --> 00:16:22,455 that allows for more that choice, that selection, what comes 372 00:16:22,455 --> 00:16:24,415 with that, that I think is a higher price tag, 373 00:16:24,485 --> 00:16:26,335 obviously sometimes, or whatever it may be. 374 00:16:26,715 --> 00:16:29,175 But I think that the recent change within the American 375 00:16:29,175 --> 00:16:30,655 system, thinking about like school choice 376 00:16:30,755 --> 00:16:32,135 and programming, all these things come 377 00:16:32,135 --> 00:16:33,295 into this conversation now. 378 00:16:33,295 --> 00:16:35,655 Like, what's best for your kid, ultimately. 379 00:16:35,675 --> 00:16:37,575 And I think independent schools function a little 380 00:16:37,575 --> 00:16:39,375 differently in that sense that they can meet some 381 00:16:39,375 --> 00:16:41,455 of those needs and some of those situations when you throw 382 00:16:41,515 --> 00:16:44,495 in, um, extracurriculars and college programming 383 00:16:44,595 --> 00:16:47,015 and all those things that you can do, there are benefits 384 00:16:47,035 --> 00:16:49,095 and, and, um, and different advantages to it. 385 00:16:49,095 --> 00:16:51,015 But we work a lot of with schools that have that, 386 00:16:51,165 --> 00:16:52,615 that freedom or flexibility, 387 00:16:52,735 --> 00:16:54,095 I would say, to work outside of that. 388 00:16:54,395 --> 00:16:56,095 Um, and it's, uh, it's, it's great. 389 00:16:56,095 --> 00:16:57,935 It's got a lot of positives to it as well too. Yeah. 390 00:16:58,215 --> 00:17:00,815 - I love that. Thank you so much. Like, I think that I, 391 00:17:00,895 --> 00:17:02,775 I probably don't have to tell you all, 392 00:17:02,875 --> 00:17:05,895 but in the various, uh, debate debates that happen 393 00:17:05,895 --> 00:17:07,255 around education Mm-Hmm. 394 00:17:07,295 --> 00:17:10,135 , I think we very rarely go on fact finding 395 00:17:10,135 --> 00:17:12,655 missions, um, in a lot of like areas. 396 00:17:13,595 --> 00:17:15,015 And, and honestly, that, that's one 397 00:17:15,015 --> 00:17:16,535 of the reasons I love doing this podcast is 398 00:17:16,535 --> 00:17:19,815 that I have the opportunity to say, so what is that 399 00:17:20,335 --> 00:17:23,255 like, tell me in your words kind of what, 400 00:17:23,365 --> 00:17:24,575 what the lived experience 401 00:17:24,575 --> 00:17:26,855 that you have in these professional spaces is. 402 00:17:26,855 --> 00:17:29,695 So thank you for that. And I guess I have one more kind 403 00:17:29,695 --> 00:17:31,375 of follow up question before we kind 404 00:17:31,375 --> 00:17:34,295 of get into some conversation around DEIB 405 00:17:34,295 --> 00:17:38,375 and what Carney Sando does to, um, to do authentic 406 00:17:38,395 --> 00:17:40,055 and meaningful DEIB work. 407 00:17:40,395 --> 00:17:42,455 Um, how did y'all find your way into education? 408 00:17:43,375 --> 00:17:47,855 - ? Uh, for me, it just fell into my lap. 409 00:17:47,965 --> 00:17:51,485 I've worked at Carney Sando for over 20 years. Okay. 410 00:17:51,625 --> 00:17:56,125 Um, so I randomly s started out working 411 00:17:56,125 --> 00:17:58,205 part-time for the firm, um, 412 00:17:58,435 --> 00:18:00,485 because a friend told me about a job opening 413 00:18:01,065 --> 00:18:03,205 and I worked my way up to where I am today. 414 00:18:03,325 --> 00:18:06,605 'cause I just fell in love with the company, the mission, 415 00:18:06,915 --> 00:18:08,205 what we do, the people. 416 00:18:08,985 --> 00:18:11,645 Um, and yeah, it's been over 20 years. 417 00:18:12,065 --> 00:18:14,045 It seems like it was just yesterday, . 418 00:18:14,105 --> 00:18:16,645 - Wow. That's cool. We don't, we don't see that a lot. 419 00:18:16,795 --> 00:18:20,445 Like, you know, I am the longest tenured, um, 420 00:18:20,475 --> 00:18:24,685 manager in Denver Public Schools in my, in my particular, 421 00:18:24,785 --> 00:18:27,245 in, in my particular internal pathways 422 00:18:27,245 --> 00:18:28,245 and development department. 423 00:18:28,515 --> 00:18:30,885 I've been in that position for 18 months. Right. 424 00:18:31,675 --> 00:18:34,005 I've been in Denver Public Schools for 25 years, 425 00:18:34,265 --> 00:18:35,645 but most of it was as a teacher. 426 00:18:35,945 --> 00:18:37,805 Uh, how about you, Brandon? What's your, uh, sort 427 00:18:37,805 --> 00:18:39,405 of connection into education? 428 00:18:39,795 --> 00:18:42,285 Yeah, I sounds like there's a lot there. Yeah, there's 429 00:18:42,365 --> 00:18:43,365 - A lot to that story. 430 00:18:43,365 --> 00:18:45,605 Yeah. Yeah. And it, and it revolves around to the point 431 00:18:45,605 --> 00:18:47,125 of kind of the private school world as well too. 432 00:18:47,125 --> 00:18:48,845 Again, if you would've told me, uh, 433 00:18:49,075 --> 00:18:50,205 what is it, 15 years ago? 434 00:18:50,205 --> 00:18:51,885 So when I graduated high school 20 years ago, 435 00:18:52,045 --> 00:18:53,765 whatever it is, um, that I'd be working education, 436 00:18:53,765 --> 00:18:54,765 I probably would've punched you in the 437 00:18:54,765 --> 00:18:55,365 face, right? , because 438 00:18:55,365 --> 00:18:58,045 - I'm like, same, same. I would've done the 439 00:18:58,045 --> 00:18:59,045 - Same. 440 00:18:59,045 --> 00:19:01,045 Because I think for, I think in particular, for me, again, 441 00:19:01,065 --> 00:19:03,045 not having a lot of black role models, honestly, 442 00:19:03,045 --> 00:19:04,565 there wasn't like, why would I wanna do that? 443 00:19:04,565 --> 00:19:06,445 Right. I don't, I don't know. I see that connection. 444 00:19:06,505 --> 00:19:08,685 So it, it wasn't for me until I got to college. 445 00:19:09,005 --> 00:19:10,405 Honestly, when I, when I was a pre-law major, 446 00:19:10,485 --> 00:19:12,685 I made it about 35 seconds in my first law class. 447 00:19:12,705 --> 00:19:14,205 And I was like, this is not gonna work. . 448 00:19:14,385 --> 00:19:17,245 Um, the, uh, the professor, professional professor said 449 00:19:17,245 --> 00:19:18,525 to me, uh, if you think this is like 450 00:19:18,525 --> 00:19:19,565 law and order, you're in the wrong class. 451 00:19:19,705 --> 00:19:20,965 And I was like, well, I'm in the wrong class. 452 00:19:20,985 --> 00:19:22,685 And I just got up and left, like right 453 00:19:22,685 --> 00:19:24,245 after the first like, interation, whatever it was. 454 00:19:24,305 --> 00:19:25,645 So, uh, so I stumbled through. 455 00:19:25,705 --> 00:19:26,885 - Oh, wow. That's amazing. You decided 456 00:19:26,885 --> 00:19:28,085 right there in that moment, right 457 00:19:28,085 --> 00:19:29,085 - There, this working. 458 00:19:29,085 --> 00:19:29,885 Yeah. I'm not wasting anybody's time. I love it. 459 00:19:30,315 --> 00:19:31,645 Time, my time. This is what I thought 460 00:19:31,645 --> 00:19:32,725 it was gonna be, whatever it is. 461 00:19:32,725 --> 00:19:34,605 And so, um, I ended up falling in, in, 462 00:19:34,735 --> 00:19:36,125 ironically, in love with sociology. 463 00:19:36,245 --> 00:19:38,325 I took a class randomly, kind of, I had to go 464 00:19:38,325 --> 00:19:40,085 to another class after I left this pre-law class 465 00:19:40,085 --> 00:19:41,965 and ended up taking a class in anthropology. 466 00:19:42,425 --> 00:19:44,325 Um, fell in love with that idea. 467 00:19:44,385 --> 00:19:46,645 And it wasn't until college when I was sitting in a kind 468 00:19:46,645 --> 00:19:49,245 of college classroom, taking an education class, uh, 469 00:19:49,245 --> 00:19:50,965 that I thought I wasn't gonna love or whatever, 470 00:19:50,965 --> 00:19:52,285 and kind of fell again, fell in love 471 00:19:52,285 --> 00:19:53,485 with this idea of being in education. 472 00:19:53,865 --> 00:19:55,445 Um, but I started on the interesting 473 00:19:55,445 --> 00:19:57,845 and the wild only laugh as I started on the college, um, 474 00:19:58,195 --> 00:20:00,405 placement or college admissions track. 475 00:20:00,525 --> 00:20:01,845 I was a college admissions intern. 476 00:20:01,925 --> 00:20:03,765 I did all those things after undergrad, 477 00:20:03,805 --> 00:20:05,285 I went into the college admissions world. 478 00:20:05,505 --> 00:20:09,005 And in that experience, I think I realized, um, a lot 479 00:20:09,005 --> 00:20:10,965 of things about how much I wanted to help 480 00:20:11,065 --> 00:20:12,845 and really wanted to give back to what was going on. 481 00:20:13,145 --> 00:20:14,405 But I, but interestingly enough, 482 00:20:14,405 --> 00:20:16,645 I think quickly turned in why I do what I do now. 483 00:20:16,725 --> 00:20:18,325 I was like, I realize I couldn't save everybody. Right. 484 00:20:18,485 --> 00:20:19,885 I felt like I was actually failing 485 00:20:19,895 --> 00:20:21,245 folks by doing that more and more. 486 00:20:21,395 --> 00:20:23,245 Yeah. I spent so much time buting my head 487 00:20:23,245 --> 00:20:24,405 trying to fix this and fix that. 488 00:20:24,405 --> 00:20:25,365 And I was like, look, I gotta, I gotta 489 00:20:25,365 --> 00:20:26,285 control what I can control. 490 00:20:26,665 --> 00:20:28,405 And that was actually probably within the classroom, 491 00:20:28,405 --> 00:20:29,805 within a school setting and on and on. 492 00:20:29,825 --> 00:20:32,005 And then, ironically now, five years ago or so, 493 00:20:32,465 --> 00:20:35,005 or a little less than that, um, carne sando came kind 494 00:20:35,005 --> 00:20:36,765 of knocking it gave me the chance to go back 495 00:20:36,765 --> 00:20:39,245 and do this for more folks, not just at one school. 496 00:20:39,625 --> 00:20:41,685 Um, and it's a blessing. I, I count on every day, right. 497 00:20:41,705 --> 00:20:43,005 So it's been kind of a full circle 498 00:20:43,105 --> 00:20:44,205 for me to think about that. 499 00:20:44,625 --> 00:20:47,125 Um, but for if, again, just to go back to your question, 500 00:20:47,265 --> 00:20:49,565 you never thought I'd be an education. 501 00:20:49,625 --> 00:20:51,765 And now I, I laugh to think of 502 00:20:51,765 --> 00:20:52,765 what else would I've ever done. 503 00:20:52,765 --> 00:20:54,405 Right? There was not like, just kind 504 00:20:54,405 --> 00:20:56,005 of fall into that mode or whatever it is. 505 00:20:56,285 --> 00:20:57,565 I married an educator. I'm 506 00:20:57,645 --> 00:20:58,765 surrounded by educators every day, right? 507 00:20:58,765 --> 00:21:00,805 Like I, we see the path now. 508 00:21:00,905 --> 00:21:04,085 But it wasn't until that, I guess triggering of kind 509 00:21:04,085 --> 00:21:05,965 of doing what I was designed to do. 510 00:21:06,385 --> 00:21:08,005 Um, and even more so when I worked 511 00:21:08,005 --> 00:21:09,685 with kids in college counseling, 512 00:21:09,785 --> 00:21:10,805 I'm like, oh, whatcha gonna major in? 513 00:21:10,805 --> 00:21:12,085 I'm like, major in your passion. Right. 514 00:21:12,105 --> 00:21:13,045 Do what you gotta do. That's right. Because 515 00:21:13,045 --> 00:21:14,205 the rest of it figure it out. 516 00:21:14,205 --> 00:21:15,645 That's right. Yeah. I was a communication 517 00:21:15,645 --> 00:21:17,685 and a sociology major, and I work as an educator, right? 518 00:21:17,685 --> 00:21:20,885 Like there's no pathway to find success or happiness. 519 00:21:20,885 --> 00:21:23,005 But I think as an educator now, um, 520 00:21:23,165 --> 00:21:24,765 I couldn't see myself doing anything else. Right, 521 00:21:25,045 --> 00:21:26,045 - . 522 00:21:26,045 --> 00:21:27,245 Yeah. No, I love that. I love hearing these stories. 523 00:21:27,565 --> 00:21:30,125 'cause I think that one thing I've learned just in my role 524 00:21:30,185 --> 00:21:32,805 now, I spent 23 years as a classroom teacher. 525 00:21:33,005 --> 00:21:36,085 I came in through an alternative licensure program. 526 00:21:36,325 --> 00:21:38,125 I had graduated with degrees in history, 527 00:21:38,125 --> 00:21:39,685 Latin American studies and ethnic studies, 528 00:21:40,345 --> 00:21:43,685 and had really been thinking about going to graduate school, 529 00:21:43,825 --> 00:21:47,165 but then I thought more about making an income . 530 00:21:47,225 --> 00:21:50,845 Um, so, um, so I took a long-term sub position, 531 00:21:51,105 --> 00:21:53,045 and it's just really interesting 532 00:21:53,045 --> 00:21:54,285 because I'm like, you, I'm like, 533 00:21:54,285 --> 00:21:55,685 what else would I have done? 534 00:21:55,705 --> 00:21:58,565 And I've done a lot of like thinking about, uh, you know, 535 00:21:58,565 --> 00:22:01,565 just kind looking back as I kind of come towards the end 536 00:22:01,565 --> 00:22:05,965 of my, um, my career in public education 537 00:22:06,575 --> 00:22:11,125 about how just wild this entire ride has been 538 00:22:11,125 --> 00:22:14,725 to go from a long-term sub to 2021 Colorado Teacher 539 00:22:14,725 --> 00:22:16,525 of the Year, and just getting into these bigger spaces, 540 00:22:16,935 --> 00:22:18,685 which has just been incredible. 541 00:22:19,105 --> 00:22:23,465 Um, I think, um, I'm, I'm really interested. 542 00:22:23,645 --> 00:22:28,385 So full transparency, um, I'm going to expose myself as a, 543 00:22:28,765 --> 00:22:29,945 uh, PhD student 544 00:22:30,165 --> 00:22:32,585 who is in my third year almost done with coursework. 545 00:22:32,805 --> 00:22:36,265 And I had never heard the term DEIB until 546 00:22:36,835 --> 00:22:38,145 maybe a few months ago. 547 00:22:38,265 --> 00:22:41,265 Right. And it, it was through lane at your, um, 548 00:22:41,445 --> 00:22:43,985 at your firm that I, that I learned that. 549 00:22:44,205 --> 00:22:46,305 And so rather than asking, what is that? 550 00:22:46,305 --> 00:22:47,825 Anyway, I just looked it up and I was like, 551 00:22:47,965 --> 00:22:49,105 oh, that makes sense. 552 00:22:49,805 --> 00:22:53,025 Um, I want to talk a little bit about DEIB, um, term 553 00:22:53,025 --> 00:22:55,425 that has the, and I don't know if it's just 554 00:22:55,425 --> 00:22:56,985 because I just noticed it 555 00:22:57,245 --> 00:22:59,625 and now I'm starting to see it in other areas 556 00:22:59,805 --> 00:23:02,185 and other sort of discourses around 557 00:23:02,375 --> 00:23:05,065 what we had previously simply called DEI. 558 00:23:05,525 --> 00:23:06,865 Um, and, um, 559 00:23:06,885 --> 00:23:11,265 and I also saw that, um, apparently at Tesla, like 67% 560 00:23:11,265 --> 00:23:13,865 of the employees wanna have DEI training, 561 00:23:13,915 --> 00:23:15,425 which is amazing to me. 562 00:23:15,425 --> 00:23:17,825 Mm-Hmm. , I just can't, I can't speak to 563 00:23:17,825 --> 00:23:19,505 how much I love that irony, right? 564 00:23:19,825 --> 00:23:23,505 , . And, um, it's like, this is great. 565 00:23:23,765 --> 00:23:27,785 So, um, so talk about this emphasis 566 00:23:27,805 --> 00:23:29,105 on Be for Belonging. 567 00:23:29,105 --> 00:23:32,585 Why is that an essential part of the acronym that 568 00:23:32,895 --> 00:23:35,625 that you all at Carney Sando have really, um, 569 00:23:35,975 --> 00:23:38,025 have really taken, um, 570 00:23:38,365 --> 00:23:41,345 and implemented into so many of your practices? 571 00:23:43,165 --> 00:23:46,045 - Yeah. Well, belonging's the outcome, you know, 572 00:23:46,105 --> 00:23:50,445 if you have it, if you have the D plus the E plus the I, 573 00:23:50,505 --> 00:23:52,165 it equals B. 574 00:23:52,585 --> 00:23:55,845 So for us, our ultimate goal is for folks to 575 00:23:57,185 --> 00:23:58,925 belong where they are belong in the cla, 576 00:23:59,035 --> 00:24:01,645 feel like they belong in the classroom, at their workplace, 577 00:24:02,145 --> 00:24:03,885 in their home when they're grocery shopping. 578 00:24:03,915 --> 00:24:07,165 Like having the, adding the B is the, 579 00:24:07,385 --> 00:24:10,325 is the ultimate outcome for, for us is 580 00:24:10,325 --> 00:24:11,685 what our thought process is. 581 00:24:11,785 --> 00:24:14,365 But Brandon, you probably have more eloquent words. 582 00:24:15,285 --> 00:24:16,765 - , I think those are good words. 583 00:24:16,915 --> 00:24:19,925 Yeah, those good words. There's few things in the world. 584 00:24:20,005 --> 00:24:22,485 I know it's very rarely am I having ? 585 00:24:22,665 --> 00:24:24,765 Um, but yeah, no, uh, it's a no. 586 00:24:24,825 --> 00:24:26,445 And I think that, so it's a great question 587 00:24:26,445 --> 00:24:28,325 because I think for a lot of folks they misunderstand this, 588 00:24:28,345 --> 00:24:30,125 and I think there's actually a little bit of onus on people 589 00:24:30,145 --> 00:24:32,725 who, who do this work to under to, to really reestablish 590 00:24:32,725 --> 00:24:33,725 with this for some folks. 