Episode Transcript
Speaker 0 00:00:00 Hello, my innovative and truth seeking tribe and welcome to rework rewriting our kids education podcast. My name is Michelle person. I am your host and we are on a journey. We are rethinking reexamining and reeducating ourselves and our children on this show. We talk a lot about dive diversity at home and the workplace in children's literature and math and science. And most importantly, diversity at school. We talk a lot about elementary and high school, but the need to advocate for diversity and secondary education is just as pressing. And that's the issue that we're going to talk about today to be successful in the world today, our children need to hone their critical thinking, communication and problem solving skills. Those skills are cultivated in diverse spaces where they learn to interact, reflect, and feel empathy for those around them. Our guest today is Dr. Paris Carter, a former vice president of, of student affairs at Howard university and the current vice president of student engagement and success at Wilberforce university. He spends his time making sure students have rich and extensive experiences on campus. So when it's time for them to go out and make their mark on the world, they are ready soon. High. The CEO of Google says that a diverse mix of voices leads to better discussions, decisions, and outcomes for every single person. What kinds of conversations are being fostered in the environments that your children take space in? And, oh yeah. Are you woke
Speaker 0 00:02:03 A diverse and has multiple benefits for personal development outside of becoming accepting and more aware of other cultures? It can help smash previously held stereotypes, diversity and inclusion, breed productivity as the ability to learn and grow from each other is exponentially expanded, looking for colleges and universities. That of that development should be on all of our look for lists as we help our children navigate their journey through higher education. Our guest today, Dr. Paris Carter spends his days helping the students of Wilberforce university on their journey. And it's here to share some tips on how you can help your student. We have a special treat today. I have Dr. Paris Carter with us. He is, um, the assistant vice president of student affairs at Howard university. And he is here today to talk to us about diversity inclusion and equity and what that means and what that looks like. Thank you, Dr. Carter so much for joining us today.
Speaker 2 00:03:00 Thank you, Michelle. I appreciate the invite and, and look forward to chatting with you.
Speaker 0 00:03:06 Yes. Well, we're just gonna jump right into it. Can you tell us, um, how would you describe your current work?
Speaker 2 00:03:12 So I, I, I'm the associate vice president for student affairs, um, at Howard. And so, um, you know, my role is, is, is working with students around development, around leadership, um, you know, most of their life on campus, outside of classroom. Uh, our, our, our division, uh, helps with everything from, you know, housing students on campus to, uh, psychological services to athletics. And so, um, that co-curricular development piece is, is where I spend most of my time.
Speaker 0 00:03:50 So what does it mean to develop diversity or foster diversity in that space and, and why is it important to do so in your opinion?
Speaker 2 00:03:58 Well, um, as, as, as you, as you probably know, uh, Howard is, is an H B C U uh, one of our premier, historically black, uh, institutions. And so a lot of times there's a misconception that diversity is not an important issue for HBCUs and, and that couldn't be far from, uh, uh, uh, accurate, uh, we want our students to be prepared, uh, for the global, um, setting, you know, outside of our campus. And so understanding everything from race to, um, ability and disability and, and religion and, and, uh, affiliation and gender and sexuality, all that is, um, a daily, uh, walk in, in, in, uh, in the life of a Howard university student. And so, uh, we, we take pride in making sure that we can help Stu uh, expose our students to, uh, an array of diversity of issues. Um, because even though we, um, you know, pride ourselves around black excellence, um, it's important that, um, our students know that that, that the world consists of so many different, uh, perspectives and, and ideas and backgrounds and, and be being able to navigate through all of that is just gonna make them, uh, better people all
Speaker 0 00:05:27 Around. Yeah. It's interesting to get your perspective. We've talked to, um, a diversity equity inclusion director, um, at the Dalton school in New York, which is a kindergarten through 12th grade, um, educational setting in New York. We've talked to, um, a, um, individual who works on a campus in new Orleans, and that's a PWI, uh, a private white institution primarily. Um, and, and now we're getting the, the, the framework looked at from a different, from a different lens. And so I guess my question then, so each of those people had a different way in which they looked at diversity and equity and inclusion because they were dealing with a different segment of the population. So I, I love what you just said about the fact that even though it's an H B C U it's still an issue that has to be addressed if you wanna produce a global student. So from your lens, um, where you sit at an H B, C U, what, what is the first place we need to improve from, from where you sit
Speaker 2 00:06:29 Well? Um, I, I think it's, you know, what the country is thrusted in, in front of us is, is race, is the need to address race. Think our country's history, um, Continues to, I guess, perpetuate systemic racism. And to, and to me that that is our biggest issue.
