For our fourth episode of Rewriting the Rules℠ Season 2, we’re continuing our focus on being the adult we wished we had as a child and teen, from the perspectives of our mothers and grandmothers. This is how we continue to create a community that wraps its arms around our youth.   For today’s episode, we welcome back two of our mothers and loving experts from our last season, Michelle Dennard and Nyia Harris.   About Michelle:   Michelle Dennard is a strong Black woman who loves her grandkids. “I’m on the ride of my life,” she says. Dennard also works for the Osseo Area School district as an Education Support Professional working with special education students and was named “Education Support Professional of the Year” by Education Minnesota in 2020-2021.   About Nyia:   Nyia Harris is a wife, a mother of two girls, 11 and 13, a business owner, and a Brooklyn Park resident.     *The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.  

For our third episode of Rewriting the Rules℠ Season 2, we’re continuing our focus on being the adult we wished we had as a child and teen, from the perspectives of our mothers.   For this episode, we’re taking a panel approach, mirroring a Sunday Dinner conversation. Through this conversation, we listen, learn, and build in community and see that we’re more connected, stronger, and powerful together. This is how we continue Creating a Community That Wraps Its Arms Around Our Youth.  For Season 2, Portia Jackson and Ajibike (BiKé’) Ojomo returned to the studio to expand on their “Respecting Mothers as Loving Experts” conversation from Season 1. They talk with Tracine about creating space, navigating parenthood, and managing individual needs in one household.    About BiKé:  BiKé Ojomo is a Public Health & Disability Advocate, Mental Health & Wellness Coach, Finance Professional, Author, Apparel Designer, and Mom of two. As a loving expert, BiKé writes “I’ve been that mother who allows her kids to be who they are and to just support them. I’m a hands-on mum.”  About Portia:  Portia Jackson is a Community Development Specialist with Ramsey County, former board member with PRG, leader of a Minneapolis affordable housing nonprofit, and mom of five and grandmother of one. As a loving expert, Portia says: “I give my children the freedom to be themselves and still be respectful.”    *The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License. 

For our second episode of Rewriting the Rules℠ Season 2, we focused on Creating a Community That Wraps Its Arms Around Our Youth. Our host, Dr. Tracine Asberry, Executive Director of St. Paul Youth Services (SPYS), spoke with one of her former SPYS’ Behavior Intervention Program Specialists, longtime community leader, and current licensed social worker, Jamil Stamschror-Lott. This episode is for everyone who remembers their middle school and high school experience and is grateful for the adults who got it right and want more adults to do the same. Listen to Jamil's wisdom to be the adults our teens deserve.   About Jamil Stamschror-Lott, LICSW:  Jamil Stamschror-Lott owns Creative Kuponya in Minneapolis, providing mental health care to those that society has pushed to the margins. In 2020, Creative Kuponya’s office was set ablaze in the unrest after the murder of George Floyd, igniting an even deeper passion for justice within Jamil. That summer, Jamil did what he does best - he began providing Transformative Healing Sessions and Keynote Addresses in parks and community spaces to educate on the intersection for mental health, diversity, equity and inclusion. Jamil has spoken for major universities, health care companies, law firms and corporations such as Caribou and TC Diversity in Practice. Jamil and his work has been featured in publications such as USA Today, Rolling Stone, and The New York Times.  Find Jamil:  Website: Creative Kuponya LinkedIn: Jamil Stamschror-Lott Instagram: @creativekuponya Facebook: Creative Kuponya  *The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License. 

We're back for a new season at Rewriting the Rules℠ with Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens, Minnesota Teacher of Year (2006). Lee-Ann joins the podcast to kick off Season 2 by welcoming students back into the classrooms across the globe, detailing evidence on what makes a GREAT teacher in the classroom, AND offering recommendations to decision-makers locally, nationally, and globally on how to do best (READ: not better) for education. At SPYS we are committed to thought leadership on proven practices and are excited to share this incredible conversation about our schools!  About Dr. Lee-Ann Stevens:  Dr. Lee-Ann Stephens, Minnesota Teacher of the Year (2006), has been an educator for over 30 years with kindergarten – 12th grade teaching and leadership experience. Lee-Ann currently serves as a Teacher on Special Assignment as a Culturally Relevant Literacy Coach. She is an affiliate with Pacific Educational Group: Courageous Conversations about Race, serves on the Governance Board of Lutheran Social Services and has been appointed by Governor Walz to the Education Commission of the States, a partner with education policy leaders to address issues by sharing resources and expertise. Lee-Ann served as supporting advisor for Integrated Schools, member of the National Board for Professional Teaching Standards, and part of a team who created the Model Code of Ethics for Educators and standards for Educators Rising. Lee-Ann has been featured on national podcasts, authored several articles for Education Post, facilitated conversations on race, equity, and cultural responsiveness with various school districts.  Lee-Ann's educational experience includes a Bachelor of Arts in International Studies, a Bachelors of Science. in Elementary Education, a Masters of Education in Curriculum and Instruction, and a Doctor of Education in Educational Leadership which authored dissertation focused on the lived experiences of Black and Brown students in Advanced Placement and International Baccalaureate courses.  Find Lee-Ann:  LinkedIn: Lee-Ann Stephens, Ed.D. X: @MNTOY2006  *The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License. 

