Dr. Richard A. Cross

In this podcast episode of UnMASKing with Male Educators with Ashanti Branch, the Center's CEO, Sharif El-Mekki, talks about what it really means to lead, teach, and show up fully as Black men in education. They dig into: *The power of vulnerability in leadership *Why representation in classrooms is non-negotiable *The emotional labor male educators carry *How we rebuild and sustain the #BlackTeacherPipeline At the Center for Black Educator Development, we’ve said it clearly: we need Black teachers. Conversations like this remind us why. Watch the full episode here: https://lnkd.in/ggmqWg5W #WeNeedBlackTeachers

94

3 Comments

At HBCU Early College Prep, we believe community is not a buzzword it’s a responsibility that our superintendent Dr. Josephine Yeboah Van-Ess was able to witness firsthand. Our core value, Ubuntu, “I am because we are”, guides everything we do. It reminds us that student success is never an individual pursuit; it is built through relationships, collective accountability, and shared purpose. That belief comes to life when scholars are given real-world learning experiences that honor their brilliance and prepare them to lead. Through powerful partnerships with Transcend Education, XQ Institute, and UNCF, our students aren’t just learning about problems, they are engineering solutions to real challenges that impact their communities and the world around them. When students collaborate, think critically, design boldly, and see themselves reflected in meaningful work, they build more than skills, they build identity, confidence, and purpose. This is what it looks like to educate the whole child. This is what it means to center community. This is Ubuntu in action. #Ubuntu #CommunityDrivenEducation #HBCUEarlyCollegePrep #RealWorldLearning #StudentVoice #EducationInnovation Transcend XQ Institute UNCF Dr. Josephine Yeboah Van-Ess

137

4 Comments

Grateful to LearningWell Magazine for this thoughtful feature on our new character initiative at Howard University. This article highlights the vision behind the soon-to-be-launched HBCU Character and Leadership Education Initiative (CLEI) at the Center for HBCU Research, Leadership, and Policy. Grounded in an HBCU-based framework, CLEI’s mission is to advance character and leadership education for students, faculty, and staff at institutions with a historic and contemporary mission of access. We’ll be sharing more announcements about CLEI in the coming months, but I’m deeply appreciative of Marjorie Malpiede for so beautifully capturing the essence of our work. Kudos as well to my colleagues Ron Smith, Carol Moye, Ed.D., Tatianna Duperier, Jaydn Decuir, and Provost Williams for their insight and contributions to this piece. This work would not be possible without the generous support of The Program for Leadership and Character at Wake Forest University led by Michael Lamb, and the Yale University ASCEND Initiative. More to come soon!

38

3 Comments

Curriculum leaders, are you struggling to execute all that strategic planning? Carrie Hepburn from Compass PD shares the 4 essential “buckets” to get your curriculum and PD cycles running like a well-oiled machine: 📅 Calendar 💬 Communication 📊 Data 💰 Budget This framework changes everything.

1

Check out the most recent podcast episodes  #41 “Unlocking Student Agency Through African Heritage in Science Curriculum”  #42 “How Curriculum Shapes Black Children's Identity and Confidence” These episodes share portions from a prior webinar I presented in September 2020 titled, “Cultural Inclusion and Representation in Formal and Informal Settings.” This presentation not only highlights some of my past curricular work but also presents a parent panel featuring Dr. Dawn Down, researcher and expert on Black mothering and a parent of a Black girl Ms. Jacqueline Randle, Sr. Enterprise Architect & IT Strategist. These conversations were pivotal to the beginnings of my work in understanding what we needed, and what understandings would be pivotal for understanding and designing curricula.  I’m sharing these old talks from my prior position, to give a glimpse into some of the beginning thoughts that led to my recent book on Black Representation in the Science Curriculum, while preparing for some important upcoming talks and surprise guests in my current position. 🎙️ Host: Dr. Catherine Quinlan 📘 Title: Black Representation in the Curriculum: Conversations on Teaching, Culture, Equity, and Belonging