591 00:24:34,065 --> 00:24:36,325 Um, I think in the current today's world, we hear about d 592 00:24:36,325 --> 00:24:38,325 and i, we hear about culture, um, the culture 593 00:24:38,335 --> 00:24:40,365 where we hear about all that critical race theory. 594 00:24:40,385 --> 00:24:42,965 And, and what I think folks miss about this is 595 00:24:42,965 --> 00:24:45,285 that when you boil all this down to exactly what Kim said, 596 00:24:45,285 --> 00:24:46,325 we want people to be their best selves 597 00:24:46,345 --> 00:24:47,405 and live their best life, right? 598 00:24:47,435 --> 00:24:49,445 Yeah. And if we can't acknowledge the fact that 599 00:24:49,445 --> 00:24:51,245 that's not currently possible for some folks 600 00:24:51,245 --> 00:24:52,485 because of other things, right? 601 00:24:52,635 --> 00:24:54,325 Then I think we missed the boat to start off with anyway. 602 00:24:54,325 --> 00:24:56,445 Right? So if you get down to this equation of D 603 00:24:56,545 --> 00:24:59,325 and I, again, we call it the d and i equals the B 604 00:24:59,325 --> 00:25:01,725 and kinda the outcome part of it, what the analogy 605 00:25:01,725 --> 00:25:02,765 that's been used a lot of times over, 606 00:25:02,765 --> 00:25:03,805 over history has been like, 607 00:25:03,805 --> 00:25:05,685 diversity is being asked for the dance right? 608 00:25:05,685 --> 00:25:07,845 Type of idea, um, inclusion. 609 00:25:07,865 --> 00:25:09,765 And that idea is being asked to dance kind 610 00:25:09,765 --> 00:25:10,805 of once you're there, right? 611 00:25:10,905 --> 00:25:12,445 Can you, um, can you participate? 612 00:25:12,445 --> 00:25:13,485 Are you participate with other people? 613 00:25:13,865 --> 00:25:17,885 Um, the equity part of it, um, being kind of, um, is, 614 00:25:17,945 --> 00:25:19,245 or can you change the playlist, right? 615 00:25:19,245 --> 00:25:21,285 Is, is the music and the culture part of what 616 00:25:21,285 --> 00:25:22,925 that represents who you are as a person. 617 00:25:23,385 --> 00:25:24,885 Um, we get asked the question all the time, 618 00:25:24,905 --> 00:25:27,285 why is it not DIE and DE and I, right? 619 00:25:27,345 --> 00:25:29,405 And it's 'cause DIE spells die, right? 620 00:25:29,405 --> 00:25:31,045 So we try, we try to switch things around a little. 621 00:25:31,045 --> 00:25:32,365 There's a reason why. Yes. 622 00:25:32,465 --> 00:25:34,405 So, um, absolutely , but, but it, 623 00:25:34,405 --> 00:25:35,445 but it all, honestly, there is a 624 00:25:35,445 --> 00:25:36,685 reason why you add the equation. 625 00:25:36,925 --> 00:25:38,085 'cause once you have a diverse group 626 00:25:38,085 --> 00:25:40,005 and you have a background representing what's going on, 627 00:25:40,055 --> 00:25:43,285 which we show and research will show increases both success 628 00:25:43,465 --> 00:25:44,565 and connection 629 00:25:44,565 --> 00:25:46,165 and relationships, both in the business world, 630 00:25:46,225 --> 00:25:47,845 the educational world, whatever world we're gonna look at, 631 00:25:47,945 --> 00:25:50,245 the diversity part kind of has to be there 632 00:25:50,245 --> 00:25:51,485 for success to work out in the end. 633 00:25:51,865 --> 00:25:54,645 Um, the inclusion part, again, people to feel like they're, 634 00:25:54,765 --> 00:25:56,365 they feel represented, they feel like they're part 635 00:25:56,365 --> 00:25:58,205 of what's going on, and the equitable part, 636 00:25:58,205 --> 00:25:59,445 can they change the power of dynamic? 637 00:25:59,505 --> 00:26:00,525 What's going on? Mm-Hmm. 638 00:26:00,545 --> 00:26:02,165 All of that sounds great and fine, 639 00:26:02,465 --> 00:26:03,845 but what's the outcome of that? 640 00:26:03,845 --> 00:26:05,285 Right? So when you do all of that, 641 00:26:05,355 --> 00:26:06,685 what does it look like in the end? 642 00:26:06,985 --> 00:26:09,045 And if you go back to that dance analogy for a second, 643 00:26:09,045 --> 00:26:10,565 again, Ken, are you invited to the dance? 644 00:26:10,745 --> 00:26:12,445 Yep. Are you able to change the playlist? 645 00:26:12,585 --> 00:26:13,685 And then are, do you feel like 646 00:26:13,685 --> 00:26:14,725 you're in dancing once you're there? 647 00:26:15,145 --> 00:26:17,685 Our question with the B part is why is it a dance 648 00:26:17,685 --> 00:26:18,765 to start off with, right? 649 00:26:18,795 --> 00:26:21,005 Like, why do I feel as if I have 650 00:26:21,005 --> 00:26:23,365 to give up an admissions ticket to get into a place 651 00:26:23,365 --> 00:26:26,805 that is my school, my, my grocery store, my home, right? 652 00:26:26,965 --> 00:26:28,245 Whatever it is to feel like I can just belong. 653 00:26:28,545 --> 00:26:31,405 Um, and I think that is the piece where when we talk 654 00:26:31,405 --> 00:26:33,005 to parents or, or families 655 00:26:33,005 --> 00:26:36,205 or schools who misunderstand this, the attack on this is, 656 00:26:36,205 --> 00:26:37,885 oh, well, you're differentiating something, 657 00:26:37,885 --> 00:26:40,005 or you're making something feel separated 658 00:26:40,005 --> 00:26:41,285 or isolated with, ironically, 659 00:26:41,285 --> 00:26:43,005 it's the complete opposite of that, right? 660 00:26:43,265 --> 00:26:45,805 We want every person, regardless of their skin color, 661 00:26:46,365 --> 00:26:47,725 regardless of their experience, regardless 662 00:26:47,725 --> 00:26:49,005 of their background ever, is to feel 663 00:26:49,005 --> 00:26:51,365 as if when they walk on whatever community they're in, 664 00:26:51,765 --> 00:26:53,685 whatever space they're in, to just be themselves. 665 00:26:53,685 --> 00:26:55,365 Right? That's all we can ask for. 666 00:26:55,425 --> 00:26:56,765 And the fact that that doesn't happen 667 00:26:56,765 --> 00:26:58,645 because of those other things is why 668 00:26:58,645 --> 00:26:59,765 we come back and do it again tomorrow. 669 00:26:59,765 --> 00:27:03,605 Right? So for me, the B is more than just, um, a word. 670 00:27:03,605 --> 00:27:05,365 It's more than just a, a happenstance. 671 00:27:05,465 --> 00:27:08,925 It is an intentional, focused, longitudinal, 672 00:27:09,245 --> 00:27:11,325 whatever way you wanna look at it, outcome of something 673 00:27:11,325 --> 00:27:12,645 that takes time and energy 674 00:27:12,665 --> 00:27:16,925 and effort to create so that every person, um, can feel 675 00:27:16,925 --> 00:27:19,205 as if they're becoming their best self, that they can be, 676 00:27:19,205 --> 00:27:20,885 that they can be their best selves, 677 00:27:21,225 --> 00:27:23,285 and ultimately that they can live their best life. 678 00:27:23,555 --> 00:27:24,565 That is, and it's, and, 679 00:27:24,565 --> 00:27:27,325 and some people say it's an unattainable, uh, uh, journey. 680 00:27:28,045 --> 00:27:29,325 I couldn't disagree more, right? 681 00:27:29,325 --> 00:27:31,245 Like there are situations when you walk into 682 00:27:31,245 --> 00:27:33,605 and you go, huh, like, this is what it means 683 00:27:33,605 --> 00:27:34,685 to just be who I am. 684 00:27:35,105 --> 00:27:36,405 That's what we hope schools 685 00:27:36,425 --> 00:27:39,565 and organizations can create by intentionally focusing on 686 00:27:39,565 --> 00:27:40,565 what that outcome is, 687 00:27:40,745 --> 00:27:43,285 not just sometimes the input of what that might happen. 688 00:27:43,745 --> 00:27:45,845 - So it does, it does feel, um, 689 00:27:46,365 --> 00:27:47,605 a little bit like a tall order. 690 00:27:47,705 --> 00:27:51,205 And I, I think that, um, there's a couple of pieces 691 00:27:51,235 --> 00:27:53,325 that are kind of lingering for me, um, 692 00:27:53,385 --> 00:27:56,125 as you both share the, the belonging part. 693 00:27:56,585 --> 00:28:00,645 Uh, first is that we are in pretty different spaces, right? 694 00:28:01,185 --> 00:28:05,805 And so my experience as, as a, as a Chicano teacher 695 00:28:06,065 --> 00:28:09,525 for 23 years in Denver public schools with, you know, 696 00:28:10,795 --> 00:28:14,845 very rarely did I feel a sense of belonging, like 697 00:28:15,155 --> 00:28:16,845 with my students, definitely. 698 00:28:17,035 --> 00:28:19,845 Because I think that, I think 699 00:28:19,845 --> 00:28:21,285 that we just understood each other on, 700 00:28:21,385 --> 00:28:22,565 on a pretty deep level. 701 00:28:22,905 --> 00:28:26,445 Um, also, I, I was born and raised in this city as well, 702 00:28:26,505 --> 00:28:29,885 and so I attended the schools that I now support. 703 00:28:30,425 --> 00:28:33,965 Um, and again, as a student, not really feeling that, 704 00:28:33,965 --> 00:28:36,205 that sense of belonging, I look at the two 705 00:28:36,205 --> 00:28:39,525 of you having been in this work for a good amount of time. 706 00:28:39,585 --> 00:28:41,365 And it sounds like there's a sense 707 00:28:41,365 --> 00:28:43,205 of belonging, um, where you're at. 708 00:28:43,225 --> 00:28:47,925 But belonging feels like a really, uh, tall order for some 709 00:28:47,925 --> 00:28:51,285 of these systems, which have frankly, um, committed a lot 710 00:28:51,285 --> 00:28:54,245 of harm against marginalized and minoritized communities. 711 00:28:54,985 --> 00:28:58,925 How do you sort of, you, Brandon used the word longitudinal, 712 00:28:58,945 --> 00:29:02,085 but Kim, I'd like to hear how you sort of contend 713 00:29:02,835 --> 00:29:05,965 with the fact that it is kind of ideal state, right? 714 00:29:06,105 --> 00:29:08,405 The outcome is like, we do all this stuff 715 00:29:08,405 --> 00:29:09,685 and this is where we wanna go. 716 00:29:10,825 --> 00:29:13,125 And it may be difficult to get there in a lot of places. 717 00:29:13,385 --> 00:29:15,565 How do you sort of balance that? 718 00:29:17,225 --> 00:29:21,525 - Well, I think, you know, you have to start somewhere 719 00:29:21,785 --> 00:29:23,045 and you might not get it right. 720 00:29:23,315 --> 00:29:26,205 Yeah, that's right the first time or the fourth time. 721 00:29:26,505 --> 00:29:28,765 But it is about putting in that effort 722 00:29:29,065 --> 00:29:33,805 and I think collaborating, seeking advice, being willing 723 00:29:33,945 --> 00:29:38,665 to, um, to grow, to change, to, 724 00:29:39,845 --> 00:29:41,525 to apologize when you need to. 725 00:29:42,245 --> 00:29:45,605 I do think that it, it is just about taking that step 726 00:29:45,905 --> 00:29:48,445 and seeing what happens, um, from there. 727 00:29:49,035 --> 00:29:51,725 - Yeah. I love the idea of, of this, of belonging 728 00:29:51,745 --> 00:29:52,925 as kind of like a north star. 729 00:29:52,925 --> 00:29:55,245 It guides you. You're always headed in that direction. 730 00:29:55,785 --> 00:30:00,165 And I, you know, I also think about just in the work 731 00:30:00,165 --> 00:30:01,885 that I'm doing, 'cause managing, um, 732 00:30:02,025 --> 00:30:04,405 adults very different from managing, uh, 733 00:30:04,405 --> 00:30:05,845 middle schoolers in some ways. 734 00:30:05,865 --> 00:30:07,885 In some ways it's actually very similar . 735 00:30:07,885 --> 00:30:12,125 Um, but I think that, um, I think that there are moments 736 00:30:12,655 --> 00:30:16,805 where it's like we just had a moment of belonging. 737 00:30:17,115 --> 00:30:19,965 Like, like, I don't know how long it's gonna last. 738 00:30:20,125 --> 00:30:21,965 I don't know what other things may come up, 739 00:30:22,145 --> 00:30:23,525 but we just kind of had that moment. 740 00:30:23,625 --> 00:30:25,805 And if we can string together enough of those moments, 741 00:30:26,465 --> 00:30:30,925 you know, where it becomes kind of the culture, um, of 742 00:30:30,925 --> 00:30:32,445 where we're at, I think that can be really profound. 743 00:30:32,445 --> 00:30:33,725 Thank you for answering that question. 744 00:30:33,755 --> 00:30:36,365 Like when I, when I hear some of this terminology, I'm kind 745 00:30:36,565 --> 00:30:38,205 of like, man, I 746 00:30:38,685 --> 00:30:39,725 - , are you sure? 747 00:30:39,835 --> 00:30:42,285 Well, Well, I also think, you know, um, the, 748 00:30:42,305 --> 00:30:46,545 the humans have a desire to belong, you know? 749 00:30:46,785 --> 00:30:48,425 Absolutely. To belong in their community, 750 00:30:48,425 --> 00:30:49,905 to belong at school, to, like, 751 00:30:49,905 --> 00:30:51,745 from a very young age, you know? 752 00:30:51,845 --> 00:30:54,665 And just because you are from, 753 00:30:54,695 --> 00:30:58,145 from an underrepresented group, you shouldn't have the, 754 00:30:58,205 --> 00:30:59,665 you should be able to have the same opportunities. 755 00:30:59,725 --> 00:31:01,705 You should feel comfortable. Yeah, for sure. You know? 756 00:31:01,885 --> 00:31:06,105 And I think that it's just, it's, it's a human need 757 00:31:06,245 --> 00:31:07,825 to belong to feel like you belong. 758 00:31:08,095 --> 00:31:09,985 - Yeah. Well, and I'll just add, I think that the part 759 00:31:09,985 --> 00:31:11,345 that even break the words down too, 760 00:31:11,345 --> 00:31:12,265 and we don't have to do all the 761 00:31:12,265 --> 00:31:13,945 semantics here in this meeting. Oh, 762 00:31:13,985 --> 00:31:15,545 - I love semantics. I love it. Yeah. If 763 00:31:15,545 --> 00:31:16,545 - You break, if you break it down, right? 764 00:31:16,545 --> 00:31:17,905 So to be and long, right? 765 00:31:17,905 --> 00:31:19,185 You've split up those two things, right? 766 00:31:19,245 --> 00:31:21,065 And what's going on? Words like belief and, 767 00:31:21,065 --> 00:31:23,385 and under, like, if you go down to the core value, 768 00:31:23,385 --> 00:31:24,905 what's going on, all it basically says, 769 00:31:25,125 --> 00:31:27,225 I'm gonna show up here and know that I'm here. 770 00:31:27,315 --> 00:31:29,945 Right? That is the end all, be all of this conversation. 771 00:31:30,085 --> 00:31:32,105 We can go through this. We get asked all the time, 772 00:31:32,185 --> 00:31:33,985 especially our work, well, how, how early is too early? 773 00:31:33,985 --> 00:31:36,225 Talk about kids. Um, they, they're talking already. 774 00:31:36,365 --> 00:31:39,265 Uh, the minute they're, the world is starting to be shaped, 775 00:31:39,745 --> 00:31:42,345 I think it's responsibly responsible, I think for schools 776 00:31:42,405 --> 00:31:44,625 to ask the question, what is our job here, right? 777 00:31:44,625 --> 00:31:45,905 As an institution is to educate kids 778 00:31:45,905 --> 00:31:46,985 and the thing and what's going on. 779 00:31:47,825 --> 00:31:49,345 Ultimately, when you boil that down, the first thing 780 00:31:49,345 --> 00:31:50,465 that we have to do is protect kids. 781 00:31:50,765 --> 00:31:52,545 We ha we have to be able to understand. 782 00:31:52,845 --> 00:31:54,225 We can protect their innocence. 783 00:31:54,245 --> 00:31:56,305 We can say, or we can protect their future. Yeah. 784 00:31:56,305 --> 00:31:58,465 And I think those two sometimes get misaligned. 785 00:31:58,465 --> 00:32:01,705 Understand that, um, this belonging piece can be 786 00:32:01,705 --> 00:32:03,905 as simplistic or understood as very much of, 787 00:32:04,245 --> 00:32:05,705 we just wanna make sure that you're just being the 788 00:32:05,705 --> 00:32:06,745 best version of yourself, right? 789 00:32:06,745 --> 00:32:09,025 And, and whatever that is today doesn't necessarily 790 00:32:09,025 --> 00:32:10,105 even be the same thing tomorrow. 791 00:32:10,205 --> 00:32:11,385 And that journey, to your point 792 00:32:11,385 --> 00:32:12,945 that Kim mentioned is exactly where we're at, 793 00:32:13,215 --> 00:32:14,505 that it's not actually ironic. 794 00:32:14,585 --> 00:32:15,945 I think it'd be, it'd be a mistake if you're, 795 00:32:15,945 --> 00:32:16,985 if your destination's the 796 00:32:16,985 --> 00:32:18,105 same thing today as it was tomorrow. 797 00:32:18,245 --> 00:32:20,785 So we don't see belonging as, again, as a destination. 798 00:32:20,815 --> 00:32:22,985 Just like we don't see success and, and what's going on. 799 00:32:23,225 --> 00:32:25,105 I think for some folks who get locked into the numbers 800 00:32:25,245 --> 00:32:26,345 and the data and all that stuff, 801 00:32:26,365 --> 00:32:27,585 and I hear that part of it, right? 802 00:32:27,665 --> 00:32:29,665 Especially in today's world, uh, with some of the way our, 803 00:32:29,665 --> 00:32:33,185 our, our finances function on like, oh, we can test for, uh, 804 00:32:33,265 --> 00:32:34,945 aptitude, we can test for success. 