Speaker 0 00:06:54 So that being the case, um, what do you think that our, our tangible goals should be to reach a better level in this country when it comes to race? What, what tangible goals around diversity equity and inclusion should we have?
Speaker 2 00:07:10 Ooh, tangible goals is, uh, that's tough because
Speaker 2 00:07:16 Race is so much this, um, very deep, um, psychologically rooted, um, thing. And that we can't even begin to unpack some of the practical things, you know, the gap in education, the gap in wealth, the gap in, you know, housing, attainability, all these gaps that are based on our construct that wasn't created by people of color, but we're just forced to make our best with it. And until there is a real understanding of, you know, everything from bias to privilege and all these other things that, that, that we haven't learned to talk effectively about, um, honestly not much is gonna change. People have to have an understanding and a willingness. And when I'm talking about people, I mean, the people in power and the people in power are not people that look like us. Mm-hmm <affirmative>, and that's across the board. So until there is, you know, a very sincere desire, um, to create equity
Speaker 0 00:08:36 And it's not looking good,
Speaker 2 00:08:38 I mean, you know, we can make progress, we can a little progress, but
Speaker 0 00:08:43 I think that listening to you speak, then I think that an attainable goal should be that if you are one of these fortune 500 companies and you're participating in getting certain benefits of what, and I'm not a, I'm an educator, so I'm not part of a fortune 500 company, but I'm sure there are to be listed on that list of being part of the fortune 500. You've gotta get some type of perks. Um, and, and my it's probably my thing that if you're gonna be listed there, then one of the things that you have to be able, whatever perk there might be as being part of that group, you should need to have to have a, a diversity equity and inclusion audit. And you have to, as a, as a company in, in that fortune 500, you need to commit yourself to, to improving those elements in your, or in your company. Um, I think that's a tangible goal. I think that fortune five of hundred companies, whoever they are, these blue chip people who, you know, who run this company, I mean, this country, I think that a tangible goal would be to demand. Um, and I have no idea how we would get this done, but would be to require that they all have a, and a diversity and equity and an inclusion audit by a company such as yourself, and then do something with that data, something actionable with that data.
Speaker 2 00:09:59 I, I, I agree. And I, I love, I love that. Um, and that is you're right. That's a tangible, that's a tangible goal. Yeah.
Speaker 0 00:10:06 You need to write to that to somebody. We need to put that in an email and send that to some need to tweet it to someplace. Maybe somebody will catch on, we have a lot of teachers and a lot of, of parents that, that watch our, our videos and, um, come in and watch our Facebook page and our Instagram page. And so, um, I always try to leave with something for them so that they can take back. And, and my final question for you this evening is what can parents do? Um, so that they can hold their institutions of higher learning, whether be the high school experience, the elementary experience, or when they're trying to find their child a, um, a, um, a college home or a teacher who's trying to advocate for their students, um, what can they do to hold these institutions accountable, to make sure that these needs of diversity, equity and inclusion are being a addressed?
Speaker 2 00:10:58 Okay, so I'm gonna answer in two parts. Okay. Because as you know, you're an educator, your principal, um, you know, that, um, we all have to wrap around our students. There has to be, um, a high level of parental involvement, um, constructive of parental involvement, um, teachers and administrators have to sort of wrap around, you know, the students when they're in their space and then that has to connect. And so I think that what occurs in the home has to align with what's happening, um, you know, at school, right? And so parents being involved in the curriculum, you know, studies show that students will do better. Um, in terms of diversity inclusion and equity, parents should be having conversations with their children about these issues when parents are, are, if, if they're making a choice about high schools and colleges, parents should have a list of their needs, their students needs, okay.