9

4 Comments

In honor of Black History Month, each weekday we will be featuring an #HBCU and highlighting its top undergraduate academic programs. Today we feature the Documentary Film Program at Spelman College, the nation’s premier HBCU for women, located in Atlanta. Spelman is the first HBCU to offer a bachelor's degree in Documentary Filmmaking. The curriculum emphasizes the intersection of visual storytelling, and the preservation and dissemination of the voices of women of color. The a program takes history – and the role of filmmakers in preserving history – seriously. Spelman’s already impressive program was enhanced by its just-launched partnership with the Georgia Film Academy (GFA). This collaboration provides students with hands-on training in production, post-production workflows, and on-set protocols, leading to an 18-credit-hour certification. Hence, Spelman students and graduates can take full advantage of Atlanta’s leading role in film and television. Students at Spelman can also access the Atlanta University Center (AUC) consortium, cross-registering for film courses at Morehouse College (which focuses on the business side of film and television production) or Clark Atlanta University (known for its first-rate narrative fiction program) to round out their artistic and technical skills. The true strength of the Spelman film program is its distinguished faculty, which includes such acclaimed filmmakers Julie Dash (director of Daughters of the Dust) and Dr. Ayoka Chenzira. Because of their experience as visual storytellers and their commitment to both film and their students, the members of the faculty endeavor to emphasize the "business of the art form." Spelman students can cap off their academic experience with the Digital Moving Image Salon (DMIS). This initiative allows students to participate in a year-long course producing documentaries that focus on the lived experiences of women of color. It culminates in an annual Student Documentary Film Showcase. Are you a woman who wants to harness her voice and her vision to create impactful documentary films? Well, the Documentary Film Program at Spelman College may be the ideal place for you learn the intricacies of visual storytelling. If you are interested in exploring the unique opportunities that Spelman College offers to undergrads, click on the link below. Better still, make an appointment with me (786-333-7909) to discuss your academic and professional plans and how we can help you turn your ambitions into a concrete plan of action. https://www.spelman.edu/ #highereducation #highered #college #CollegeBound #CollegeAdmissions #collegeadmissionshelp #collegeadmissionsconsulting #collegeadvice #filmschool #documentaryfilm #DocumentaryFilmmaking #collegeadvising #testprep #TestPreparation #satpreparation #SATPrep #ACTPrep #actpreparation #PSAT #BlackHistoryMonth #blackhistory365 #BlackHistoryIsAmericanHistory #BlackHistoryMonth2026 #HBCUPride #HBCUExcellence #SpelmanCollege

2

Today marked an exciting milestone for one of our clients, The Commission on Black Girls. Through Caroline Inspires LLC, we have been supporting the design and implementation of the Ambassador Cohort, a leadership development experience created to invest in the identity, voice, and leadership of young Black girls across Columbus. What began as an idea is now moving into action. Today officially launched the first of three five-hour cohort trainings, marking an important step in the program’s journey from idea → implementation → impact. Session one centered around a foundational question: “Who Am I?” Before young leaders can effectively lead others, they must first develop a deep understanding of themselves. Throughout the day, Ambassadors engaged in identity exploration, values clarification, and reflective dialogue designed to help them begin identifying their personal compass. This work unfolds across a three-part cohort arc: • Who Am I? – grounding in identity and values • Who Are You? – understanding relationships, communication, and perspective • We Are – building collective leadership and community impact We were also grateful to welcome Navya Nalla and Phyl Flanagan from the Bright Futures Program at the YWCA Columbus, who joined us as collaborative facilitators for the day. Their presence strengthened the learning experience and reflects the power of community partnerships in youth leadership work. At Caroline Inspires LLC, we specialize in strategically designing youth programs and experiences, facilitating community partnerships, and helping schools and youth-serving organizations build internal capacity for meaningful and sustainable impact. Grateful to support the Commission on Black Girls in bringing this vision to life and excited to continue walking alongside these Ambassadors throughout the cohort. The work continues. #CarolineInspires #YouthLeadership #GirlsLeadership #CommissionOnBlackGirls #CommunityPartnership #YWCAColumbus

