Ep. 101: Togethering the Othered

Explicit content warning

01/17/19 • 40 min

Is mindful parenting sustainable? Can Caribbean people, for example, with all our deep familiarity in the art of loving yet intimidation-based parenting, actually learn how to consistently be in respect-based, partnership-centered relationships with our children? Can our children call us on our b.s. and still feel not only safe, but heard and respected for expressing their truths? Hell yes, and in this episode, we’re talking candidly about the beauty and the mess of how that goes down. We’re starting Season 4 with the perfect blend of discussions around personal and communal soulwork. We’re talking about the togethering of ourselves in terms of emotional stability and clarity inside the work of Raising Free People, and we’re talking about community gatherings in support of this work. Akilah talks with Maleka Diggs of Eclectic Learning Network about some of the stickier parts of conscious parenting, what she does to manage those moments, and what she plans on doing throughout the year to support her city and her fellow unschooling-minded parents as we deschool from broken ideas about parenting, education, and power. Maleka will be one of three featured panelists at this year’s Liberation and Education Summit in Clarkston, Georgia on February 2. If you can attend, you should. If you cannot attend, please consider making a donation in support of equitable Self-Directed Education spaces in metro Atlanta.

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The Raising Free People Practice Card Deck
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https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifesto
Our Youtube channel
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How to Focus on Learning (An Introductory Dialogue)

This is a supporting resource for adults to go through the rationale, the benefits, the urgency, and the solutions inside of, a life that gives a child the room to own their educational journey, and to understand themselves as lifelong learners, and not merely temporary students who need to impress adults in order to feel validated and purposeful.

In How to Focus on Learning (also called HFL the Webinar) you’ll learn 10 key terms that will put on you on path for discovery and deschooling around how to support a self-directed learner. We'll start with defining and giving examples of Self-Directed Education, and then branch out into the ten terms that will bring context, discussion, and smarter questions about transitioning from coercive education to liberated learning.

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Ep. 102: Raising Free People, Raising Aware People

"We need to have a conversation about developing a set of tools and a solidarity around raising free people who are also aware people. This is vital especially since we’re not using tools of oppression in attempts force our children into an awareness of our deeply unjust society. We need to normalize the conversation and safe space-making in takes to explore this, and this is one effort in that direction. We’re not raising children in a bubble, so the conversation and tools are an inevitably necessary part of the journey to raising free and aware people. Raising free aware people is how we work toward dismantling oppressive systems – systems that they will inevitably face and be oppressed by, or systems they will face and benefit from while oppressing others. It’s a cycle that we need to break, and it will not happen if we are not deliberate and clear about our intentions. Raising free, aware people isn’t a mere conversation topic, it is a responsibility we have in endeavoring to help transform our world." - Zakiyya Ismail, growingminds.co.za

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