Ep. 181: The Power of Racial Healing w/ Tovi Scruggs-Hussein

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Essential Question: How can prioritizing racial healing contribute to the effectiveness of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging (DEIB) initiatives?

Guest:  Tovi Scruggs-Hussein, former guest on the podcast–summer of 2020 (Ep 77) when we discussed racial healing as a crucial component of achieving equity in schools and communities.

In this episode, we delve into the work and philosophy of Tieces, a transformative figure in mindfulness and social healing. For those unfamiliar with Tieces, their work focuses on fostering healing-centered and trauma-responsive leadership, with a particular emphasis on equity, inclusion, and belonging. Tieces’ tailored meditations and insightful writings have resonated deeply across diverse audiences, addressing both personal and collective healing.

Tieces’ work reaches a broad audience but is particularly impactful for individuals and leaders committed to social justice and personal transformation. While some of their writing addresses white people, offering pathways to greater awareness and allyship, their overall approach is inclusive and geared toward anyone seeking deeper understanding and healing.

Join us as we explore these profound insights and practical strategies for fostering healing and dynamic leadership in today's complex world.

Resources Mentioned:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 170: Ep. 170: Fostering Sisterhood Cross Culturally w/ Kimberlee Yolanda Williams

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EQ: How can white women and women of color actively work towards a sisterhood that furthers a more inclusive and equitable society?

In this episode of IWL, Kimberlee Yolanda Williams, co-founder Engaging Across Differences, unpacks her recent book "Dear White Women, Please Come Home:  hand me your bias and I’ll show you are connection”. The book explores the concept of being seen and centered, the idealization of sisterhood, microaggressions, and the search for genuine connections. Looking ahead, Kimberlee shares her hopes for changes in conversations around race, sisterhood, and equity. She envisions positive change and recommends resources for deeper exploration of the topics. The discussion wraps up with a mention of Kimberlee's new book project and information about Engaging Across Differences' offerings.

Related Sources:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Hope: In the new year, recommit to learning and unlearning…to being part of the greater sisterhood.

  • Kimberlee: Look out for those moments happening around you and develop a toolkit for what to say–to interrupt the moment that is happening in front of you. Become part of my second book project! Send a message to women of color. 

Ep. 104: Interrupting Whiteness One Zoom Session At a Time

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EQ: Why do we need racial affinity groups to combat racism and how do they lead to sustainable change?

Guests: 

  • Emily Meadows is an LGBTQ+ consultant and published author specializing in international schools. If you missed our conversation on creating inclusive spaces, go download Episode 99.

  • Tamara Friedman is a NBCT, school leader, and classroom teacher. She works towards implementing culturally relevant and anti-racist pedagogy in her classrooms and currently teaches 4th grade at The American School of the Hague.

In this episode we discuss the distinctive ways that racism and white supremacy manifest in an international school context. While commonly appearing in the form of deflection because the school is “diverse”, explicit anti-racism work is long overdue. Our guests, Emily and Tamar,  share their journey to establishing the Whiteness Accountability Group for International Educators including how it is rooted in volunteer participation, leading through vulnerability and story-telling, and collective leadership. Additionally, they discuss the need for accountability to each other, group participants, and to people of color.

To understand the purpose and framing of racial caucusing, check out the following documents: 

Do Your Fudging Homework:

Ep. 77: Racial Healing Is A Crucial Component for Achieving Equity

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EQ: Why is racial healing a crucial component for achieving equity in our schools and communities?

Guest: Tovi Scruggs-Hussein is “a visionary educator, author, and award-winning urban high school principal with over 25 years of emotional intelligence training.” Her work on self-transformation and  healing through courageous leadership development can be found at Ticiess. Highlights from our discussion include recognizing that educators can be smart and dedicated but still be racist (and uphold racist infrastructure in schools).  We further discuss how to make long term change, and grow our compassion for colleagues and students. We cannot serve our students unless we are more balanced in our own personal lives and truly understand our racial and cultural identities. In education, we often ignore that both teachers and students experience educational trauma. It’s only through acknowledgement of this trauma and pursuit of healing that we can achieve equity for all students. 

Additional resources:

Do Your Fudging Homework:

  • Annie: Do some additional research about radical empathy!

  • Hope:  Go read about Racial Healing Allies--download the ebook & sign up for an e-course

  • Tovi: Please pace yourself (white folks!) and do not burn out.

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Don’t forget to pick up your copy of The Body is Not an Apology for the #readlessbasic book club

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