9

2 Comments

Randy Quansah, MBA, BHRLR, CPHR, creator of Kujo's Kid Zone, shares a memory of an early experience with racism at school that sparked his journey of self-discovery and awareness of African history and identity. What began as sharing the lessons he learned with his daughter expanded into considering other kids and their families, which then became the inspiration behind his educational show for children. Randy talks about his dedication to educating children about African history, challenging Eurocentric narratives, the importance of cultural representation, and the necessary cycle of growth that comes from leaning and unlearning about ourselves and the world. His message to creatives is that you are more than enough. Randy wants listeners to understand the power of making the first moves towards implementing their big ideas, and encourages you to just start instead of waiting for perfection, knowing that the act of following your path will create opportunities for you to get to where you’re going. His full episode: "Kujo's Kid Zone: Connecting Roots, Bridging Histories, and Empowering Futures" is available for listening wherever you get your podcasts. Learn more on the project website: https://lnkd.in/ghdcqi9Y Watch: https://lnkd.in/g7Z4Z7uQ Listen: https://lnkd.in/gxBWPaee Social Justice Origin Stories is available for listening wherever you get your podcasts. Video episodes are available on YouTube and the project website: https://lnkd.in/e2mtB-Zx

1

We are still using the Aptitude Assessment with our middle and high school youth. They have discovered so much about their natural talents and STEM fields some they hadn’t heard about. We highly recommend you use this assessment for youth STEM career exploration.

19

1 Comment

Taking a Bama break...#RollTide - LOL! to remind you that developing student agency that moves toward authentic empowerment is a CHOICE that requires intentionality. Dr. Alecia Blackwood and I talked about this during Let's Talk Power Live! The Power of Partnership-Ubuntu Pedagogy. If we want students who can think critically, then our systems, policies, practices MUST support the action, not just the words. #InstructionalPower #UbuntuPedagogy Be sure you check out the full video on Youtube on @LetsTalkPowerLive and while you're there, subscribe, like, and share!

9

1 Comment

The UNCF Institute for Capacity Building is reimagining the power of interinstitutional collaboration through initiatives like HBCUv and Career Pathways Initiatives. Ed Smith-Lewis, Nicole Pride, Ph.D., and Pamela Richardson Wilks, Ph.D. shared why a connected ecosystem is the future of student success. Thank you Julian Thompson and Roy Betts for your contributions and support. Check out my latest here ⬇️ Diverse: Issues In Higher Education

17

2 Comments

🖤 Black History Month Entrepreneurship & Economic Empowerment Today at Hope Learn & Play, we reflect on ownership, innovation, and economic independence through the legacy of Madam C. J. Walker. She didn’t just build a beauty brand. She built opportunity. Madam C.J. Walker became one of the first self-made female millionaires in America by creating products that met the needs of her community. What makes her story powerful is not just wealth, it’s vision. She hired and trained thousands of women. She created systems of financial empowerment. She turned a problem into possibility. At HLP, we teach students that entrepreneurship is more than starting a business. It’s identifying a need and responding with purpose. ✔️ Solve real problems ✔️ Build with integrity ✔️ Create opportunity for others Economic literacy matters. Ownership matters. Representation in business matters. 📚 Today’s Reflection Question: What problem around you could turn into a business idea that helps others? 💙 At Hope Learn & Play, we prepare students not only to work in the world, but to build within it. #HopeLearnPlay #BlackHistoryMonth #Entrepreneurship #EconomicEmpowerment #FutureLeaders

7

Listen to Us – Black Girls Speak Out on Biased Discipline, and Its Impact in Atlanta-Area Schools centers the experiences of Black girls and examines how discipline practices shape students’ trust, belonging, and opportunities to succeed. The report documents how biased responses to behavior and exclusionary discipline practices affect students’ academic, social, and emotional well-being and contribute to learning environments that can feel unsafe or unwelcoming. Importantly, student researchers also offer recommendations that point toward more supportive, relationship-centered approaches to school discipline. Listening to students provides critical insight for educators, school leaders, and policymakers working to ensure that discipline practices strengthen, rather than undermine, strong public schools. 📄 Read the report in the document attached to this post. This work was made possible through the Safety, Dignity, and Belonging project with the generous support of Equal Justice Works and in partnership with Cool Girls Club of Decatur, Georgia. #StudentVoice #EducationEquity #SchoolDiscipline #StrongPublicSchools #Belonging #IDRA #EducationLeadership