Thank you for joining us on Season One of the Rewriting the Rules podcast!! This season, we explored the legacies of strength, creativity, and innovation in Black communities, Indigenous communities, and communities of color. It’s been a joy and a labor of love to get to sit in conversation with all of our amazing guests and to share their wisdom with you. Stay tuned for Season Two in Fall 2023 and don’t forget to follow us on social media for updates!Find us online:Contact Tracine about the podcast: [email protected]. Paul Youth Services:FacebookYouTubeInstagramTwitterBuzzsprout*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.

Kyra Bester-Hughes is a remarkable youth leader and a friend of St. Paul Youth Services. She joins the podcast for a fearless conversation that explores some of the mistakes adults have made when working with her through challenging times; as well as what they’ve gotten right. Tracine and Kyra also talk about SPYS’ youth-centric approach, where Kyra has been active in the YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute for the past five years. The YouthPowerMN℠ Leadership Institute offers an organizing hub where Black youth are compensated for their intellectual capital, lived experiences, and contributions to improve our communities. This conversation, and others like it, can help us – as adults, changemakers, and leaders – chart a more thoughtful and inclusive path forward for our young people by learning from our mistakes (and successes). You can find all our reading links and recommendations from the mothers featured here on our podcast page: www.spys.org/podcast*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.

What does it mean to live fully and free? In this episode, Tracine invites longtime friend, Jason Jackson, a Human Resources Diversity and Inclusion consultant for HealthPartners (a US-based Medical Insurance Company) into our ongoing discussion on how the practice of love shows up in our work and in our lives. For this episode, they explore the concept of intersectional racial equity, which is one of St. Paul Youth Service’s values, and how intersectionality can help us rewrite the rules of society. Jason draws from the work of Kimberlé Crenshaw, an American civil rights advocate and a leading scholar of critical race theory, to delve into his experiences and understanding of the complexities of identity. Listen to this insightful conversation on how organizations and individuals can empower themselves to create smart, fair and loving communities. Find Jason:Instagram: in_cog_ne_gro | @akin2u Facebook: Jason JacksonArticle: From Pain Comes Strength: Families, Ballroom, and Resistance You can find all our reading links and recommendations from the mothers featured here on our podcast page: www.spys.org/podcast*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.

Emerging fiction, picture book, and comic book writer,  Crown Shepherd (aka Crown the Writer) joins the podcast to explore the journey of discovering and harnessing her own superpower and genius. Crown's writing is deeply rooted in her upbringing and surroundings and she draws on her experiences to create Black characters who are a representation of real children in her life. In this episode, Crown explores how staying true to her story as a Black writer fuels her creativity. She talks to Tracine about what makes a superhero and how discovering your own power can be a source for fortifying not only yourself, but also your community and the world. Find Crown:Website: https://crownthewriter.comBooks By Crown ShepherdFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/tiarra.shepherd.9Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/crownthewriter/ Twitter: https://twitter.com/crownthewriter You can find links to the materials referenced in this episode on our website: https://www.spys.org/podcast*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.

Chaun Webster, Graphic Designer, Publisher and Poet, is back on the podcast to talk about and read from his newly published poetry collection, Wail Song. Chaun describes Wail Song as an “attempt at care,”  which also “lays bare how the construction of the human and the animal both rely on Black abjection.” In this episode, Chaun discusses this long poem with host, Tracine. Together, they weave conversation, meditations, alternatives, metaphors and new possibilities to wade with listeners through and against antiblackness. You can hear more from Chaun Webster on Episode 1 of Rewriting the Rules℠. In ‘All About Love,’ Chaun explores how love informs his artistic practice, what Black boys and men are taught about love, and his own understanding of love.Catch Chaun IN-PERSON at the dates and locations below:Thursday, April 27th at 6pm at The Walker  - reading with musician & composer Dameun Strange & poet extraordinaire Douglas Kearney.  Thursday, May 4th 7pm  at Milkweed Books - reading and in conversation with Claire Wahmanholm .Tuesday, May 9th 7pm at Subtext Books - reading and in conversation with LM Brimmer.  Find Chaun:Twitter: @chaunwebster Facebook: Chaun WebsterInstagram: @dainstapoetBooks: Wail Song | GeNtry!ficationYou can find links to the materials referenced in this episode on our website: https://www.spys.org/podcast*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.

‘Black People Don’t Use Measuring Spoons’ is the third installment of our Women’s History Month series. In this episode, Tracine talks to Leah Penniman, a Black Kreyol farmer, mother, soil nerd, author and food justice activist from Soul Fire Farm in Grafton, New York. Together, they explore the connections that Black communities, Indigenous Communities, and Communities of color have to land and the land has to us. Leah is the author of Farming While Black: Soul Fire Farm’s Practical Guide to Liberation on the Land (released in 2018) and Black Earth Wisdom: Soulful Conversations with Black Environmentalists (released in 2023), which she describes as love songs for the land and her people.Find Leah & Soul Fire Farm:Books: Farming While Black | Black Earth WisdomTwitter: @blkfarmer | @soulfirefarmFacebook: https://www.facebook.com/soulfirefarm/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/soulfirefarm/Website: www.soulfirefarm.orgYou can find all our reading links and recommendations from the mothers featured here on our podcast page: www.spys.org/podcast*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.