805 00:32:35,005 --> 00:32:37,145 Really, you're not, you're not actually what you're testing 806 00:32:37,205 --> 00:32:38,545 for in that moment, right? 807 00:32:38,845 --> 00:32:40,325 Is where we are in that moment. 808 00:32:40,505 --> 00:32:42,285 And no different belonging that, again, 809 00:32:42,325 --> 00:32:44,005 a kid may feel like they belong today 810 00:32:44,345 --> 00:32:45,645 and then tomorrow they don't. 811 00:32:45,645 --> 00:32:47,085 And that's okay as well too. 812 00:32:47,085 --> 00:32:50,165 What we wanna move toward though is the fact of, you know, 813 00:32:50,165 --> 00:32:51,165 that we care about you 814 00:32:51,225 --> 00:32:52,725 and here's how and why we're doing that. 815 00:32:53,065 --> 00:32:54,325 Um, and the last, I mean, I I, 816 00:32:54,345 --> 00:32:55,765 the perfect analogy I think I can 817 00:32:55,765 --> 00:32:56,805 give to this in so many ways. 818 00:32:57,045 --> 00:32:58,965 I, growing up as a kid, uh, I mentioned 819 00:32:58,965 --> 00:33:01,365 before being in a, in a somewhat kind of 50 50, uh, 820 00:33:01,365 --> 00:33:03,165 inner city kind area of, of, of white and, 821 00:33:03,165 --> 00:33:05,605 and black members in my community, um, never forget. 822 00:33:05,605 --> 00:33:07,045 And I'm wearing Wakanda on purpose 823 00:33:07,045 --> 00:33:09,085 because I'm wear dead. But anyway, I 824 00:33:09,305 --> 00:33:10,305 - See it, I see it - . 825 00:33:10,305 --> 00:33:12,045 You can't see my blurred back of my Wakanda while over here. 826 00:33:12,045 --> 00:33:15,365 But like, remember as a kid growing up, uh, 827 00:33:15,375 --> 00:33:18,085 never forgetting one of my best friend Sean, who I still, 828 00:33:18,155 --> 00:33:19,485 it's what I still keep in touch with today. 829 00:33:19,485 --> 00:33:20,965 We're five or six years old, whatever it is, 830 00:33:21,065 --> 00:33:22,725 having this conversation about Halloween, 831 00:33:22,725 --> 00:33:23,725 what we're gonna be for Halloween 832 00:33:23,725 --> 00:33:25,325 and all these things, I remember saying to him, I wanted 833 00:33:25,325 --> 00:33:26,485 to be Spider-Man. 834 00:33:26,485 --> 00:33:28,325 Right? That's what I wanted to do. And all these things. 835 00:33:28,385 --> 00:33:30,285 And he looked at me dead in the eye at six years old 836 00:33:30,285 --> 00:33:31,525 and told me I couldn't be Spider-Man. 837 00:33:31,685 --> 00:33:34,365 'cause I was black. Right? Now that's innocent. 838 00:33:34,395 --> 00:33:35,685 He's six years old, right? There's 839 00:33:35,685 --> 00:33:36,885 nothing Attached to him, right? 840 00:33:36,985 --> 00:33:40,085 Yep. But my world was rocked to be able to understand 841 00:33:40,085 --> 00:33:43,845 that I couldn't be something or be with somebody 842 00:33:43,945 --> 00:33:44,965 or be this thing 843 00:33:44,965 --> 00:33:47,205 because of something I had no control over, right? 844 00:33:47,215 --> 00:33:50,125 Right. But belonging says the opposite is be here, be 845 00:33:50,345 --> 00:33:52,085 who you want to be and be here now. 846 00:33:52,085 --> 00:33:53,445 Right? Because we don't care. 847 00:33:53,505 --> 00:33:54,965 Not that we don't care about those things, 848 00:33:55,285 --> 00:33:56,325 actually quite the opposite. 849 00:33:56,325 --> 00:33:58,165 We care so much about those things 850 00:33:58,355 --> 00:34:00,365 that I'm gonna let those things become 851 00:34:00,425 --> 00:34:01,565 who you are as a person, right? 852 00:34:01,665 --> 00:34:04,645 You are a black male, I am a Christian, I am these things. 853 00:34:04,675 --> 00:34:05,845 It's not gonna change that part. 854 00:34:05,965 --> 00:34:07,605 I don't wanna eradicate or erase those parts. 855 00:34:07,965 --> 00:34:09,565 I want you to bring all of those things. 856 00:34:09,665 --> 00:34:12,485 And when you sit here in front of me, person to person 857 00:34:12,505 --> 00:34:14,725 or whatever it may be, we're gonna let that just ride. 858 00:34:14,735 --> 00:34:16,125 We're just gonna be who we are. 859 00:34:16,465 --> 00:34:18,605 Um, I think the misconception around that, around 860 00:34:18,605 --> 00:34:20,005 that is going on is what makes it difficult. 861 00:34:20,065 --> 00:34:21,445 Oh, I wanna make you better. 862 00:34:21,565 --> 00:34:22,725 I don't wanna make you better at all. 863 00:34:22,725 --> 00:34:25,445 Make you be the best person you want to be. Yeah. 864 00:34:25,645 --> 00:34:27,525 Whatever that is. And I think that's the part long people 865 00:34:27,525 --> 00:34:29,165 see as this long-term destination. 866 00:34:29,535 --> 00:34:31,725 We're never gonna get there, ever. No, that's right. 867 00:34:31,785 --> 00:34:33,285 And I, and I'm okay with that 868 00:34:33,285 --> 00:34:36,005 because if we do, that means we're in a cult, honestly. 869 00:34:36,005 --> 00:34:38,525 Yeah. , I mean, I mean, that's just what it is. 870 00:34:38,585 --> 00:34:40,205 It just calls space, space. We're all looking around 871 00:34:40,205 --> 00:34:41,885 and be like, oh, come kumbaya, we're great. 872 00:34:42,105 --> 00:34:44,965 That's a problem. That's gonna be an issue somehow some way. 873 00:34:45,325 --> 00:34:46,485 I want you to bring all those issues, 874 00:34:46,495 --> 00:34:48,005 bring all those differences on. 875 00:34:48,005 --> 00:34:49,085 We're gonna sit here and 876 00:34:49,085 --> 00:34:50,205 there's love on each other either way. 877 00:34:50,205 --> 00:34:51,805 Right. That's belonging. Yeah. 878 00:34:52,045 --> 00:34:56,005 - I love it. And I lo I noted the Wakanda forever. Yeah, 879 00:34:56,325 --> 00:34:57,525 - , - It's a beautiful thing. 880 00:34:57,705 --> 00:34:59,165 Um, it's interesting 881 00:34:59,165 --> 00:35:00,525 because as you speak, 882 00:35:00,665 --> 00:35:03,045 my mind's like running in a thousand different directions. 883 00:35:03,065 --> 00:35:07,645 But as, as you both speak about this idea of, um, 884 00:35:07,945 --> 00:35:12,005 of what it means to belong, um, I'm thinking about 885 00:35:12,335 --> 00:35:13,365 where I grew up. 886 00:35:13,545 --> 00:35:18,165 So I'm half Mexican, half white. I identify as Chicano. 887 00:35:18,285 --> 00:35:21,045 I grew up in, Denver is historically one 888 00:35:21,045 --> 00:35:23,125 of the most segregated cities in the country. 889 00:35:23,825 --> 00:35:26,525 Um, and it has been for a really long time. 890 00:35:26,745 --> 00:35:29,445 And so the neighborhood I grew up in, I, 891 00:35:29,445 --> 00:35:31,125 there weren't other white kids 892 00:35:31,145 --> 00:35:34,325 and there weren't other, uh, Mexican American Latina kids. 893 00:35:34,765 --> 00:35:37,005 I grew up in a historically black neighborhood, which I, 894 00:35:37,030 --> 00:35:39,845 I learned as I grew up, was actually one 895 00:35:39,845 --> 00:35:42,365 of the most storied, uh, black communities 896 00:35:42,365 --> 00:35:44,925 between the Mississippi and like la right? 897 00:35:45,065 --> 00:35:49,725 So a lot of our history was defined by folks moving west, 898 00:35:50,305 --> 00:35:51,685 um, migrating west 899 00:35:51,825 --> 00:35:55,165 and making stopovers in, in Denver, in the Denver area, 900 00:35:55,745 --> 00:35:57,245 and then saying, this is kind of a cool place. 901 00:35:57,345 --> 00:35:59,485 I'm gonna put down Roos, James Beckworth, uh, 902 00:35:59,625 --> 00:36:00,805 one of the great explorers. 903 00:36:00,805 --> 00:36:02,845 There's a wild, the, you know, bill Pickett, 904 00:36:02,865 --> 00:36:04,485 the Bill Pickett Rodeo started here. 905 00:36:05,185 --> 00:36:08,445 And I think about the community that I grew up in 906 00:36:08,945 --> 00:36:13,205 and how, to your point, Brandon, my identity never 907 00:36:13,755 --> 00:36:15,165 cost me an, an ability 908 00:36:15,265 --> 00:36:17,965 to belong like the kids on my, on my block. 909 00:36:17,965 --> 00:36:20,125 Like we played every day. We had a great time. 910 00:36:20,305 --> 00:36:23,925 And I think that what gave me a way to 911 00:36:24,655 --> 00:36:25,725 understand culture 912 00:36:25,825 --> 00:36:27,685 and history is something to be celebrated, 913 00:36:27,945 --> 00:36:31,365 was growing up in a community where their legacies 914 00:36:31,365 --> 00:36:32,925 of excellence were celebrated. 915 00:36:33,005 --> 00:36:35,525 Whether it was in the barbershops, in the grocery stores, 916 00:36:35,945 --> 00:36:38,845 in the restaurants, just the murals, that kind of thing. 917 00:36:39,105 --> 00:36:41,285 And so now I rock my culture 918 00:36:41,285 --> 00:36:45,085 because I had, I, I had such a great template for 919 00:36:45,105 --> 00:36:47,005 how one can love their own culture. 920 00:36:47,145 --> 00:36:49,885 And, and it makes me realize that like, listen, 921 00:36:50,105 --> 00:36:52,005 the neighborhood I grew up in was super violent. 922 00:36:52,005 --> 00:36:54,805 There's a lot of things that I needed to get away from. 923 00:36:55,515 --> 00:36:58,205 That was also the last time I really felt like I 924 00:36:58,685 --> 00:36:59,845 belonged in a space. 925 00:37:00,065 --> 00:37:02,525 And so I'm having a moment right now, y'all. 926 00:37:02,665 --> 00:37:04,325 Um, and that's beautiful. 927 00:37:04,425 --> 00:37:07,405 So thank you for, for just taking me in that direction. 928 00:37:07,465 --> 00:37:12,125 So, um, so there's, you've both sort of hinted at sort 929 00:37:12,125 --> 00:37:15,245 of the overall climate that we're dealing with right now. 930 00:37:15,385 --> 00:37:17,605 And so, uh, there are folks out there 931 00:37:17,665 --> 00:37:19,005 who are propagating a message 932 00:37:19,355 --> 00:37:21,725 that DEI is the big bad wolf, right? 933 00:37:21,955 --> 00:37:26,325 That we have to stop. DEI It's even gone so far as to lead 934 00:37:26,325 --> 00:37:29,365 to policy that is banning the use 935 00:37:29,365 --> 00:37:32,405 of DEI in institutions of higher education 936 00:37:32,865 --> 00:37:33,885 and that kind of thing. 937 00:37:34,105 --> 00:37:36,845 Um, so what I would love to, 938 00:37:37,805 --> 00:37:39,805 I am always really inspired by people 939 00:37:40,265 --> 00:37:43,445 and organizations that are leaning into the thing 940 00:37:43,445 --> 00:37:46,165 that's being demonized and that's being attacked. 941 00:37:46,745 --> 00:37:50,845 Um, so I'm just really curious as to how you all 942 00:37:51,425 --> 00:37:56,165 are sort of experiencing this current backlash and, and, 943 00:37:56,225 --> 00:37:59,725 and just, you know, what that has looked like from the work 944 00:37:59,725 --> 00:38:01,885 that you're, that you're both doing in this 945 00:38:01,885 --> 00:38:03,045 really important space. 946 00:38:05,445 --> 00:38:06,775 - Brandon, do you wanna go first? 947 00:38:07,245 --> 00:38:08,415 Yeah, I was gonna say it's the, 948 00:38:08,415 --> 00:38:09,735 it's the fun part of our jobs, right? 949 00:38:09,965 --> 00:38:11,855 - It's so much fun. - It's so much fun. 950 00:38:11,995 --> 00:38:14,055 Um, I tell people all the time if I, uh, 951 00:38:14,055 --> 00:38:15,855 if I was doing something that didn't piss somebody 952 00:38:15,875 --> 00:38:17,015 off, am I doing something right? 953 00:38:17,015 --> 00:38:20,095 Right. Like, I, I don't know if you can, if, if, again, 954 00:38:20,175 --> 00:38:21,455 a couple years ago or whatever it was 955 00:38:21,455 --> 00:38:24,135 before this really took a, a bigger push, it's 956 00:38:24,135 --> 00:38:26,175 where we are now, that I would feel the same way about this 957 00:38:26,175 --> 00:38:28,455 next thing I'll say, but bring it on, right? 958 00:38:28,485 --> 00:38:29,575 I'll be the big bad wolf. 959 00:38:29,595 --> 00:38:32,655 If the big bad wolf is, is in this case, blowing down 960 00:38:32,655 --> 00:38:34,695 and knocking down houses to make kids feel like they're 961 00:38:35,225 --> 00:38:37,125 who they're supposed to be, then, then, 962 00:38:37,195 --> 00:38:38,885 then color me, color me wolf, right? 963 00:38:38,885 --> 00:38:40,245 Like, it is what it is. , I don't know. 964 00:38:40,405 --> 00:38:42,165 I, I don't know if we, um, yes, I love it. 965 00:38:42,165 --> 00:38:44,645 Sometimes I think, uh, we, we get very afraid of 966 00:38:44,645 --> 00:38:47,005 and operationalize some of this issue around the, around 967 00:38:47,355 --> 00:38:48,445 what, what difference is. 968 00:38:48,445 --> 00:38:50,765 And on I, I think there's an opportunity as a country for us 969 00:38:50,765 --> 00:38:53,845 to realize well too, um, that we're here 970 00:38:53,945 --> 00:38:55,085 and we're gonna be here for a long time. 971 00:38:55,085 --> 00:38:56,005 This isn't going backwards. 972 00:38:56,005 --> 00:38:57,245 We're not changing what's going on. 973 00:38:57,465 --> 00:38:58,445 Um, we don't have enough time 974 00:38:58,445 --> 00:38:59,365 to talk about it in this podcast. 975 00:38:59,625 --> 00:39:01,925 How much from a, from a public standpoint, from a, 976 00:39:01,925 --> 00:39:04,485 from a company standpoint, to your point, again, 977 00:39:04,505 --> 00:39:06,885 you have places that are doubling down all these efforts 978 00:39:06,905 --> 00:39:08,085 and we're doing all the right thing, right? 979 00:39:08,355 --> 00:39:10,765 It's gonna, it's gonna start against what's going on. 980 00:39:11,005 --> 00:39:12,045 A lot of these institutions, 981 00:39:12,165 --> 00:39:13,565 I'll speak from the school standpoint, right? 982 00:39:13,865 --> 00:39:16,045 Um, when I, the private school I went to was founded, 983 00:39:16,135 --> 00:39:17,725 ironically, to not let black 984 00:39:17,725 --> 00:39:18,805 and brown students into the school. 985 00:39:18,805 --> 00:39:20,325 It's why it was created. So that didn't happen. 986 00:39:20,345 --> 00:39:22,965 Ah, interesting. Okay. So, so when you, when you talk about 987 00:39:22,965 --> 00:39:25,245 that, that institutional difference there, right? 988 00:39:25,465 --> 00:39:27,445 Um, the changes are gonna happen overnight, right? 989 00:39:27,445 --> 00:39:29,245 It's not, it didn't take, it didn't start overnight. 990 00:39:29,245 --> 00:39:30,685 It's not gonna happen overnight. Yeah. 991 00:39:30,825 --> 00:39:32,885 So I think to answer your question, it, it's, um, 992 00:39:33,875 --> 00:39:35,805 it's about, it's about chipping away at 993 00:39:35,805 --> 00:39:36,925 things for the right reasons, right? 994 00:39:36,925 --> 00:39:38,325 I think being able to wake up every morning 995 00:39:38,325 --> 00:39:39,965 and say, I'm doing the right thing, knowing that's the case. 996 00:39:40,265 --> 00:39:42,365 Uh, and I don't mean to, this is a bad analogy. 997 00:39:42,445 --> 00:39:44,525 I don't mean to, to compare it all to, um, 998 00:39:44,625 --> 00:39:46,005 the civil rights movement on, on, 999 00:39:46,005 --> 00:39:47,885 because I think that there are people moving their lives on 1000 00:39:47,885 --> 00:39:48,925 the line very differently, even 1001 00:39:48,925 --> 00:39:49,565 that we're putting our 1002 00:39:49,565 --> 00:39:50,925 reputations on the line, what's going on? 1003 00:39:51,145 --> 00:39:53,245 Um, we were talking about people losing their li lives 1004 00:39:53,245 --> 00:39:55,125 literally over what was doing what's right. 1005 00:39:55,125 --> 00:39:57,405 What's different today, right? There's no difference. Now. 1006 00:39:57,745 --> 00:39:59,085 Um, you can cancel culture, 1007 00:39:59,145 --> 00:40:00,445 you can do whatever you want to do, right? 1008 00:40:00,465 --> 00:40:01,805 It doesn't change the outcome 1009 00:40:01,825 --> 00:40:03,405 of we're doing what we think makes sense. 1010 00:40:03,945 --> 00:40:05,645 Um, I think that the trick, 1011 00:40:05,645 --> 00:40:08,325 however, the last thing I'll say is that the way to fight 1012 00:40:08,325 --> 00:40:09,925 through some of that is with the truth, right? 1013 00:40:09,995 --> 00:40:12,485 What is this really about? To really arm people around? 1014 00:40:12,835 --> 00:40:14,085 What is the goal behind it? 1015 00:40:14,165 --> 00:40:15,565 I still haven't met a parent that I've dealt 1016 00:40:15,565 --> 00:40:16,685 with in the schools that I've been in 1017 00:40:16,685 --> 00:40:17,925 for over 10, 15 years now. 1018 00:40:18,145 --> 00:40:20,765 Um, that disagrees with what I say about that part. 1019 00:40:20,865 --> 00:40:22,285 Now, we may disagree on the how right? 