10

1 Comment

Developing Young Leaders of Tomorrow, Today (DYLOTT)‘s Black Diplomats Academy has stayed true to our commitment to address youth unemployment and representation challenges for almost a decade now. As a youth focused organization, we understand the significant negative headwinds that young workers face generally. Yesterday’s employment report published by Workforce WindsorEssex details the stark reality of the challenges facing young people in Windsor’s employment sector. Some key data findings in the report noted that: 📈 Windsor is Canada’s unemployment capital boasting “the highest youth unemployment rate at 18.2%” according to Statistics Canada | Statistique Canada. 📊 The national youth unemployment rate is currently 14.20%, while Ontario’s provincial rate stands at 13.5%. These datapoints represent the uphill climb that young people face and the urgent need for sustained investment in social and economic infrastructure for Canada’s fastest growing population demographic - Black youth. Our Black Diplomats Academy is meeting these challenges by creating our own innovative solutions utilizing the Sustainable Development Goals #SDGs. We’re excited to be able to unveil some of the ways we’re changing the narrative on youth employment in Windsor specifically and 🇨🇦 generally. Announcements loading………

25

3 Comments

105/365 The Church: Training Church Leaders The church must prioritize equipping pastors and leaders with the knowledge and skills needed to respond appropriately to Gender-Based Violence cases. Leaders are often the first point of contact for individuals experiencing abuse, and their response can either bring healing or cause further harm. Proper training ensures that leaders handle these situations with sensitivity, wisdom, and responsibility. Training should include understanding the different forms of GBV, recognizing warning signs, and learning how to respond without judgment or bias. Church leaders must be taught to listen carefully, believe survivors, and avoid giving harmful advice such as encouraging silence or immediate reconciliation without safety. Instead, they should focus on protection, support, and guiding survivors toward appropriate professional services when needed. Equipping leaders also means helping them understand legal responsibilities and the importance of confidentiality. They should know when and how to report cases, especially where there is immediate danger or involvement of children. When leaders are well-trained, the church becomes a place of trust and safety. Survivors feel supported, and cases are handled with care and integrity. By investing in leadership training, the church strengthens its ability to stand against violence and actively protect the well-being and dignity of every individual. #endGbv #theChurch Berlina Sithole

1

I carry an Ivy League education from one of the leading institutions for educational transformation. But this work was never meant to stop with me. Through I Love My HBCU, through mentoring, through access to grants & funding opportunities…we are building something bigger. A pipeline of leaders. Thinkers. Builders. Doers. People who are ready to transform their communities & the world around them. Because education is only powerful when it’s activated. And knowledge means nothing if it’s not shared, multiplied & put to work. This is about legacy. This is about impact. This is about creating access where there once were barriers. You’re not just learning…you’re being equipped to lead. ✨ If you’re ready to step into your role as a World Changer, tap into the trainings on YouTube & start building what you’ve been called to create. Link in bio.

9

We are excited to welcome Latisha Chisholm, EdD, LICSW, as a presenter at the Black Women Educational Leaders Reconvening at Howard University School of Education on Saturday, March 21. Dr. Chisholm, Founder & CEO of Subversive Leader and an Executive Site Director with over a decade of leadership development experience in DC Public Schools, will lead a dynamic session titled “Pour Into Yourself: Leadership Development as Resistance.” This session challenges an important truth: if rest is resistance, then choosing to invest in your own leadership development is also an act of resistance. Black women in education often pour into everyone else—this experience centers the leader. Participants will engage in a live individual coaching experience with Zmara, an AI coach grounded in liberation-focused leadership, leaving with a personal commitment and a coaching ecosystem designed to support their growth beyond institutional structures. We look forward to the powerful reflection, growth, and leadership development this session will inspire. #HowardUniversity #BlackWomenLeaders #LeadershipDevelopment #EducationalLeadership #SubversiveLeader #BlackWomenLead

53

6 Comments