Speaker 2 00:12:13 Some parents will do their own list and this could be five to seven priorities. And then they have the student do their list, the same thing, and they talk and discuss, and either, you know, uh, just add 14 items or they kind of get it down to, um, five to seven of, okay, those things should inform where the college choices and the, and the, your top five list. And, and, and even in high school, your top five list, um, they should have that because a lot of times you have to, you have to set your own expectation so that it narrows what you're looking for. Okay. So that's that, that's, that's one thing that I think has to be done. The other thing is just in not just parent, like the parent, uh, what the PTO and the parent organizations for schools, but see, sitting down with the kid, because I think at this point, all curriculums starting at high school personally, I think probably even earlier in that, but definitely a high school, there needs to be a diversity component enter, um, uh, what do you call interweave into the curriculum?
Speaker 2 00:13:38 Mm-hmm, <affirmative> there, there, there needs to be, and there should be some red flags that schools are not doing that. Right. Um, and that's with every subject matter. And so, you know, that's something that parents and families should hold the schools accountable for. And then when we're moving into that higher education, um, selection phase, um, that's something that should be important if you're, if you're, if you have PWIs on your top five list at, at this point, best practice says that there is a diversity and inclusion component to, um, all the curriculums. If not, that should be a red flag.
Speaker 0 00:14:19 I I'm gonna, so I'm gonna summarize that. And, and what I, and add something to it. I think that what, but based on what I heard you say, it's, it's one determining parents, what you feel is important to yourself and to your child, and then following that list to narrow down your choices. And I would add to that and make sure the places you are considering are aware that you have this list, like, yeah, you need to be telling them, like, this is my, because if enough parents are coming to them repeatedly and saying like, all right, well, here's how we're making our decision. And if you want our dollars here, here are the things you're gonna have to show me that you can provide to create the best experience for our child. And if they keep hearing that, then it stops being just something.
Speaker 0 00:15:01 It, it, it, it, it begins to hold them accountable and, and make them understand that this isn't going away. And if we wanna, you know, we wanna address it, you know, um, we have to give these people what they want. That that would be number one. And I think that the other thing you touched on was something that I've, I've heard repeatedly as I'm having these conversations. And it's just that, um, that you have to, to make your voices heard at the school, you know, and be, and be an active part of the schools in order to be able to hold them accountable. You have to be a part of the PTA. You have to be, um, you know, know what's going on. Um, so that, you know, you can have those conversations when you see that something's not happening the way that it should.
Speaker 0 00:15:39 So I think both of those were, you know, great, great suggestions. And I thank you for them. So I, we're gonna, I wanna thank you so much, uh, Dr. Carter for your time. Um, I really enjoy hearing your being that you were from a, a historically back, uh, university. I hope you guys at home enjoyed hearing his, um, his perspective. Um, thank you so much. And, um, we'll come back with no problem with some more of these diversity conversations, cause they're so important, um, to make sure that we are continuing this conversation outside of just a, and we, we actually happen to be filming on Martin the king day. So, you know, like this is not just a one day a year topic. This is, this is a 365 topic that we need to continue talking about until we are able to come to tangible resolutions on these issues.
Speaker 0 00:16:27 So make a list of your needs and make sure your top choice schools those needs, and also make sure the schools that you are considering are aware of what your needs are and what you're looking for doing this is the first step in holding them accountable to making sure they create diverse spaces. I wanna thank my guest, Dr. Paris Carter for taking the time to speak with us today. And thank you for are listening. Can you believe it? We are at the end of season three of rework, it has been an amazing journey and we have had a great time sharing this important information with you. But today we have some other important information to share. As you know, rework is a, just like me production and our goal at just like is to create culturally relevant content for parents and educators, the response to our books, this show and our social studies curriculum, meanwhile in Africa have been overwhelming.
Speaker 0 00:17:25 And so we have decided to launch yet another innovative endeavor and the fall of 2022, just like me presents will be opening our first culturally responsive child centered micro school. Our school will be intentionally small, serving less than 100 students, but the goal is to have a huge culturally significant impact with the model being replicated throughout the city, the state, and ultimately the country to properly prepare for our new adventure. Rework is taking its normal three week hiatus in between seasons. But when we return, we will switch to a biweekly show instead of a weekly show to accommodate our planning efforts for this fall. We can't wait to update you on our product show notes and resources to the things we discuss today are available on our website at www just like me, presents.com, share this podcast with other parents and educators in your circle and be sure to subscribe. So you never miss an episode. And if you like what you heard, leave us a review reviews, help others discover our show and begin their woke journey. Have a great week. And remember if our children can see it, they can.