1020 00:40:22,375 --> 00:40:24,405 Might disagree on the when and what we're talking about, 1021 00:40:24,405 --> 00:40:27,085 but the ultimate, what itself is not arguable 1022 00:40:27,085 --> 00:40:28,245 in so many ways, right? 1023 00:40:28,245 --> 00:40:29,805 And when you get people talking around 1024 00:40:29,805 --> 00:40:31,965 what the true definition, what the true understanding 1025 00:40:31,965 --> 00:40:35,045 that is, um, nobody leaves again, in my understanding, 1026 00:40:35,045 --> 00:40:36,525 is gonna disagree with that part of it. 1027 00:40:36,865 --> 00:40:38,805 The, the issue of getting to that point 1028 00:40:38,825 --> 00:40:40,245 and getting through that conversation, 1029 00:40:40,725 --> 00:40:42,325 I think is the biggest issue we run into, 1030 00:40:42,325 --> 00:40:43,805 is we don't take the time and energy 1031 00:40:44,225 --> 00:40:47,205 to understand why this is so important, why this matters 1032 00:40:47,305 --> 00:40:48,605 so much, and why this is different 1033 00:40:48,605 --> 00:40:50,565 for me than it is anybody else, right. 1034 00:40:50,565 --> 00:40:51,805 For what's going on. Um, 1035 00:40:51,865 --> 00:40:54,925 and I think that the ultimate problem is that de i de and I, 1036 00:40:54,925 --> 00:40:57,845 or de and I be a lot of ways too, um, is difficult 1037 00:40:57,845 --> 00:40:59,885 for people because it's different for every person, right? 1038 00:40:59,885 --> 00:41:01,005 There's not a true, 1039 00:41:01,395 --> 00:41:03,005 even though we just defined it a second ago, 1040 00:41:03,225 --> 00:41:04,925 the way we feel it, the way we see it, 1041 00:41:04,925 --> 00:41:06,605 the way we understand it and even define 1042 00:41:06,605 --> 00:41:07,685 it, can be different for other people. 1043 00:41:07,745 --> 00:41:09,885 And that's okay. It doesn't have 1044 00:41:09,885 --> 00:41:11,325 to be the same for every person. 1045 00:41:11,385 --> 00:41:13,485 And that's what scares some folks is that, 1046 00:41:13,555 --> 00:41:14,725 well, it's not the same for me. 1047 00:41:14,725 --> 00:41:17,805 That, that that is totally your, your whatever is your vibe. 1048 00:41:17,805 --> 00:41:19,365 Is your vibe. Yeah. Right? I just want 1049 00:41:19,365 --> 00:41:20,405 you to live your best life. 1050 00:41:20,685 --> 00:41:22,125 I don't need to impose upon that. 1051 00:41:22,465 --> 00:41:25,675 Um, that I think is not, I'll put it that out there, 1052 00:41:25,675 --> 00:41:26,755 it's not the American way, right? 1053 00:41:26,755 --> 00:41:28,555 We're very much telling people how, 1054 00:41:28,665 --> 00:41:29,955 what the success will look like. 1055 00:41:29,955 --> 00:41:31,075 Fight from your bootstraps 1056 00:41:31,075 --> 00:41:32,995 and just do what, what, and it's gonna work for you. 1057 00:41:33,705 --> 00:41:34,805 That's never been right. 1058 00:41:35,035 --> 00:41:36,245 Just like me telling you how 1059 00:41:36,245 --> 00:41:37,365 to live, your life's gonna be right, right? 1060 00:41:37,465 --> 00:41:39,645 Mm-Hmm. So that's not an institutional thing. 1061 00:41:39,645 --> 00:41:42,205 We, we do well as a culture, so we fight that, 1062 00:41:42,505 --> 00:41:43,765 and I think that's the part 1063 00:41:43,765 --> 00:41:45,125 that people get really upset about. 1064 00:41:45,345 --> 00:41:47,245 - Mm-Hmm. I love that. Thank you. So, yeah, 1065 00:41:47,545 --> 00:41:50,365 - And I would say, you know, we, we at Kearney, 1066 00:41:50,375 --> 00:41:52,565 sando are cognizant of our reach, 1067 00:41:52,985 --> 00:41:57,205 and we feel as though we have a responsibility, uh, to, 1068 00:41:58,305 --> 00:42:02,525 to do this work internally with ourselves, um, 1069 00:42:02,705 --> 00:42:07,165 but also be able to continue to, to share this work 1070 00:42:07,165 --> 00:42:10,165 that we're doing with our clients, with the educators. 1071 00:42:10,665 --> 00:42:15,645 Um, so for us, it's, it's not just an outside thing, 1072 00:42:15,645 --> 00:42:17,085 it's, it's internal as well. 1073 00:42:17,185 --> 00:42:20,565 And de and I-D-E-I-B has become part 1074 00:42:20,565 --> 00:42:22,805 of our fabric as a company. 1075 00:42:22,945 --> 00:42:27,125 So it's not something that is, um, it's not something 1076 00:42:27,125 --> 00:42:31,165 that people are surprised 1077 00:42:31,165 --> 00:42:32,285 by when they join our firm. 1078 00:42:32,595 --> 00:42:35,685 Yeah. Um, because it is a part of our DNA, 1079 00:42:35,685 --> 00:42:38,565 and it started many years ago, as someone who's been here 1080 00:42:38,585 --> 00:42:42,365 for over 20 years, you know, we definitely, we have evolved, 1081 00:42:42,865 --> 00:42:46,285 but, you know, uh, the president of our company, 1082 00:42:46,785 --> 00:42:48,805 he is on board with it. 1083 00:42:48,825 --> 00:42:51,845 So it starts from the top down, you know? Yeah. 1084 00:42:51,845 --> 00:42:53,885 The leadership down. So, and it just, 1085 00:42:54,025 --> 00:42:58,045 and it, it's infectious in a good way, if you will. 1086 00:42:58,385 --> 00:43:00,365 So if you didn't have the top people, 1087 00:43:01,025 --> 00:43:03,565 and myself, I'm a, I'm one of the managers of the firm, 1088 00:43:03,565 --> 00:43:07,445 if you didn't have us, um, fighting 1089 00:43:07,985 --> 00:43:09,125 for this work, 1090 00:43:09,225 --> 00:43:13,805 but also making it accessible to folks internally Yeah. 1091 00:43:13,865 --> 00:43:17,565 Um, and continuing to do so externally, um, 1092 00:43:17,705 --> 00:43:18,845 it would be a very different story 1093 00:43:18,865 --> 00:43:20,085 if we didn't have that support. 1094 00:43:20,395 --> 00:43:22,645 - Totally. And Kim, Kim, I really, I love 1095 00:43:22,645 --> 00:43:24,005 what you just said, and I don't want people 1096 00:43:24,005 --> 00:43:25,045 to miss this point 1097 00:43:25,395 --> 00:43:29,605 because I think that most, most of our listeners are coming 1098 00:43:29,625 --> 00:43:31,925 to us from public education settings 1099 00:43:31,925 --> 00:43:34,045 and public policy settings and that kind of thing. 1100 00:43:34,305 --> 00:43:36,085 And what I, what I've heard over 1101 00:43:36,145 --> 00:43:37,645 and over again when, 1102 00:43:37,715 --> 00:43:40,445 whether it was when I was a classroom teacher, um, 1103 00:43:40,625 --> 00:43:43,565 as an active member of my professional association 1104 00:43:43,665 --> 00:43:46,725 and now working in a managerial role in central office, 1105 00:43:47,195 --> 00:43:49,205 what I keep hearing from all these quarters 1106 00:43:49,345 --> 00:43:53,005 and witnessing is that we have these pronouncements, right? 1107 00:43:53,025 --> 00:43:55,085 We have these, these mission statements. 1108 00:43:55,145 --> 00:43:57,445 We have an equity statement, we have all these things, 1109 00:43:57,945 --> 00:43:59,725 but we always treat it as something 1110 00:43:59,725 --> 00:44:02,285 that we are doing out there, not in here. 1111 00:44:02,905 --> 00:44:05,725 And I think Kim, that point that you made about how 1112 00:44:06,245 --> 00:44:08,525 critical it is that in our communities, 1113 00:44:08,525 --> 00:44:11,285 particularly those communities that have a commitment 1114 00:44:11,285 --> 00:44:15,085 to DEIB, that we actually are doing the work on 1115 00:44:15,085 --> 00:44:16,285 ourselves and with each other. 1116 00:44:16,405 --> 00:44:17,605 I think that's a really beautiful thing. 1117 00:44:17,825 --> 00:44:19,005 Um, you mentioned, Kim, 1118 00:44:19,005 --> 00:44:21,525 that the work has evolved in the 20 plus 1119 00:44:21,525 --> 00:44:22,725 years that you've kind of been there. 1120 00:44:23,165 --> 00:44:27,135 I wanna ask you a little bit about, I'm always a little bit 1121 00:44:28,405 --> 00:44:33,205 hesitant to ask about the, the current situation, you know, 1122 00:44:33,205 --> 00:44:37,205 the current attacks on DEI, because what I always expect is, 1123 00:44:37,265 --> 00:44:39,925 and what I've heard from a lot of people is, well, yeah, 1124 00:44:40,085 --> 00:44:41,485 I mean, attacks are happening, 1125 00:44:41,485 --> 00:44:43,405 but they've always been coming from somewhere like, 1126 00:44:43,405 --> 00:44:46,365 this isn't necessarily a brand new development. 1127 00:44:46,365 --> 00:44:47,565 It's playing out differently. 1128 00:44:47,945 --> 00:44:50,405 It looks different, it's got different implications, 1129 00:44:50,545 --> 00:44:52,445 but, you know, we've never been in a place 1130 00:44:52,445 --> 00:44:54,445 where we could do this work in peace . 1131 00:44:54,445 --> 00:44:56,445 Um, I, I'm curious, Kim, 1132 00:44:56,675 --> 00:44:59,485 what you've witnessed in the 20 years just in your role. 1133 00:45:00,355 --> 00:45:04,085 Like where, like has this always been something 1134 00:45:04,085 --> 00:45:05,765 where there was a little bit of resistance 1135 00:45:05,915 --> 00:45:07,725 that you kind of had to push? 1136 00:45:07,905 --> 00:45:10,325 Or is this moment unique? 1137 00:45:11,925 --> 00:45:15,365 - I think, you know, there have been times, years 1138 00:45:15,385 --> 00:45:17,165 and years ago where there was some resistance, 1139 00:45:17,185 --> 00:45:20,745 but I think it was about educating folks. 1140 00:45:20,965 --> 00:45:23,185 You know, it's people, you, you, you know what, you know, 1141 00:45:23,845 --> 00:45:26,665 and it can be scary when you don't know. 1142 00:45:26,825 --> 00:45:28,745 And these terms come about and whatnot. 1143 00:45:28,965 --> 00:45:32,825 And, um, it just, it, it, it took time. 1144 00:45:33,285 --> 00:45:35,625 But anything worthwhile, any change 1145 00:45:35,625 --> 00:45:38,105 that's worthwhile is going to take time, and that's okay. 1146 00:45:38,725 --> 00:45:41,025 And so it took a lot of persistence and patience 1147 00:45:41,085 --> 00:45:45,825 and, you know, individual growth was, as we talk, 1148 00:45:45,845 --> 00:45:47,465 as we talked about a few moments ago Yeah. 1149 00:45:47,485 --> 00:45:50,105 Was hugely important because you needed it. 1150 00:45:50,125 --> 00:45:54,025 It couldn't just be a mandate from management because Right. 1151 00:45:54,485 --> 00:45:57,225 You're still an individual person. That's right. 1152 00:45:57,225 --> 00:46:00,865 And so there are things that folks had to do on their own, 1153 00:46:01,605 --> 00:46:03,385 um, on their own journey. 1154 00:46:03,485 --> 00:46:05,825 But also we had to do certain things together, 1155 00:46:06,765 --> 00:46:08,545 and we had to have these conversations. 1156 00:46:08,645 --> 00:46:10,745 And it just became, I think, you know, 1157 00:46:10,965 --> 00:46:13,425 people became more vocal about it. 1158 00:46:13,885 --> 00:46:17,825 You know, you would talk to different school contacts 1159 00:46:17,845 --> 00:46:19,065 or job seekers, 1160 00:46:19,065 --> 00:46:20,825 and they would talk about things that they were struggling 1161 00:46:20,825 --> 00:46:23,265 with on their campuses or why they wanted to leave 1162 00:46:23,405 --> 00:46:25,425 or why this position is open. 1163 00:46:25,485 --> 00:46:30,185 And so that type of dialogue was not always as open, 1164 00:46:30,685 --> 00:46:35,065 um, you know, 20 plus years ago as it is now. So yeah, 1165 00:46:35,385 --> 00:46:36,385 - I appreciate that a lot. 1166 00:46:36,525 --> 00:46:41,065 And, um, I think that, um, I think it's just, it's so, like, 1167 00:46:41,405 --> 00:46:42,505 it seems so elementary, 1168 00:46:42,505 --> 00:46:44,745 but it's just so interesting to me how in a lot 1169 00:46:44,745 --> 00:46:47,065 of these spaces that internal work isn't prioritized. 1170 00:46:47,325 --> 00:46:48,345 Um, and then, uh, Brandon, 1171 00:46:48,385 --> 00:46:49,785 I wanna circle back to something you said. 1172 00:46:49,785 --> 00:46:52,345 Mm-Hmm. , um, talking about sort of continuing 1173 00:46:52,345 --> 00:46:53,705 to chip away using the truth. 1174 00:46:53,965 --> 00:46:55,145 Mm-Hmm. . Um, and the truth is, 1175 00:46:55,165 --> 00:46:59,025 and I, I had the opportunity to do, um, some, 1176 00:46:59,085 --> 00:47:03,465 to do some fellowship work, um, from August, 2022 1177 00:47:03,465 --> 00:47:06,505 to August, 2023 called Voices for Honest Education, 1178 00:47:06,635 --> 00:47:09,785 which was sort of countering a lot of these harmless things. 1179 00:47:09,805 --> 00:47:12,785 And some of the, some of the polling data that we've seen 1180 00:47:13,695 --> 00:47:16,305 very much is in stark contrast to 1181 00:47:16,645 --> 00:47:20,785 who the loudest voices are against DEI and DIB 1182 00:47:20,785 --> 00:47:22,825 and the other, whatever other sort of, you know, 1183 00:47:22,825 --> 00:47:24,265 big bad wolves they've identified. 1184 00:47:24,485 --> 00:47:28,065 We know that over 80% of American parents want their kids 1185 00:47:28,125 --> 00:47:30,245 to have some sort of understanding 1186 00:47:30,245 --> 00:47:32,045 of the racial history of the United States. 1187 00:47:32,045 --> 00:47:33,645 Mm-Hmm. . Mm-Hmm. , we know that 1188 00:47:33,745 --> 00:47:37,325 around the same percentage of parents agnostic 1189 00:47:37,325 --> 00:47:41,285 of party understand the value of having their students be 1190 00:47:41,285 --> 00:47:43,765 around folks who are different from them, learn to work 1191 00:47:43,765 --> 00:47:46,285 with folks who are different with them, learn to learn 1192 00:47:46,285 --> 00:47:47,965 to be in diverse communities. 1193 00:47:47,985 --> 00:47:49,645 So we know that the truth is out there, 1194 00:47:50,025 --> 00:47:53,805 and we know that this is something that is desired by, 1195 00:47:53,945 --> 00:47:55,245 uh, by our community. 1196 00:47:55,345 --> 00:47:56,445 Mm-Hmm. . So, um, 1197 00:47:57,025 --> 00:47:58,125 did you wanna comment on that, Brad? 1198 00:47:58,245 --> 00:48:00,325 I see. Yeah. See, I see the gears turning. Yeah. , 1199 00:48:00,715 --> 00:48:01,715 - Yeah. 1200 00:48:01,715 --> 00:48:02,765 Your wheels are spinning. Minor but's fact, I think, 1201 00:48:02,765 --> 00:48:04,365 I think the question really becomes sometimes, 1202 00:48:04,425 --> 00:48:07,085 and this is this person who, um, lives in the suburbs, 1203 00:48:07,085 --> 00:48:09,085 spends so many someone, I spend too much time at Lowe's, 1204 00:48:09,085 --> 00:48:10,365 obviously, but like it, um, 1205 00:48:10,505 --> 00:48:12,285 the question becomes like, are you, are you looking 1206 00:48:12,305 --> 00:48:13,965 for a hammer or a nail or screwdriver, right? 1207 00:48:13,965 --> 00:48:16,565 Like, I think sometimes we come at this work, whether it's, 1208 00:48:16,585 --> 00:48:19,245 uh, d and i, it's, it's wellbeing, 1209 00:48:19,435 --> 00:48:21,405 it's social justice, it's a lot of different terms. 1210 00:48:21,405 --> 00:48:23,205 Right? And to Kim's point, I think a lot 1211 00:48:23,205 --> 00:48:24,445 of people are afraid, or they're, 1212 00:48:24,645 --> 00:48:26,885 what they're saying is they're afraid of change, right? 1213 00:48:26,955 --> 00:48:29,765 Yeah. Because they, because it's a shift in a, in a dynamic, 1214 00:48:30,465 --> 00:48:33,165 uh, imbalance for them or what the world used to be like. 1215 00:48:33,225 --> 00:48:34,285 And I can understand that. 1216 00:48:34,485 --> 00:48:36,325 I can totally get my head around the fact of, 1217 00:48:36,505 --> 00:48:37,805 if I'm walking down the street one day, 1218 00:48:37,805 --> 00:48:39,565 and all sudden the world shifts upside down, which is 1219 00:48:39,565 --> 00:48:40,725 what happened in 2020, right? 1220 00:48:40,835 --> 00:48:42,085 Yeah. Where people saw 1221 00:48:42,145 --> 00:48:44,245 for the first time something through a different lens. 1222 00:48:44,345 --> 00:48:46,565 We go, oh, that's how that could have been. Right? 1223 00:48:46,785 --> 00:48:48,005 And sometimes you need the hammer. 1224 00:48:48,005 --> 00:48:49,125 Sometimes you need to come at there 1225 00:48:49,125 --> 00:48:50,125 and say, look, this is what we're gonna do. 1226 00:48:50,155 --> 00:48:52,645 This is what it is. Sometimes you need a screwdriver, say, 1227 00:48:52,645 --> 00:48:54,325 we're gonna move and shift and do those things. 1228 00:48:54,745 --> 00:48:56,565 Um, and sometimes you need to nail to say, we're gonna, 1229 00:48:56,565 --> 00:48:57,925 we're gonna peck cat this thing here, 1230 00:48:57,945 --> 00:48:59,085 or smaller, what's going on. 1231 00:48:59,085 --> 00:49:01,125 I just think having the right tools sometimes around this, 1232 00:49:01,565 --> 00:49:02,845 I think is, is interesting. 