Episode 9: The Distribution of Opportunity and Resources

05/10/21 • 54 min

James Harris & Dirk Tillotson preaching it from the heart of Oakland. They both have views of what is not working in our system of education through YEARS of experience. James, from his schooling in Oakland to his being President of the Oakland Unified School District and now zealot for all things education for youth in Oakland. Dirk Tillotson, a brother in arms, Founder and Executive Director of Great School Choices, who has devoted his life to improving schools for poor Black and Hispanic youth in Oakland, New York City, and beyond. They talk about school funding, public investment in lower-income communities, and how federal money is and could be spent for youth and communities. They dig right in. They see hope – but it will take a continued press from everyone to do the right thing.
About The Revolutionaries
James Harris
Dirk Tillots

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Episode 8: The Impact of Creative Space

We LOVE this episode because it is so AMAZING what Abhijit Sinha has been able to create (see Project DEFY: Design Education for Yourself). His story itself is amazing. He was taking the typical path, school to career, and realized he was much happier creating and making amazing things, so left the typical path and started a new one. And began to create spaces where community members could do the same. Sandeep Dutt, social entrepreneur, author of My Good School, Learning Forward podcaster, and HundrED ambassador, adds his thoughts. And our very good friend, Cath Fraise, founder of 100 Roads and Workspace Education, adds to the fun. Hear how Abhijit has created self-directed, community-driven spaces of “creating, making, and doing,” where the community is creating their own learning and making their own solutions.
About The Revolutionaries
Abhijit Sinha Sandeep Dutt
Catherine Fraise

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Episode 10: Career-focused Opportunity

Mike Realon is the Career and Community Development Coordinator at Olympic High School in Charlotte, NC and helped lead the transformation of the school resulting in the school becoming ranked in the top 1% nationally for its “Career AND College Readiness” prowess based on career-focused project-based and experiential learning. Clifton Vann is CEO of Hyde Park Partners (HPP), the holding company for Livingston & Haven, MRO Stop, and AEG International (AEG), all leaders in technology, advanced manufacturing, design, and engineering. With Charlotte being ranked 50th of the top 50 largest cities in the United States for economic mobility, meaning the greater majority of youth growing up in poverty will fail to make a living wage, Olympic High School uses its career academies and over 700 industry partnerships – such as with Hyde Park Partners – to change that reality for most, through internships and career-focused learning. Students are graduating from Olympic with a leg up on both gainful employment and education, in many cases becoming the breadwinners for their families given the skills, real-world work opportunities, and competencies they gain through their program. Hear from Mike and Clifton as they each share the importance of this work not only for the individual lives of the youth they work with but for the well-being of their communities as well.
About The Revolutionaries
Clifton Vann
Mike Realon