1233 00:49:02,845 --> 00:49:04,245 And unfortunately, as a culture 1234 00:49:04,265 --> 00:49:06,845 and as a country, we got caught up in this last couple 1235 00:49:06,845 --> 00:49:10,005 years, is that the loudest voice sometimes wins out when the 1236 00:49:10,005 --> 00:49:11,045 quiet one is the one saying, 1237 00:49:11,045 --> 00:49:12,205 Hey, I'm come back and do it again tomorrow. 1238 00:49:12,205 --> 00:49:14,205 Right? Yeah. That, that the ability to say, we're gonna, 1239 00:49:14,295 --> 00:49:15,565 we're gonna pick our battles, 1240 00:49:15,565 --> 00:49:16,845 we're gonna keep doing this and keep working. 1241 00:49:16,855 --> 00:49:21,125 Award it all knowing that in the end, um, that 1242 00:49:21,435 --> 00:49:23,725 what would would, I think the other piece I'd add really 1243 00:49:23,725 --> 00:49:25,085 quick too, about de and i de and I work 1244 00:49:25,085 --> 00:49:26,125 and why it's so important internally, 1245 00:49:26,185 --> 00:49:27,565 but also externally as well too, is 1246 00:49:27,565 --> 00:49:29,245 that it is an ever-changing world, right? 1247 00:49:29,245 --> 00:49:31,245 Right. The fact that we're talking about different pronoun 1248 00:49:31,245 --> 00:49:33,085 usage and, and it's not just black 1249 00:49:33,085 --> 00:49:34,845 or white literally or figuratively anymore, right? 1250 00:49:34,845 --> 00:49:36,725 There are so many complexities around this. 1251 00:49:37,195 --> 00:49:38,805 It's, it's scarce folks, 1252 00:49:39,105 --> 00:49:41,765 but really what it does is it puts people on notice to say, 1253 00:49:41,765 --> 00:49:44,245 Hey, I'm making you re responsible for knowing these things. 1254 00:49:44,245 --> 00:49:46,005 Right? And I don't that, that is 1255 00:49:46,005 --> 00:49:48,045 what is hard is that people don't wanna do that. 1256 00:49:48,045 --> 00:49:49,605 They don't wanna do that. They don't wanna spend the time 1257 00:49:49,605 --> 00:49:51,365 and effort to know that a person 1258 00:49:51,385 --> 00:49:53,485 who uses the word asexual right, is something 1259 00:49:53,485 --> 00:49:54,485 that's different than it was in the 1260 00:49:54,485 --> 00:49:55,405 past and what's going on. 1261 00:49:55,705 --> 00:49:57,085 Um, they're welcome to it, right? 1262 00:49:57,165 --> 00:49:58,845 Welcome to the, welcome to 2024, 1263 00:49:58,845 --> 00:50:00,245 and welcome to the world that is today. 1264 00:50:00,625 --> 00:50:02,925 And if you don't like that, then you need to catch up, 1265 00:50:02,925 --> 00:50:05,325 because again, companies, organizations, college, 1266 00:50:05,325 --> 00:50:06,605 universities, they're there, right? 1267 00:50:06,605 --> 00:50:10,005 That they're there. So, I, I would just say that to me, to, 1268 00:50:10,005 --> 00:50:12,165 to, to push on that point is I think that for me, the, 1269 00:50:12,425 --> 00:50:13,765 the ability for today's world 1270 00:50:13,825 --> 00:50:15,605 and the complexities we deal with is 1271 00:50:15,605 --> 00:50:18,085 because we lack the ability sometimes to have conversations. 1272 00:50:18,155 --> 00:50:19,445 Because once we do 1273 00:50:19,445 --> 00:50:22,125 what we saw in 2020 when we were stuck in our houses 1274 00:50:22,225 --> 00:50:24,445 and we were having conversation on six inch screens all day, 1275 00:50:24,445 --> 00:50:26,205 is that we were like, oh, you can do this. 1276 00:50:26,235 --> 00:50:27,285 This is fine. Right? 1277 00:50:27,315 --> 00:50:29,525 Because we had the ability to take the time to do so. 1278 00:50:29,525 --> 00:50:31,405 And now that we're back out of that, um, 1279 00:50:31,405 --> 00:50:33,685 and we're running around doing all these quick things, um, 1280 00:50:33,685 --> 00:50:35,525 right, we lose the ability to say, 1281 00:50:35,525 --> 00:50:36,645 Hey, just let's have a conversation. 1282 00:50:36,655 --> 00:50:37,725 Let's talk about what, what 1283 00:50:37,725 --> 00:50:38,885 matters to you, what matters to me? 1284 00:50:39,225 --> 00:50:41,045 Um, and let's come to an agreement around that. 1285 00:50:41,145 --> 00:50:43,125 So yeah, it is, uh, it's challenging. So, 1286 00:50:43,685 --> 00:50:44,685 - Absolutely. 1287 00:50:44,685 --> 00:50:45,085 No, I really appreciate that. 1288 00:50:45,545 --> 00:50:50,405 And I think, um, I, I really echo this, the, 1289 00:50:50,465 --> 00:50:52,925 the fact that dialogue is becoming more 1290 00:50:52,925 --> 00:50:55,125 and more difficult across difference in, 1291 00:50:55,345 --> 00:50:57,085 at least in social media spheres. 1292 00:50:57,085 --> 00:50:58,365 And I always try to remind myself 1293 00:50:58,365 --> 00:51:01,325 that social media world is impactful, it's consequential. 1294 00:51:01,435 --> 00:51:04,165 Lots of really harmful policies have been passed 1295 00:51:04,165 --> 00:51:06,605 because of social media discourse. 1296 00:51:06,985 --> 00:51:09,645 But also understanding that dialogue is something 1297 00:51:09,645 --> 00:51:11,165 that's really important to try to recover. 1298 00:51:11,325 --> 00:51:13,885 I I just read the four Pivots, um, at work, 1299 00:51:13,985 --> 00:51:16,805 and it was just one of those books that kind of, you know, 1300 00:51:17,185 --> 00:51:20,125 in really excited me about what I think both 1301 00:51:20,125 --> 00:51:23,405 of you were talking about, which is existing in the liminal 1302 00:51:23,625 --> 00:51:26,925 and existing in, in, in some ambiguity, 1303 00:51:26,925 --> 00:51:29,125 because that's actually where dialogue can be had. 1304 00:51:29,545 --> 00:51:31,325 Um, so I'm gonna take a quick break. 1305 00:51:31,785 --> 00:51:33,605 Uh, we're gonna shout out, uh, some folks 1306 00:51:33,705 --> 00:51:36,405 who are making the two dope teachers in a MIC podcast 1307 00:51:36,905 --> 00:51:40,005 and two dope productions at large possible. 1308 00:51:40,025 --> 00:51:41,325 So we talk about belonging. 1309 00:51:41,665 --> 00:51:42,965 Uh, there's an organization 1310 00:51:42,965 --> 00:51:45,445 that has been supporting the podcast for the last, um, 1311 00:51:45,465 --> 00:51:47,645 almost for a year at this point, um, 1312 00:51:48,115 --> 00:51:51,365 that is really looking at practicing belonging in terms 1313 00:51:51,365 --> 00:51:52,845 of building generational wealth. 1314 00:51:53,305 --> 00:51:54,965 Um, my friends Alex 1315 00:51:55,065 --> 00:51:57,645 and Tori at Satera Investors have become very, 1316 00:51:57,795 --> 00:52:02,045 very committed at, um, in, in terms of ensuring 1317 00:52:02,045 --> 00:52:05,445 that all people, particularly educators, particularly 1318 00:52:06,005 --> 00:52:08,005 educators of color, have the opportunity 1319 00:52:08,065 --> 00:52:09,725 to build generational wealth, 1320 00:52:10,115 --> 00:52:13,125 even if teacher compensation doesn't catch up, um, 1321 00:52:13,195 --> 00:52:15,525 anytime soon to the work that a lot of teachers do. 1322 00:52:15,625 --> 00:52:16,645 So, uh, Alex 1323 00:52:16,705 --> 00:52:19,405 and Torres do some really great subscription based work. 1324 00:52:19,825 --> 00:52:22,205 Um, also, as an aside, Kim, I would love to connect you 1325 00:52:22,205 --> 00:52:25,605 with Tori because she's got this amazing podcast about, um, 1326 00:52:25,915 --> 00:52:28,925 inspiring, um, women of color who are, 1327 00:52:29,185 --> 00:52:30,365 who wanna be entrepreneurs. 1328 00:52:30,425 --> 00:52:31,805 And so I just, I was looking 1329 00:52:31,805 --> 00:52:33,005 at some of the work that you've done. 1330 00:52:33,025 --> 00:52:35,165 I'm like, oh my gosh, Kim and Tori need to know each other. 1331 00:52:35,465 --> 00:52:37,805 Mm-Hmm. . Um, so they're really amazing folks. 1332 00:52:38,065 --> 00:52:41,805 Uh, those of you who think that you, um, 1333 00:52:41,995 --> 00:52:44,245 just don't make enough money to start planning 1334 00:52:44,305 --> 00:52:48,205 for the future, um, I really encourage you to hit up, uh, 1335 00:52:48,515 --> 00:52:50,725 Tori and Alex at Satter Investors. 1336 00:52:50,745 --> 00:52:53,365 So that's Tori and Alex dot satter investors 1337 00:52:53,945 --> 00:52:55,605 llc.com/two dope. 1338 00:52:55,745 --> 00:52:59,205 And you'll get 25% off of their services. 1339 00:52:59,385 --> 00:53:00,845 So hit them up. 1340 00:53:00,845 --> 00:53:01,765 And actually, we're gonna have to 1341 00:53:01,765 --> 00:53:02,845 wear on the podcast pretty soon. 1342 00:53:02,905 --> 00:53:07,175 So keep, keep your ears open Back 1343 00:53:07,175 --> 00:53:11,295 with you here for a final segment of, uh, two dope teachers 1344 00:53:11,515 --> 00:53:12,535 and, uh, Mike. 1345 00:53:13,155 --> 00:53:16,855 Um, so, uh, a couple of questions 1346 00:53:16,875 --> 00:53:20,095 and then, you know, um, Brandon, you were mentioning the, 1347 00:53:20,095 --> 00:53:24,135 just this, that we are in the wake of quarantines. 1348 00:53:24,795 --> 00:53:28,285 We are still kinda lacking the ability to have a discussion, 1349 00:53:28,365 --> 00:53:30,925 a conversation around these really important issues. 1350 00:53:30,985 --> 00:53:33,205 And, and y'all are gonna share with us a place 1351 00:53:33,815 --> 00:53:36,725 where such discourse and dialogue is possible. 1352 00:53:36,895 --> 00:53:38,165 Y'all gotta get in it. 1353 00:53:38,225 --> 00:53:40,885 But I wanna, I wanna share a little bit about Carney Sando 1354 00:53:40,885 --> 00:53:43,645 because I'm sure there's some of my folks who listen 1355 00:53:43,665 --> 00:53:46,005 to my show saying, man, you're like, 1356 00:53:46,025 --> 00:53:48,405 you got private school people on what's going on. 1357 00:53:48,745 --> 00:53:50,325 Why are, what, what are we doing? 1358 00:53:50,425 --> 00:53:53,205 So, um, Carney Sandoz is active and independent 1359 00:53:53,205 --> 00:53:57,965 and private schools and many of us who did not have private 1360 00:53:57,985 --> 00:54:00,645 or independent school as part of our growing up, 1361 00:54:01,725 --> 00:54:05,395 let's just say we don't tend to associate DEI work 1362 00:54:05,545 --> 00:54:07,515 with private or independent schools. 1363 00:54:07,575 --> 00:54:09,395 And I wish y'all could see Kim smile right now. 1364 00:54:09,635 --> 00:54:12,635 'cause like, that's . It's like, man, yep. . 1365 00:54:13,075 --> 00:54:14,315 I know, that's what people say. 1366 00:54:14,895 --> 00:54:18,235 So I, I wanna, um, I wanna know just sort of 1367 00:54:18,235 --> 00:54:20,555 what is the work for you all in those spaces 1368 00:54:20,975 --> 00:54:24,595 and why does it matter for, for you all in your skin 1369 00:54:24,895 --> 00:54:28,155 as the people that you are to do the work in that space? 1370 00:54:28,275 --> 00:54:29,475 I wanna start with Kim on that one. 1371 00:54:29,835 --> 00:54:31,955 'cause you look like you, again, I have this like, 1372 00:54:31,955 --> 00:54:33,155 superpower for seeing gears 1373 00:54:33,155 --> 00:54:34,515 turning in people's minds. , 1374 00:54:34,815 --> 00:54:39,515 - I'm thinking, I'm, I'm thinking, um, about it, 1375 00:54:39,695 --> 00:54:40,955 uh, about your question. 1376 00:54:41,135 --> 00:54:43,755 Mm-Hmm. . Um, so what does it mean to us, 1377 00:54:44,175 --> 00:54:45,755 you're saying in the, in these spaces? 1378 00:54:45,755 --> 00:54:46,795 - Yeah. Kind of what does it mean? 1379 00:54:46,815 --> 00:54:51,635 Why is it important for this DEIB work to be anchored, um, 1380 00:54:51,935 --> 00:54:54,755 as you support private and independent school spaces? 1381 00:54:56,225 --> 00:54:58,955 - Because it's similar to what Brandon said, 1382 00:54:59,175 --> 00:55:00,315 um, a few moments ago. 1383 00:55:00,315 --> 00:55:01,995 It's about the kids, you know, and, 1384 00:55:02,015 --> 00:55:05,275 and yes, private schools are, 1385 00:55:05,305 --> 00:55:07,635 have not historically been the most diverse, 1386 00:55:07,855 --> 00:55:09,435 but the world is changing. 1387 00:55:10,175 --> 00:55:13,535 Um, and it's about the families and the children. 1388 00:55:13,635 --> 00:55:17,495 And I think that we would be remiss if we didn't, um, 1389 00:55:18,515 --> 00:55:20,055 do what we're doing within this space 1390 00:55:20,055 --> 00:55:21,095 because of 1391 00:55:21,235 --> 00:55:24,615 how things have changed considerably in the world. 1392 00:55:25,085 --> 00:55:26,085 Yeah. 1393 00:55:26,485 --> 00:55:28,695 - Just like that, right? It's like, well, , 1394 00:55:28,875 --> 00:55:30,815 the work needs to be done in these spaces. 1395 00:55:30,875 --> 00:55:33,135 And I'm sure, uh, Brandon, you can probably speak a little 1396 00:55:33,135 --> 00:55:36,375 bit to your personal experiences attending these schools 1397 00:55:36,435 --> 00:55:37,735 and that kind of thing, but I think 1398 00:55:37,735 --> 00:55:39,095 sometimes it is that simple. 1399 00:55:39,275 --> 00:55:43,375 Um, my good friend Monica Washington, shout out Monica 2014, 1400 00:55:43,465 --> 00:55:47,135 Texas Teacher of the Year, one of my favorite humans, um, 1401 00:55:47,725 --> 00:55:50,895 once, uh, said in a group, she said, well, 1402 00:55:51,165 --> 00:55:53,375 there's enough work for all of us . 1403 00:55:53,715 --> 00:55:57,055 You know, like we, we can't necessarily pick 1404 00:55:57,055 --> 00:55:59,055 and choose where we're doing the, 1405 00:55:59,155 --> 00:56:02,295 or like choose not to engage this work in any spaces. 1406 00:56:02,565 --> 00:56:04,775 It's like, there, there's work everywhere. 1407 00:56:04,835 --> 00:56:06,095 We gotta be willing to do it. 1408 00:56:06,095 --> 00:56:09,175 So, Brandon, what, what, what's your sort of, uh, you know, 1409 00:56:09,285 --> 00:56:10,975 what are your thoughts around 1410 00:56:11,365 --> 00:56:13,975 that work in those spaces and why it matters? 1411 00:56:14,725 --> 00:56:16,855 - Yeah. I couldn't agree more. I think it's the one on one 1412 00:56:16,855 --> 00:56:18,615 place where interesting enough in education, 1413 00:56:18,615 --> 00:56:20,015 we realize we're not competitors. 1414 00:56:20,015 --> 00:56:21,215 We're collaborators here, right? 1415 00:56:21,215 --> 00:56:23,405 Like though I might be a private school educator, 1416 00:56:23,545 --> 00:56:24,725 I'm still dealing with, so working 1417 00:56:24,725 --> 00:56:26,005 with public school educators every day, right? 1418 00:56:26,125 --> 00:56:27,325 'cause they're my neighbors. They're the people i 1419 00:56:27,485 --> 00:56:28,565 I live with on on, right? 1420 00:56:28,825 --> 00:56:31,565 Um, we, there's no bigger proponent of public education, 1421 00:56:31,565 --> 00:56:32,845 ironically than Austin Service private. 1422 00:56:32,845 --> 00:56:34,645 Like, we understand that we're in this together. 1423 00:56:35,245 --> 00:56:38,085 I think as a whole, if there was one kind of, um, 1424 00:56:38,575 --> 00:56:40,045 connection point that we can make that work 1425 00:56:40,045 --> 00:56:41,765 because the educators are banded together, right? 1426 00:56:41,785 --> 00:56:43,805 We have to be able, this, this field itself 1427 00:56:44,025 --> 00:56:45,445 as a whole is being nicked and, 1428 00:56:45,665 --> 00:56:46,845 and tattered in what's going on. 1429 00:56:46,845 --> 00:56:47,685 And it makes sense. 'cause 1430 00:56:47,845 --> 00:56:48,805 teachers aren't paid enough for them. 1431 00:56:48,805 --> 00:56:50,045 Mean, we know that to be the 1432 00:56:50,045 --> 00:56:51,125 case, obviously, what's going on. 1433 00:56:51,145 --> 00:56:54,525 But I think the, um, the part I would add on to that is 1434 00:56:54,525 --> 00:56:56,925 that when I was in, when I was coming, coming back 1435 00:56:56,925 --> 00:56:58,725 to work in independent schools, I had the choice right? 1436 00:56:58,725 --> 00:57:00,525 Between going to public or private and whatnot. 1437 00:57:00,745 --> 00:57:02,165 And I made a pretty hard decision. 1438 00:57:02,245 --> 00:57:03,965 I say, because I felt like my heart of hearts. 1439 00:57:04,005 --> 00:57:05,485 I was, I was really destined to really work 1440 00:57:05,485 --> 00:57:06,965 with public school kids and do all those things. 1441 00:57:07,305 --> 00:57:08,685 Um, and got wrapped back in my alma 1442 00:57:08,685 --> 00:57:09,885 mater, come back and work at that school. 1443 00:57:09,885 --> 00:57:11,845 And my head of school at that point, the, the president 1444 00:57:11,945 --> 00:57:13,845 of the school basically said, I need you to be 1445 00:57:13,845 --> 00:57:15,125 what you needed as a student, right? 1446 00:57:15,265 --> 00:57:17,325 And like, how was I supposed to say no to that? Right? 1447 00:57:17,705 --> 00:57:20,325 And so there's a, there's not a day that's gone by since 1448 00:57:20,325 --> 00:57:24,485 that moment in 26 to 2012 or 2011 1449 00:57:24,645 --> 00:57:26,125 whenever it was, where I don't think about that moment 1450 00:57:26,265 --> 00:57:27,565 to think about what, again, 1451 00:57:27,565 --> 00:57:29,645 you asked a question about like young student, Brandon. 1452 00:57:29,675 --> 00:57:31,565 Like, I envision myself thinking 1453 00:57:31,565 --> 00:57:33,005 about whatever that kid may be. 1454 00:57:33,005 --> 00:57:34,725 Now, the difference being is that, um, 1455 00:57:35,665 --> 00:57:37,325 to Kim's point, we are more diverse. 1456 00:57:37,445 --> 00:57:40,045 I mean, I was the only black male in my entire class of, 1457 00:57:40,185 --> 00:57:41,325 for four years in high school. 1458 00:57:41,405 --> 00:57:42,445 I had 140 kids. 1459 00:57:42,745 --> 00:57:45,165 Uh, my brothers graduated from the same school 20 year, uh, 1460 00:57:45,175 --> 00:57:47,005 about, uh, seven, eight years later. 1461 00:57:47,235 --> 00:57:48,805 They were 45 of them. 1462 00:57:48,865 --> 00:57:51,165 And all, like, there, there's just a lot different change. 1463 00:57:51,555 --> 00:57:52,845 What hasn't changed, I think, 1464 00:57:52,845 --> 00:57:55,005 however, is the fact of every kid still gets 1465 00:57:55,005 --> 00:57:56,125 cared about that way, right? 1466 00:57:56,125 --> 00:57:58,285 Yeah. The fact that every kid, no matter who you are, um, 1467 00:57:58,305 --> 00:58:00,005 so I think, unfortunately, I think d 1468 00:58:00,005 --> 00:58:02,445 and I gets wrapped as well too, as being this like, oh, 1469 00:58:02,445 --> 00:58:03,685 it's just for the black or brown kid. 1470 00:58:04,145 --> 00:58:06,125 Mm. It's like, you don't, it's like it's for every kid. 1471 00:58:06,125 --> 00:58:07,805 It's for every single kid that walks through this door. 1472 00:58:07,805 --> 00:58:08,725 Yeah, that's right. That's right. To know 1473 00:58:08,725 --> 00:58:09,445 that they can belong. 1474 00:58:09,525 --> 00:58:10,845 I don't care if you're blonde, blue, iron, 1475 00:58:10,845 --> 00:58:13,085 cisgendered Christian kid, you too, right? 1476 00:58:13,085 --> 00:58:15,285 You were all part of this larger equation. 1477 00:58:15,705 --> 00:58:17,845 So I think to the education world, whether we're public, 1478 00:58:17,845 --> 00:58:20,125 we're private, we're independent, we're parochial, 1479 00:58:20,125 --> 00:58:21,205 we're Catholic, whatever, it's, 1480 00:58:21,205 --> 00:58:22,845 we're still about what's making sure 1481 00:58:22,845 --> 00:58:25,565 that tomorrow's kids are better than they were yesterday. 1482 00:58:25,945 --> 00:58:28,645 End story period. There. That's all this is about. 1483 00:58:29,025 --> 00:58:30,765 Um, anybody else who tells you anything differently 1484 00:58:30,765 --> 00:58:31,925 doesn't understand this part. 1485 00:58:32,025 --> 00:58:34,885 And I think that's where the fight goes and what's going on. 1486 00:58:34,885 --> 00:58:36,765 So yeah, I, I, I wake up every morning, think about 1487 00:58:36,795 --> 00:58:40,285 what would've been if I had people like Kim Gardner in my 1488 00:58:40,285 --> 00:58:42,005 corner as a kid growing up, right? 1489 00:58:42,355 --> 00:58:43,845 What I would've become, right? Yeah. 1490 00:58:43,845 --> 00:58:45,165 And I think that as, that's 1491 00:58:45,165 --> 00:58:46,525 what drives me to go back and do it again. 1492 00:58:46,645 --> 00:58:48,765 'cause I wanna be that person for that kid, um, 1493 00:58:49,515 --> 00:58:50,685 that can make sure the world's better 1494 00:58:50,685 --> 00:58:51,965 than it was better tomorrow 1495 00:58:52,145 --> 00:58:53,145 - For sure. 1496 00:58:53,145 --> 00:58:54,285 Uh, I just, I just love that so much. 1497 00:58:54,585 --> 00:58:58,605 And I think that when I think about your, like, I think 1498 00:58:58,705 --> 00:59:03,125 for me, going into education, I, I've always sort of 1499 00:59:03,765 --> 00:59:05,685 communicated to people it's like I, I, 1500 00:59:05,845 --> 00:59:08,325 I can't see myself working in another school district. 1501 00:59:08,325 --> 00:59:11,405 This is the district that raised me imperfectly, 1502 00:59:11,625 --> 00:59:12,725 for better or for worse. 1503 00:59:13,155 --> 00:59:16,605 There's something that I can give as a graduate 1504 00:59:16,605 --> 00:59:17,685 of Denver Public Schools 1505 00:59:17,865 --> 00:59:19,445 who grew up in Denver Public schools, 1506 00:59:19,635 --> 00:59:23,725 I've been a DPS student, teacher, parent and spouse, right? 1507 00:59:24,025 --> 00:59:25,485 Um, at one point, all three 1508 00:59:25,485 --> 00:59:28,765 of us in my family were in DPS in some way, shape or form. 1509 00:59:29,225 --> 00:59:33,045 And so I can work in a space that I understand where 1510 00:59:33,585 --> 00:59:36,765 voices like mine haven't always been a part of the, 1511 00:59:36,865 --> 00:59:38,085 the decision making process. 1512 00:59:38,145 --> 00:59:40,165 And Brandon, I kind of see you in the same way 1513 00:59:40,165 --> 00:59:43,885 where it's like public education, you would've been great in 1514 00:59:43,885 --> 00:59:47,605 that space, but this independent school situation is 1515 00:59:47,605 --> 00:59:49,885 something you get that you understand 1516 00:59:50,385 --> 00:59:53,165 and that you know how to kind of engage those spaces. 1517 00:59:53,265 --> 00:59:56,205 So I, I think that's really, um, fantastic. 1518 00:59:56,385 --> 00:59:58,845 So I think, and we're running a little long, 1519 00:59:58,985 --> 01:00:01,925 so I wanna just make sure that I'm respectful of your time, 1520 01:00:02,465 --> 01:00:06,845 but, um, so I'm sure that all of y'all listening are like, 1521 01:00:07,305 --> 01:00:09,125 man, these, these two people are cool. 1522 01:00:09,475 --> 01:00:11,885 Like, how do I talk to more people like them 1523 01:00:11,945 --> 01:00:13,525 and get connected to some of this? 1524 01:00:13,675 --> 01:00:15,685 Like, do stuff that's kind of happening. 1525 01:00:16,185 --> 01:00:19,005 Um, you've got this big DEIB gathering 1526 01:00:19,005 --> 01:00:20,605 that's happening in a few days. 1527 01:00:21,105 --> 01:00:25,045 Um, what, so, uh, just let, tell us about it. 1528 01:00:25,105 --> 01:00:27,645 How can folks, um, get connected, 1529 01:00:27,665 --> 01:00:31,605 but what can they expect if they attend the summit that, um, 1530 01:00:31,605 --> 01:00:32,645 that you all are planning? 1531 01:00:34,245 --> 01:00:38,945 - Uh, great question. So we are hosting our 10th annual, um, 1532 01:00:39,305 --> 01:00:41,265 D-D-E-I-B hiring forum. 1533 01:00:41,485 --> 01:00:45,065 So, um, there will be interviewing, uh, 1534 01:00:45,095 --> 01:00:48,905 from our client schools with job seekers, uh, for positions. 1535 01:00:48,905 --> 01:00:51,985 And then also there will be professional development, um, 1536 01:00:52,695 --> 01:00:53,905 happening simultaneously. 1537 01:00:54,165 --> 01:00:55,705 So it's a really great time for 1538 01:00:56,385 --> 01:00:58,385 educators from all over the country to come together 1539 01:00:58,525 --> 01:01:02,665 to network, to learn, um, as well as to interview 1540 01:01:02,805 --> 01:01:03,985 for positions. 1541 01:01:04,895 --> 01:01:07,905 Yeah. Brandon, what else do you have to add to that ? 1542 01:01:07,975 --> 01:01:10,465 - Yeah, so it is, uh, yeah, so it's the kickoff 1543 01:01:10,465 --> 01:01:11,745 and a lot of folks ask this question, 1544 01:01:11,745 --> 01:01:13,305 is it done on purpose yet is right. 1545 01:01:13,305 --> 01:01:16,185 So we start every year we do about Kim , six 1546 01:01:16,185 --> 01:01:18,785 or seven of these per year across the country in terms 1547 01:01:18,785 --> 01:01:20,345 of hiring firms, but if hiring fairs, 1548 01:01:20,345 --> 01:01:22,345 but this one in particular is our beginning one. 1549 01:01:22,565 --> 01:01:24,745 We start off the year with this, with, with the focus 1550 01:01:24,745 --> 01:01:26,305 around diversity, conclusion, belonging. 1551 01:01:26,305 --> 01:01:29,025 And so this is the 10th year of of of, of being part of it. 1552 01:01:29,065 --> 01:01:31,345 I was part of it for the first seven on the other side 1553 01:01:31,345 --> 01:01:33,545 of the desk, working at a school, being the being 1554 01:01:33,685 --> 01:01:35,945 and the recipient of great people and great experiences. 1555 01:01:36,285 --> 01:01:37,785 So now that I'm on the other side, get 1556 01:01:37,785 --> 01:01:39,945 to see really the powerful piece of like, connecting folks. 1557 01:01:39,945 --> 01:01:41,465 So again, if you're in the Philly area 1558 01:01:41,525 --> 01:01:44,025 and you're interested in connecting, always happy to do so. 1559 01:01:44,125 --> 01:01:45,545 And if you're not in the Philly area though, 1560 01:01:45,545 --> 01:01:46,625 happy to connect with us too. 1561 01:01:46,705 --> 01:01:48,425 'cause we do other hiring fairs across the country. 1562 01:01:48,425 --> 01:01:50,145 Like we mentioned, this one just happens 1563 01:01:50,145 --> 01:01:52,585 to have A-D-N-I-B professional development component to it. 1564 01:01:52,685 --> 01:01:55,265 But there are other ones that we also level the same things 1565 01:01:55,325 --> 01:01:57,505 in all across the country, west coast, east coast, 1566 01:01:57,535 --> 01:01:59,385 down south, up north, wherever it may be. 1567 01:01:59,565 --> 01:02:01,345 So if you're interested, we'd love to talk more about, 1568 01:02:01,375 --> 01:02:03,305 it'd love to talk about how we're connecting people across 1569 01:02:03,305 --> 01:02:05,945 the way, um, and really working for folks to do this job. 1570 01:02:06,005 --> 01:02:09,585 Why Kim and I got into this job with years and years ago was 1571 01:02:09,585 --> 01:02:12,025 because we knew that the impact we could have on kids across 1572 01:02:12,045 --> 01:02:13,505 way, actually through the adults that we get 1573 01:02:13,505 --> 01:02:14,625 to work with that are dope like you guys. 1574 01:02:14,725 --> 01:02:17,425 So if we can connect more folks and do this 1575 01:02:17,425 --> 01:02:19,025 and what's going on, impact just ends up 1576 01:02:19,100 --> 01:02:20,220 being in kids' laps every day. 1577 01:02:20,465 --> 01:02:22,485 So if we can connect, we're excited about the event. 1578 01:02:22,585 --> 01:02:24,565 Um, Howard Stevenson, uh, who a lot 1579 01:02:24,565 --> 01:02:26,445 of folks know maybe in terms of his amazing work, 1580 01:02:26,695 --> 01:02:29,365 he'll be our main keynote speaker on Friday this coming up, 1581 01:02:29,365 --> 01:02:30,925 and we could not be more excited about him 1582 01:02:31,145 --> 01:02:32,285 and hear about his perspective 1583 01:02:32,305 --> 01:02:33,485 on what's going on across the world. 1584 01:02:33,825 --> 01:02:35,045 Um, and then just last thing, 1585 01:02:35,045 --> 01:02:36,525 say the focus of this year's event. 1586 01:02:37,225 --> 01:02:39,285 Um, it's about navigating discourse. 1587 01:02:39,285 --> 01:02:40,725 It's really about what we've been taught the entire time, 1588 01:02:40,745 --> 01:02:42,845 is really giving people, hopefully the capacity 1589 01:02:42,865 --> 01:02:44,445 and the toolkits to be able to do this. 1590 01:02:44,595 --> 01:02:45,725 Knowing that October 1591 01:02:45,825 --> 01:02:47,685 and November of this year is not gonna be super, 1592 01:02:47,685 --> 01:02:48,845 super fun for some folks. 1593 01:02:48,905 --> 01:02:50,805 So really gearing up and really getting ready for 1594 01:02:50,805 --> 01:02:52,045 that I think is really important. 1595 01:02:52,045 --> 01:02:54,285 And we're really focusing on the future of the next 10 years 1596 01:02:54,285 --> 01:02:56,005 of this work, not necessarily the past. 1597 01:02:56,385 --> 01:02:58,165 Uh, because the future is where we we're gonna be at. 1598 01:02:58,165 --> 01:03:00,085 So we'll talk ways in which this is gonna change 1599 01:03:00,395 --> 01:03:02,525 what ways in which educators continue to really can, 1600 01:03:02,545 --> 01:03:04,565 can gear up for this and really be successful. 1601 01:03:04,825 --> 01:03:06,525 So, like I said, we'd love to have you if you're in the area 1602 01:03:06,545 --> 01:03:07,525 or just love to hear more about 1603 01:03:07,525 --> 01:03:09,125 it, feel free to let us know. We're, we're always happy. 1604 01:03:09,275 --> 01:03:10,365 - Yeah. Y'all gotta come through. 1605 01:03:10,435 --> 01:03:12,645 What are some of the sessions that people can, 1606 01:03:12,805 --> 01:03:16,245 I love the idea of, of of combining a hiring forum 1607 01:03:16,355 --> 01:03:18,245 with professional development that, 1608 01:03:18,395 --> 01:03:19,805 that does address some of these things. 1609 01:03:19,865 --> 01:03:22,125 And folks like Howard Stevenson is the real deal. 1610 01:03:22,235 --> 01:03:25,685 Like, um, this is an individual who's been promoting this 1611 01:03:25,685 --> 01:03:26,805 idea of racial literacy 1612 01:03:26,805 --> 01:03:29,125 that's really gained traction over the last few years. 1613 01:03:29,265 --> 01:03:33,325 Um, long time listeners will remember when we had authors, 1614 01:03:33,425 --> 01:03:35,765 uh, Priya vci and Winona go, authors of, tell me 1615 01:03:35,765 --> 01:03:37,285 who you are coming on here. 1616 01:03:37,545 --> 01:03:40,805 Um, not even old enough to drink at that point. 1617 01:03:41,165 --> 01:03:42,365 I think , um, 1618 01:03:42,435 --> 01:03:45,285 talking about this powerful racial literacy 1619 01:03:45,515 --> 01:03:46,685 that work that they did. 1620 01:03:46,985 --> 01:03:50,485 Um, and so, and so, uh, Dr. Stevenson is, is an amazing, 1621 01:03:50,595 --> 01:03:52,845 like, I would just go to, you know, if, if 1622 01:03:52,865 --> 01:03:55,525 for no other reason, if I only had a couple hours in the 1623 01:03:55,525 --> 01:03:56,925 day, like go down there. 1624 01:03:57,025 --> 01:03:59,325 Um, but what are some of the other sort of 1625 01:04:00,085 --> 01:04:02,085 learning opportunities that people may have? 1626 01:04:02,315 --> 01:04:03,845 Like, like, don't give all of it. 1627 01:04:03,845 --> 01:04:05,765 Like give it a teaser so that people will be like, 1628 01:04:06,205 --> 01:04:09,805 I heard just enough that I'm gonna get on the turnpike 1629 01:04:09,805 --> 01:04:10,885 and go, uh, 1630 01:04:10,985 --> 01:04:12,925 but not so much that I don't have to go now. 1631 01:04:13,205 --> 01:04:14,205 - . 1632 01:04:14,205 --> 01:04:17,645 Um, well, we'll have sessions on strategy strategies for 1633 01:04:18,305 --> 01:04:21,405 hiring, uh, candidates from, um, 1634 01:04:21,505 --> 01:04:22,845 underrepresented backgrounds. 1635 01:04:23,345 --> 01:04:25,245 Uh, there'll be sessions on, um, 1636 01:04:26,945 --> 01:04:28,445 on what else? 1637 01:04:28,745 --> 01:04:32,445 I'm trying to think. Um, there's a really cool one 1638 01:04:32,445 --> 01:04:33,565 that's the gamification 1639 01:04:33,625 --> 01:04:36,005 of black women in independent schools, which I think 1640 01:04:36,005 --> 01:04:37,045 - Will be Oh wow, that's - Neat. 1641 01:04:37,185 --> 01:04:38,245 Um, really intriguing. 1642 01:04:38,705 --> 01:04:43,285 Uh, Brandon is moderating a session. Do you wanna talk about that one? 1643 01:04:43,715 --> 01:04:45,645 - Yeah. So we're getting together some of the top, 1644 01:04:46,085 --> 01:04:48,485 I would consider DNIB directors across the country at 1645 01:04:48,485 --> 01:04:49,605 different independent schools for a panel 1646 01:04:49,605 --> 01:04:51,005 to hear kind of what's going on in their schools. 1647 01:04:51,005 --> 01:04:52,445 Like what's, what, what they're dealing with. 1648 01:04:52,785 --> 01:04:54,605 Um, and we did a similar thing a couple weeks ago. 1649 01:04:54,635 --> 01:04:56,085 It's really powerful to hear from them. 1650 01:04:56,085 --> 01:04:58,765 Like, here's the, the unvarnished behind the veil. 1651 01:04:58,765 --> 01:05:00,885 Here's what we go through every day, right. Type situation. 1652 01:05:00,885 --> 01:05:02,165 People understand that. So that'll be really cool. 1653 01:05:02,625 --> 01:05:05,005 Um, there's also a couple other sessions about like, um, 1654 01:05:05,005 --> 01:05:07,605 thinking about how do you, um, how do you think about being, 1655 01:05:07,605 --> 01:05:09,525 living in and understanding in a pwi I, right? 1656 01:05:09,525 --> 01:05:10,685 How do you understand that part 1657 01:05:10,705 --> 01:05:12,725 and what does that mean as well too as a person of color? 1658 01:05:13,105 --> 01:05:15,205 Um, how do you navigate spaces in which that you're, 1659 01:05:15,425 --> 01:05:16,965 you don't look like everybody else. 1660 01:05:17,045 --> 01:05:18,885 Everybody like you as a professional, right? 1661 01:05:18,885 --> 01:05:20,725 In particular, not just as, as that case. 1662 01:05:21,225 --> 01:05:24,325 Um, and thinking about as well too, ways that affirm, um, 1663 01:05:24,665 --> 01:05:26,725 really the, just all kind of ways in which that, 1664 01:05:26,725 --> 01:05:29,285 from a professional standpoint, to your point earlier, we, 1665 01:05:29,285 --> 01:05:30,965 we don't talk a lot about this sometimes. 1666 01:05:31,025 --> 01:05:33,245 We just kind of happen in these areas. That's right. 1667 01:05:33,465 --> 01:05:35,125 Um, so really the focus of the conference, 1668 01:05:35,125 --> 01:05:36,565 and we hope we'll get excited for folks 1669 01:05:36,665 --> 01:05:38,925 to really walk outta here on, if you, if you're able 1670 01:05:38,925 --> 01:05:40,645 to make it into the course of the day, walk out 1671 01:05:40,645 --> 01:05:43,485 with not just the toolkit and not just the confidence, 1672 01:05:43,485 --> 01:05:45,365 but with a network to be able to do it more as well too. 1673 01:05:45,525 --> 01:05:46,845 'cause that's the biggest part of this conference, 1674 01:05:46,845 --> 01:05:48,525 is connecting with folks and really doing that. 1675 01:05:48,745 --> 01:05:50,605 Um, again, both this conference with all of our conferences 1676 01:05:50,605 --> 01:05:51,605 as well too, connecting with people, 1677 01:05:51,785 --> 01:05:53,845 having more people in your corner, in your Rolodex 1678 01:05:53,845 --> 01:05:55,125 to be able to call when you need to. 1679 01:05:55,505 --> 01:05:56,845 Um, that's the the beauty of, 1680 01:05:56,845 --> 01:05:58,565 of this work that we're doing this weekend. That's 1681 01:05:58,565 --> 01:05:59,565 - Dope. 1682 01:05:59,565 --> 01:05:59,805 That's dope. I love that. 1683 01:05:59,905 --> 01:06:04,365 And I think, um, so it even sounds like, um, there's, 1684 01:06:04,365 --> 01:06:06,325 there's a space for some criticality, right? 1685 01:06:06,375 --> 01:06:08,925 Where to say that we're, we're moving forward, 1686 01:06:08,935 --> 01:06:11,245 we're building a future in order to un understand 1687 01:06:11,245 --> 01:06:12,965 how we can build a better experience 1688 01:06:12,965 --> 01:06:14,165 for kids and professionals. 1689 01:06:14,705 --> 01:06:17,445 We, we've gotta be real about what we've experienced 1690 01:06:18,305 --> 01:06:21,645 in these systems and what it's like to be who I am. 1691 01:06:21,945 --> 01:06:23,445 Um, that's beautiful. 1692 01:06:23,445 --> 01:06:24,885 So folks, you've got to go 1693 01:06:24,885 --> 01:06:26,485 and check it out if you're in the area. 1694 01:06:26,945 --> 01:06:29,125 Um, and if you can't make it this Friday, 1695 01:06:29,155 --> 01:06:30,405 it's just starts this Friday, right? 1696 01:06:30,545 --> 01:06:31,965 The 26th, correct? Yes. 1697 01:06:32,025 --> 01:06:34,365 Um, if, if you can't make it this Friday, um, 1698 01:06:34,795 --> 01:06:37,085 just like head over, we'll have some, uh, 1699 01:06:37,095 --> 01:06:38,125 links in the show notes. 1700 01:06:38,125 --> 01:06:40,525 We'll have Kim and Brandon share a little bit about 1701 01:06:40,525 --> 01:06:42,885 where they can find more information about this 1702 01:06:42,945 --> 01:06:46,245 and other forums and summits and conferences that they have. 1703 01:06:46,505 --> 01:06:47,925 And maybe you can catch another one. 1704 01:06:47,925 --> 01:06:50,085 Like, I actually, like, I love conferences. 1705 01:06:50,545 --> 01:06:52,645 Um, I love just going and just meeting people. 1706 01:06:52,765 --> 01:06:55,165 I think that connecting piece is the most important thing 1707 01:06:55,165 --> 01:06:58,525 to me and just seeing where, where these kind 1708 01:06:58,525 --> 01:06:59,605 of connections can go 1709 01:07:00,145 --> 01:07:02,285 and, uh, what kind of amazing folks you can meet. 1710 01:07:02,305 --> 01:07:05,805 So I plan on attending one sometime, um, 1711 01:07:05,825 --> 01:07:06,965 in the calendar year. 1712 01:07:07,085 --> 01:07:08,885 I would've loved to have gone this week. 1713 01:07:09,345 --> 01:07:11,445 Um, but my boss said, no, . 1714 01:07:11,445 --> 01:07:14,925 Um, so we, uh, , uh, 1715 01:07:14,985 --> 01:07:16,565 so we're gonna move into probably 1716 01:07:17,185 --> 01:07:18,885 the most important question that we have. 1717 01:07:19,245 --> 01:07:21,165 . Um, it's a pretty big deal. 1718 01:07:21,345 --> 01:07:23,805 Um, I don't know if people have had time to prepare. 1719 01:07:24,075 --> 01:07:26,485 There's a, um, there's definitely, 1720 01:07:26,595 --> 01:07:27,925 this is definitely a thing. 1721 01:07:27,985 --> 01:07:32,685 So, uh, we, so first of all, if, if you, we don't like 1722 01:07:32,685 --> 01:07:33,805 to assume that every guest 1723 01:07:33,805 --> 01:07:35,645 that comes on the two dope teachers in a Mike 1724 01:07:35,645 --> 01:07:37,405 podcast is a hip hop head. 1725 01:07:37,405 --> 01:07:39,285 Like Kevin and I grew up with hip hop. 1726 01:07:39,405 --> 01:07:41,805 I like to say that hip hop is kind of my, 1727 01:07:41,865 --> 01:07:43,205 my, my wild little cousin. 1728 01:07:43,745 --> 01:07:47,205 Uh, I think I'm a little bit right around the same age 1729 01:07:47,205 --> 01:07:49,605 as hiphop, but, um, so we grew up together. 1730 01:07:50,145 --> 01:07:52,605 Um, I don't think hiphop is perfect, 1731 01:07:52,745 --> 01:07:55,605 but it is, you know, sort of what, what raised me in part. 1732 01:07:56,025 --> 01:07:58,645 Um, so, but if people aren't hiphop listeners, 1733 01:07:58,645 --> 01:08:00,245 we also encourage them to u 1734 01:08:00,345 --> 01:08:04,005 to substitute artists from other genres as well. 1735 01:08:04,235 --> 01:08:07,445 Like we know hip hop is not the beyond end all, 1736 01:08:07,545 --> 01:08:08,565 so I'm told . 1737 01:08:08,825 --> 01:08:12,245 Uh, so couple of guidelines, we're gonna ask, uh, each 1738 01:08:12,245 --> 01:08:14,925 of you to share your top five rappers or performing artists. 1739 01:08:15,345 --> 01:08:18,005 Uh, there's a couple of rules. 1740 01:08:18,185 --> 01:08:20,645 So the first rule is that there are no rules . 1741 01:08:20,865 --> 01:08:24,565 So, um, which means any, any 1742 01:08:25,365 --> 01:08:27,765 policies we have around top five rappers can be 1743 01:08:28,005 --> 01:08:31,365 interrogated, disrupted, modified, all that kind of thing. 1744 01:08:31,385 --> 01:08:35,755 So when we say top five, it doesn't have to be five. 1745 01:08:36,015 --> 01:08:38,235 Uh, we call this the Eric Hale rule. 1746 01:08:38,535 --> 01:08:41,435 Uh, Eric Hale, shout out 2021 Texas Teacher of the Year 1747 01:08:41,735 --> 01:08:43,595 who probably found a way in this segment 1748 01:08:43,655 --> 01:08:46,315 to shoehorn 25 rappers into a top five . 1749 01:08:46,775 --> 01:08:49,515 Um, and he was texting me later saying, oh, 1750 01:08:49,515 --> 01:08:50,955 and I forgot this guy and I forgot this dude. 1751 01:08:51,375 --> 01:08:53,795 Um, so, uh, so that's rule number one. 1752 01:08:53,795 --> 01:08:56,715 The Eric Hale rule is in full effect, if you want to say, 1753 01:08:56,795 --> 01:08:58,275 I have a three-way tie for a second 1754 01:08:58,335 --> 01:09:01,395 and a four-way tie for fourth whatever, um, 1755 01:09:01,655 --> 01:09:05,435 the second rule is, um, it doesn't have 1756 01:09:05,435 --> 01:09:06,675 to be set in stone. 1757 01:09:07,335 --> 01:09:08,915 So if people come for you 1758 01:09:08,975 --> 01:09:11,715 and say, man, I heard you on that podcast 1759 01:09:12,455 --> 01:09:14,395 and you said this was your top five 1760 01:09:14,695 --> 01:09:16,715 and I disagree with you, um, 1761 01:09:17,065 --> 01:09:19,315 your top five is unassailable, right? 1762 01:09:19,315 --> 01:09:20,995 Mm-Hmm. because it's just a moment in time. 1763 01:09:21,375 --> 01:09:24,435 So it doesn't have to be ever, it can just be right now. 1764 01:09:24,435 --> 01:09:25,635 This is how I'm answering this question. 1765 01:09:26,135 --> 01:09:30,715 Um, and so it can just be a snapshot top five. 1766 01:09:31,015 --> 01:09:33,835 Um, I think I mentioned that it can be, um, 1767 01:09:34,165 --> 01:09:37,035 other performing artists, uh, who are outside 1768 01:09:37,035 --> 01:09:38,355 of the range of hip hop. 1769 01:09:38,455 --> 01:09:41,795 We, um, we even had Taylor Swift make an 1770 01:09:41,795 --> 01:09:43,155 appearance on a top five. 1771 01:09:43,155 --> 01:09:44,435 Still not totally sure what I think about that, 1772 01:09:44,435 --> 01:09:45,475 but I'm okay with it . 1773 01:09:45,655 --> 01:09:47,275 Um, it's, it's fine. It's fine. 1774 01:09:47,455 --> 01:09:50,075 Uh, midnight's is a good album. I can admit that. . 1775 01:09:50,075 --> 01:09:54,595 Um, And so, and then the final rule is individuals. 1776 01:09:55,575 --> 01:09:58,155 It, it can be individuals or collectives. 1777 01:09:58,175 --> 01:10:01,675 So like, if you're having a hard time choosing from Wu-Tang, 1778 01:10:01,675 --> 01:10:03,675 folks, like you can just have Wu-Tang 1779 01:10:03,675 --> 01:10:05,475 as like one artist, right? 1780 01:10:05,775 --> 01:10:07,995 So you don't have to like, use, you don't have 1781 01:10:07,995 --> 01:10:09,515 to like differentiate in that kind of thing. 1782 01:10:09,535 --> 01:10:13,555 So it can be groups, um, occupying one space. 1783 01:10:14,755 --> 01:10:15,955 I think those are the rules. So 1784 01:10:16,505 --> 01:10:18,235 what we'll do is you'll share that a little bit. 1785 01:10:18,235 --> 01:10:20,715 We'll make a playlist off of this episode and, 1786 01:10:21,055 --> 01:10:23,035 and include it with the episode, uh, 1787 01:10:23,035 --> 01:10:26,195 where you give us artists and then I identify songs. 1788 01:10:26,495 --> 01:10:28,235 Um, unless you have specific ones. 1789 01:10:28,295 --> 01:10:32,595 So who has the fortitude, 1790 01:10:33,055 --> 01:10:37,165 the daring, the bravery to go first? Brandon, 1791 01:10:37,305 --> 01:10:38,305 - You're the music man. 1792 01:10:38,485 --> 01:10:40,365 , I knew she was gonna, I knew she was gonna do it. 1793 01:10:40,465 --> 01:10:42,925 So, yeah. So, um, so I don't know if this is fair or not. 1794 01:10:43,005 --> 01:10:45,525 'cause again, my, uh, my background was interesting enough, 1795 01:10:45,565 --> 01:10:47,165 I was a college not only just dj, 1796 01:10:47,325 --> 01:10:48,365 I ran a college radio station 1797 01:10:48,385 --> 01:10:49,405 as well too for a couple years. 1798 01:10:49,425 --> 01:10:50,645 So my, my background Oh, 1799 01:10:50,705 --> 01:10:51,705 - That's absolutely fair. 1800 01:10:51,965 --> 01:10:54,085 I was a really bad rapper in seventh grade. 1801 01:10:54,145 --> 01:10:56,725 So that, that's where my authority comes 1802 01:10:56,755 --> 01:10:57,755 - From. 1803 01:10:57,755 --> 01:10:58,685 . Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. That's funny. Yeah. 1804 01:10:58,945 --> 01:11:00,325 So, uh, so I say it 'cause my, my, 1805 01:11:00,345 --> 01:11:02,325 my music choice is eclectic by nature. 1806 01:11:02,325 --> 01:11:03,605 Maybe I agree with that, 1807 01:11:03,665 --> 01:11:04,765 but I would say it's across the way. 1808 01:11:04,825 --> 01:11:06,925 So if I had to go all the time and I'm not, 1809 01:11:06,925 --> 01:11:08,365 and I'm gonna go outside of rappers just 1810 01:11:08,525 --> 01:11:11,205 'cause I think that I actually, I really try not to, 1811 01:11:11,305 --> 01:11:12,645 to label top five rappers. 1812 01:11:12,685 --> 01:11:13,685 I, it's always a fight 1813 01:11:13,685 --> 01:11:14,645 and I'm not sure I really wanna 1814 01:11:14,645 --> 01:11:15,685 fight anybody who's listen Yeah. 1815 01:11:15,685 --> 01:11:18,085 - To this podcast. Yeah. We, we talked to Dr. 1816 01:11:18,175 --> 01:11:20,445 Lagar King a while back and, uh, 1817 01:11:20,545 --> 01:11:23,845 and he was one that said, so I'm gonna give a list that 1818 01:11:24,725 --> 01:11:27,015 y'all's listeners can listen to, but yeah, right. 1819 01:11:27,255 --> 01:11:30,535 , the real list is, I'm not gonna put that out there. 1820 01:11:30,735 --> 01:11:32,855 'cause not gonna, it'll cost, it'll cost controversy. 1821 01:11:33,075 --> 01:11:34,695 So I feel that, go ahead, . Yeah. Yeah. 1822 01:11:34,695 --> 01:11:36,615 - Alright, so I'll go and I won't even go in order here. 1823 01:11:36,615 --> 01:11:37,615 I'll just say top five people. 1824 01:11:37,835 --> 01:11:39,695 - Oh, yeah. It's not, it doesn't have to be hierarchical. 1825 01:11:39,695 --> 01:11:40,855 Okay. That's the other rule. It 1826 01:11:40,855 --> 01:11:41,935 doesn't have to be hierarchical. 1827 01:11:42,155 --> 01:11:44,735 - So I'm, I'm gonna stay and I'm not gonna use one of Kim's 1828 01:11:44,735 --> 01:11:45,975 because I know, I know Kim's top ones. 1829 01:11:45,975 --> 01:11:50,575 I'm not gonna use her in this, in my, But, so I'll, I'll go 1830 01:11:50,575 --> 01:11:52,775 with, I'll go with, um, I'll go with Lupe fiasco. 1831 01:11:53,055 --> 01:11:55,215 Actually, I think that for me, from a lyricist standpoint, 1832 01:11:55,285 --> 01:11:57,375 yeah, there were moments in which I still can't wrap my head 1833 01:11:57,375 --> 01:11:59,735 around the words that he said that were so powerful for me 1834 01:11:59,755 --> 01:12:02,495 as, as a younger male growing up in the early two Ss, right? 1835 01:12:02,495 --> 01:12:04,255 Yeah. So Lupe's gotta be on that list to me. 1836 01:12:04,675 --> 01:12:06,455 Um, you guys have credit today? 1837 01:12:06,755 --> 01:12:09,175 Um, I'll go with Luther actually. 1838 01:12:09,175 --> 01:12:11,055 And I say that because of Luther's ability 1839 01:12:11,055 --> 01:12:13,135 to connect generations, my grandmother 1840 01:12:13,135 --> 01:12:14,735 and I will still end calls with Luther 1841 01:12:14,835 --> 01:12:16,855 and I, nowhere can sing anywhere near what he could 1842 01:12:16,855 --> 01:12:18,415 or what she could, but it was that, 1843 01:12:18,415 --> 01:12:19,735 that connective between too. 1844 01:12:19,735 --> 01:12:22,175 So Luther comes to me as number two, and 1845 01:12:22,175 --> 01:12:24,135 - For people who are not in the know, we're referring 1846 01:12:24,135 --> 01:12:25,535 to Luther Vandross. Correct. 1847 01:12:25,775 --> 01:12:26,815 - I mean, if you call anything out, I mean, 1848 01:12:26,815 --> 01:12:28,455 if you call anybody else Luther, I don't know what you 1849 01:12:28,655 --> 01:12:29,655 - Yeah. 1850 01:12:29,655 --> 01:12:31,775 I don't know. It's a like Lex Luther, like, I don't know. 1851 01:12:31,775 --> 01:12:34,815 Like, but yeah, like I know, I know, I know. 1852 01:12:35,035 --> 01:12:36,135 And we mostly know. 1853 01:12:36,215 --> 01:12:37,535 I just wanna make sure people don't get it 1854 01:12:37,535 --> 01:12:38,575 twisted. Okay. Yeah. 1855 01:12:38,875 --> 01:12:40,615 - All right. So, uh, so being from the Philly area, 1856 01:12:40,715 --> 01:12:42,695 I'm not a Philly, I mean, I'm, I'm, I grew up in Jersey. 1857 01:12:42,775 --> 01:12:44,815 I call myself Philly person, whatever, it's Boys to Men has 1858 01:12:44,815 --> 01:12:46,375 to show up on my list here. Ooh, 1859 01:12:46,455 --> 01:12:47,455 - I like that. 1860 01:12:47,455 --> 01:12:49,775 - Uh, because you talk about just a ability, again, 1861 01:12:49,795 --> 01:12:53,375 to see young black males who could rap or who chose not to, 1862 01:12:53,395 --> 01:12:54,575 but went in a different genre, right? 1863 01:12:54,575 --> 01:12:56,015 To be able to make music, um, 1864 01:12:56,035 --> 01:12:59,215 and to be in that boy boy world range at that point, 1865 01:12:59,215 --> 01:13:01,815 and be all black and be unapologetically black about it. 1866 01:13:02,005 --> 01:13:04,175 Yeah. To me was, was was absolutely amazing. 1867 01:13:04,355 --> 01:13:07,335 So they're my three. Uh, I would go four. 1868 01:13:07,755 --> 01:13:11,215 Um, , uh, this is crazy, I'm gonna say this, 1869 01:13:11,275 --> 01:13:14,775 but, uh, I, I think four in so many ways for me too, 1870 01:13:15,165 --> 01:13:17,175 when I think about Jay-Z and I say that 1871 01:13:17,175 --> 01:13:19,335 because again, as a, not a New Yorker in particular, right? 1872 01:13:19,335 --> 01:13:21,655 Who didn't have that same affinity to what he was taught, 1873 01:13:21,655 --> 01:13:23,495 really some of the things he said, yeah. 1874 01:13:23,495 --> 01:13:25,815 Uh, I didn't grow up again in, in the same kind 1875 01:13:25,815 --> 01:13:28,095 of background, but just the ability from an entrepreneurial 1876 01:13:28,095 --> 01:13:29,135 standpoint Mm-hmm. 1877 01:13:29,135 --> 01:13:31,135 To be who he's today and what he changed. 1878 01:13:31,195 --> 01:13:34,015 And not just to say, look, you can be black and be rich. 1879 01:13:34,015 --> 01:13:36,135 You can be black and rich and long term make 1880 01:13:36,135 --> 01:13:37,375 impact across the way. 1881 01:13:37,755 --> 01:13:39,415 Um, yeah, I think is something that will always stand. 1882 01:13:39,685 --> 01:13:42,695 Same with me, for sure. Um, and then I'm gonna talk . 1883 01:13:42,835 --> 01:13:43,695 I'm gonna do this because I 1884 01:13:43,695 --> 01:13:44,895 can, I know you said about genres. 1885 01:13:44,895 --> 01:13:45,775 I'm gonna, I'm gonna stretch and people 1886 01:13:45,775 --> 01:13:46,335 are gonna lose their mind. 1887 01:13:46,375 --> 01:13:48,095 I says, I'm gonna make four, I'm gonna make five, 1888 01:13:48,165 --> 01:13:49,535 like five A and five B. 1889 01:13:49,755 --> 01:13:52,175 Um, okay. And they're both mid or Midwest southern people. 1890 01:13:52,195 --> 01:13:54,695 I'm gonna go John Legend and Darius Rucker combined, 1891 01:13:54,695 --> 01:13:58,135 because to me, okay, um, Darius Rucker, uh, 1892 01:13:58,155 --> 01:13:59,575 I'm a country music artist fan. 1893 01:13:59,575 --> 01:14:00,775 That's why don't I blow anybody's mind. 1894 01:14:00,835 --> 01:14:04,055 But like, um, to me, his ability to, um, 1895 01:14:04,315 --> 01:14:06,775 to stretch a genre from where he was at originally, 1896 01:14:06,775 --> 01:14:09,535 to then turn into who he is now, um, absolutely amazing. 1897 01:14:09,595 --> 01:14:11,565 And then John Legend has the greatest voice that's ever, 1898 01:14:11,805 --> 01:14:13,725 I think, walked this side of the Western Hemisphere in terms 1899 01:14:13,725 --> 01:14:15,005 of range and ability. 1900 01:14:15,235 --> 01:14:17,325 - Yeah. You and my spouse are in agreement about 1901 01:14:17,325 --> 01:14:18,405 this. , all the 1902 01:14:18,405 --> 01:14:19,685 - Concert changed my life forever. 1903 01:14:20,145 --> 01:14:21,605 Um, whatever may be. 1904 01:14:21,625 --> 01:14:25,005 So, uh, but yeah, so I mean, again, I could name 500 people 1905 01:14:25,025 --> 01:14:26,685 and I'm offended that I have choose five, 1906 01:14:26,785 --> 01:14:28,845 but I, that one for sure. 1907 01:14:29,025 --> 01:14:30,365 And I'll just throw out one really quick, 1908 01:14:30,365 --> 01:14:31,405 like newer artists Yes. 1909 01:14:31,535 --> 01:14:33,685 About Lathan. Warick is a guy I just able 1910 01:14:33,685 --> 01:14:34,685 to meet actually last week in, 1911 01:14:34,685 --> 01:14:36,725 in Nashville, speaking of kind of the combo. 1912 01:14:36,915 --> 01:14:39,085 He's a rapper, but also does country music. 1913 01:14:39,105 --> 01:14:40,765 And so he is done a lot of collabs with Okay. 1914 01:14:40,885 --> 01:14:42,765 Freeland and some of the other new black 1915 01:14:42,765 --> 01:14:43,845 country music artists. 1916 01:14:43,845 --> 01:14:44,805 Though you will hear a lot about 1917 01:14:44,805 --> 01:14:45,845 him moving out moving forward. 1918 01:14:45,845 --> 01:14:46,965 But, uh, I got a chance 1919 01:14:46,965 --> 01:14:48,085 to meet him my personal last week, which 1920 01:14:48,265 --> 01:14:49,685 - Oh, that's dope. That's 1921 01:14:49,685 --> 01:14:50,885 - Dope thing. So anyway, 1922 01:14:50,885 --> 01:14:51,885 - Nice. 1923 01:14:51,885 --> 01:14:53,765 I see. That's the other thing I love about this segment is 1924 01:14:53,765 --> 01:14:56,085 that I will always learn about an 1925 01:14:56,085 --> 01:14:57,245 artist that I had not heard of. 1926 01:14:57,425 --> 01:14:59,485 And again, I'm so sad that Kevin's not here 1927 01:14:59,485 --> 01:15:01,925 because when you, when you drop Darius Rucker, 1928 01:15:01,925 --> 01:15:05,445 Kevin is also has a really eclectic, uh, musical date. 1929 01:15:05,475 --> 01:15:07,285 It's really funny. We do top five rappers, 1930 01:15:07,505 --> 01:15:10,965 but the only shows he goes to religiously, 1931 01:15:10,965 --> 01:15:13,725 and I will say religiously, are Phish shows. 1932 01:15:13,915 --> 01:15:15,605 Like he has traveled to see Phish, 1933 01:15:16,115 --> 01:15:17,965 he's gone the whole way into it. 1934 01:15:18,025 --> 01:15:20,485 We have Phish debates on this whole kind of thing. 1935 01:15:20,745 --> 01:15:22,725 So I just think that Eclecticism, um, 1936 01:15:23,175 --> 01:15:25,605 would not be lost on him. 1937 01:15:25,825 --> 01:15:27,645 I'm gonna comment really quickly, and then I want to hear, 1938 01:15:27,825 --> 01:15:29,965 uh, Kim, I know I'm, I'm ready. 1939 01:15:29,965 --> 01:15:31,925 Mm-Hmm. . Uh, so Lupe, um, 1940 01:15:32,425 --> 01:15:34,765 so Kick Push came out in the early part 1941 01:15:34,765 --> 01:15:35,765 of my teaching career. 1942 01:15:35,905 --> 01:15:37,365 Mm-Hmm. . And at a time 1943 01:15:37,365 --> 01:15:39,485 that I was really struggling with, like, 1944 01:15:39,625 --> 01:15:41,885 how do I do this job well? 1945 01:15:42,545 --> 01:15:45,605 And just that whole metaphor of Kick Push Coast. 1946 01:15:46,065 --> 01:15:47,685 Um, sometimes you're gonna slip 1947 01:15:47,705 --> 01:15:48,965 and you're gonna bust your lip. 1948 01:15:49,425 --> 01:15:51,565 Um, you know, you're gonna have some trouble, 1949 01:15:51,625 --> 01:15:53,245 but you just have to keep on doing that. 1950 01:15:53,585 --> 01:15:56,965 Um, boy Men speaks to my eighth grade sensibilities, uh, 1951 01:15:56,965 --> 01:15:59,725 Motown, Motown Philly came out when I was in eighth grade. 1952 01:16:00,425 --> 01:16:04,005 And, um, and I think there was definitely a moment in the 1953 01:16:04,005 --> 01:16:06,445 late eighties, early nineties when I was probably listening 1954 01:16:06,445 --> 01:16:09,765 to a lot more r and b than I was rap and hip hop. 1955 01:16:09,825 --> 01:16:12,605 And so that really, um, is after my heart. 1956 01:16:12,745 --> 01:16:14,565 And so I love this top five. 1957 01:16:15,065 --> 01:16:19,605 Um, so Tim, all Eyes on You, . 1958 01:16:19,825 --> 01:16:21,965 - Wow. - See, that was a wrap reference. 1959 01:16:21,965 --> 01:16:23,565 That was a wrap reference. . Oh, yes. 1960 01:16:23,715 --> 01:16:25,365 Listeners, you know, . 1961 01:16:25,905 --> 01:16:29,565 - Um, so I was, I too was going 1962 01:16:29,565 --> 01:16:32,685 to mention Beyonce's husband, Jay-Z as Brandon, 1963 01:16:33,125 --> 01:16:34,325 I guess. I love it. But, um, 1964 01:16:34,335 --> 01:16:37,885 - We'll just call him Beyonce's husband in the list, 1965 01:16:38,545 --> 01:16:40,085 - But - Beyonce, what's 1966 01:16:40,085 --> 01:16:41,285 that guy's name? He's married to Beyonce. 1967 01:16:41,545 --> 01:16:43,165 - You know that Beyonce's husband. 1968 01:16:43,745 --> 01:16:47,845 Uh, but also Beyonce, you have to mention the Queen. Yes. 1969 01:16:48,265 --> 01:16:51,365 Um, I would also say 1970 01:16:52,235 --> 01:16:54,925 Mary j Blige, uh, for sure. 1971 01:16:55,145 --> 01:16:57,565 - Oh, Mary j. Mary J Blige. Yeah. Yes. 1972 01:16:57,565 --> 01:16:59,045 Every time someone says like, 1973 01:16:59,045 --> 01:17:02,045 and she showed up on a few of our top fives and, 1974 01:17:02,305 --> 01:17:05,485 but every time someone says her name, I like, 1975 01:17:05,645 --> 01:17:07,765 I I just feel this wave come over me. 1976 01:17:07,905 --> 01:17:11,085 I'm like, Mary J Yes. Yeah. Okay. Yeah. 1977 01:17:11,945 --> 01:17:14,925 - Um, biggie. - Okay. 1978 01:17:15,905 --> 01:17:18,645 - Um, I was not an East Coast, west Coast. 1979 01:17:18,845 --> 01:17:21,165 I never picked sides, so I would also name Tupac. 1980 01:17:21,385 --> 01:17:25,325 - Yep. - Um, who else would I name? 1981 01:17:25,825 --> 01:17:27,325 Um, TLC. 1982 01:17:28,105 --> 01:17:32,025 - Oh, yes. That's a, that's a, that's what's 1983 01:17:32,025 --> 01:17:32,345 - Up. Yeah. 1984 01:17:32,925 --> 01:17:35,705 - All - Right. Um, Whitney Houston. You know Whitney? 1985 01:17:35,845 --> 01:17:37,065 - Yep. Gotta have Whitney there. 1986 01:17:37,405 --> 01:17:39,665 - And Mariah Carey. Mm-Hmm. . Just 1987 01:17:40,275 --> 01:17:42,265 - First compact disc I ever owned 1988 01:17:43,285 --> 01:17:44,945 was Mariah Carey's first album. 1989 01:17:45,385 --> 01:17:47,585 . Yep. Yeah. 1990 01:17:47,585 --> 01:17:49,625 And I know people aren't gonna, people are gonna cancel me 1991 01:17:49,625 --> 01:17:51,145 for saying that out loud, but it's true. 1992 01:17:51,705 --> 01:17:53,345 - I mean, it's true. What a voice. It's, it's 1993 01:17:53,345 --> 01:17:54,385 what you like, I mean, yeah. 1994 01:17:54,455 --> 01:17:55,505 Back in the day. That's 1995 01:17:55,505 --> 01:17:56,505 - Right. 1996 01:17:56,505 --> 01:17:57,025 Yeah. Yeah, that's right. 1997 01:17:57,455 --> 01:17:59,545 This, this, um, so much of this list did, 1998 01:17:59,545 --> 01:18:00,705 were there more than you want to add on your list? 1999 01:18:00,805 --> 01:18:03,985 No, no. So, so much of this list speaks to 2000 01:18:04,695 --> 01:18:08,545 moments in my life growing up, where the, you know, 2001 01:18:08,545 --> 01:18:09,985 it's just like you turned on the radio, 2002 01:18:10,015 --> 01:18:11,105 this is what you heard. 2003 01:18:11,685 --> 01:18:14,785 And I think when with, with Pac 2004 01:18:14,805 --> 01:18:18,465 and Biggie, um, I, I just really enjoyed them. 2005 01:18:18,465 --> 01:18:22,025 And I like you, I didn't ever, I always struggled 2006 01:18:22,025 --> 01:18:23,705 with the East Coast, west Coast thing, also, 2007 01:18:23,705 --> 01:18:26,185 because I'm not from either coast, like , we're here, 2008 01:18:26,595 --> 01:18:27,745 we're here in the mountains. 2009 01:18:27,815 --> 01:18:30,305 Like, it's equally difficult to get 2010 01:18:30,305 --> 01:18:31,385 to either of those . 2011 01:18:32,055 --> 01:18:34,785 Yeah. Fair. But Pac, PAC is a storyteller. 2012 01:18:35,465 --> 01:18:38,505 Biggie's just technical, like excellence. 2013 01:18:38,505 --> 01:18:41,625 Like, I, I like, even to this day when I listen 2014 01:18:41,725 --> 01:18:43,145 to like Juicy 2015 01:18:43,145 --> 01:18:47,305 or when I listen to, um, to other songs, like More Money, 2016 01:18:47,305 --> 01:18:50,945 more Problems, it's like, it's like just listening 2017 01:18:50,945 --> 01:18:52,465 to the skill and it's beautiful. 2018 01:18:52,885 --> 01:18:54,625 Um, these and, 2019 01:18:54,645 --> 01:18:58,145 and TLC, um, rest in Peace, uh, left Eye, 2020 01:18:58,175 --> 01:19:00,225 like just such amazing music 2021 01:19:00,245 --> 01:19:02,225 and it was so cutting edge for its time. 2022 01:19:02,485 --> 01:19:04,545 Mm-Hmm. , um, you know, amazing stuff. 2023 01:19:04,685 --> 01:19:07,185 So, man, these, these top these top fives are fire. 2024 01:19:07,325 --> 01:19:08,585 I'm not, I'm not even gonna lie. . 2025 01:19:08,585 --> 01:19:11,265 Like, I think that this is a great way 2026 01:19:11,725 --> 01:19:13,825 to conclude this amazing conversation. 2027 01:19:14,365 --> 01:19:18,905 Um, Kim Garner, Brandon Jacobs from, uh, Carney Sando. 2028 01:19:19,315 --> 01:19:21,185 Gotta have y'all back on the show at some point. 2029 01:19:21,725 --> 01:19:23,665 And we gotta get Kevin in the space 2030 01:19:23,725 --> 01:19:26,145 and we gotta get, you know, future things. 2031 01:19:26,245 --> 01:19:30,105 And, you know, as you all continue to do the work, um, 2032 01:19:30,295 --> 01:19:33,345 just stay in touch with us about how we can just continue 2033 01:19:33,345 --> 01:19:34,905 to host conversations like these. 2034 01:19:35,125 --> 01:19:38,385 Really appreciate you being here this afternoon, evening. 2035 01:19:39,205 --> 01:19:41,425 - Oh, thank you so much for having us. It's been an honor. 2036 01:19:42,135 --> 01:19:43,825 - Yeah, this has been a blast. So, um, 2037 01:19:43,935 --> 01:19:46,825 what I'll do is I'll ramble for just a couple of seconds 2038 01:19:47,405 --> 01:19:49,665 and then, um, to the best of our ability 2039 01:19:49,725 --> 01:19:52,465 and to the best that our internet connections will allow it, 2040 01:19:52,765 --> 01:19:55,425 um, we will attempt to say, state open together. 2041 01:19:56,125 --> 01:19:58,505 Um, so, and I'll give you kind of a signal for that. 2042 01:19:58,725 --> 01:20:03,025 So I will say for my absentee co-host everything 2043 01:20:03,685 --> 01:20:05,905 for the amazing Brandon Jacobs 2044 01:20:06,205 --> 01:20:09,805 and for the amazing Kim Garner, uh, 2045 01:20:09,875 --> 01:20:12,405 from the amazing organization, Carney Sando. 2046 01:20:12,585 --> 01:20:13,845 My name is Ard Munoz. 2047 01:20:14,265 --> 01:20:17,925 I'm wishing all of you to have survived your Sunday scaries. 2048 01:20:18,345 --> 01:20:21,205 Uh, I am wishing for all of you to continue 2049 01:20:21,205 --> 01:20:23,645 to have conversations and to build dialogue. 2050 01:20:23,985 --> 01:20:27,885 I'm wishing all of you to find openness, find the liminal, 2051 01:20:28,315 --> 01:20:32,645 find places where you cannot only belong yourself, 2052 01:20:32,705 --> 01:20:35,245 but contribute to an environment of belonging. 2053 01:20:35,835 --> 01:20:38,445 Find ways to be a part of hard conversations. 2054 01:20:38,995 --> 01:20:42,565 Find ways to make every space welcoming space. 2055 01:20:43,185 --> 01:20:45,445 Uh, for all but above 2056 01:20:45,445 --> 01:20:48,725 and beyond every day, y'all gotta find ways to 2057 01:20:50,475 --> 01:20:52,005 stay dope. 2058 01:21:13,625 --> 01:21:15,875 Attention. 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Eva, a certified financial planner 2070 01:21:46,795 --> 01:21:48,195 with Satera Investors. 2071 01:21:48,825 --> 01:21:50,835 Alex provides educators of planning 2072 01:21:50,975 --> 01:21:53,755 for our most important financial milestones. 2073 01:21:54,095 --> 01:21:55,275 He has a deep understanding 2074 01:21:55,295 --> 01:21:56,915 of the important strategies related 2075 01:21:56,935 --> 01:21:59,915 to teachers in our retirement, the school pension system, 2076 01:22:00,055 --> 01:22:03,275 and retirement programs specifically for us. 2077 01:22:04,265 --> 01:22:07,395 Imagine heading into this upcoming school year in the years 2078 01:22:07,455 --> 01:22:09,435 to come with confidence knowing 2079 01:22:09,435 --> 01:22:11,795 that your finances are in order. 2080 01:22:12,695 --> 01:22:14,395 By taking time now to work with Alex, 2081 01:22:14,535 --> 01:22:17,835 you can lay a solid foundation for your financial goals 2082 01:22:17,895 --> 01:22:20,195 and secure a brighter future future. 2083 01:22:20,195 --> 01:22:22,635 Don't let the busyness of the school year hold you back from 2084 01:22:22,635 --> 01:22:24,395 achieving your financial dreams. 2085 01:22:25,005 --> 01:22:26,755 Visit Alex's website at 2086 01:22:27,615 --> 01:22:32,615 www.toandalex.satterinvestors.com/two 2087 01:22:33,275 --> 01:22:33,475 dope. 2088 01:22:33,765 --> 01:22:37,195 Spell out To schedule an initial 2089 01:22:37,875 --> 01:22:38,995 virtual consultation. 2090 01:22:39,375 --> 01:22:42,635 And here's the best part. 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Financial Foot. 2101 01:23:15,505 --> 01:23:17,325 Satera Investors is the marketing name 2102 01:23:17,325 --> 01:23:19,165 of Satter Investment Services. 2103 01:23:19,655 --> 01:23:21,925 Securities and insurance products are offered 2104 01:23:21,925 --> 01:23:24,805 through Satter Investment Services LLC, 2105 01:23:25,055 --> 01:23:27,325 doing insurance business in California 2106 01:23:27,465 --> 01:23:31,165 as C-F-G-S-T-C Insurance Agency, 2107 01:23:31,325 --> 01:23:35,525 LLC Member F-I-N-R-A-S-I-P-C. 2108 01:23:36,485 --> 01:23:38,085 Advisory services are offered 2109 01:23:38,085 --> 01:23:42,525 through Tara Investment Advisors, LLC, California Insurance, 2110 01:23:42,525 --> 01:23:46,365 license number zero L 0 5 6 5 0. 2111 01:23:46,795 --> 01:23:51,725 Alexander Sierra CFP is located at 6 0 5 East 2112 01:23:51,735 --> 01:23:55,325 Huntington Drive, suite 2 0 3, Monrovia, 2113 01:23:55,325 --> 01:23:57,805 California 9 1 0 1 6. 2114 01:23:58,265 --> 01:24:00,125 And can you reach at phone number 2115 01:24:00,405 --> 01:24:03,885 (626) 408-1333, 2116 01:24:04,595 --> 01:24:07,125 extension 3 0 6.