Episodios

  • The Truth Behind the Test - What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education

    The Truth Behind the Test - What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education
    Oct 15 2025
    InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 94 | October 15, 2025
    2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change

    Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on "The Truth Behind the Test: What NAEP Reveals About Systemic Racism in Education," a continuation of the previous conversation with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley.

    Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals.

    Community Engagement Connection: Broaden Understanding of State School Testing Key Question: How does state school testing data mirror systems of racism in education?
    National Assessment of Educational Progress: State tests are state-developed with federal guidelines from NAEP, a national benchmark for comparison. In our discussion we explain NAEP’s purpose and how it differs from state tests. The issue is this: We don’t have one yardstick in America. Instead we have 50 different ones which we then try to compare.
    Dimensions of NAEP and Equity:
    • Potential for Justice → Reframing gaps as proof of broken systems
    • Benchmarking as Exposure of Inequity → “NAEP as mirror.”
    • Weaponization of Data → Headlines vs systemic issues.
    • Pressure & Punitive Reforms → Closures & charters.
    • Masking Structural Advantage → White outcomes as ‘normal.’
    Examples of Schools Using Data Critically and Equitable to Repair, Not Reproach
    • KIPP Comienza — Data-Driven Instruction
    • California High Schools — Equity-Centered Data Use
    • Executive Development Program Case Study — Principal Leadership & Culture Shift
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    54 m
  • Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection

    Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection
    Oct 1 2025
    InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 93 | October 1, 2025
    2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
    Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. In this episode we focus on Socioeconomics and the Mental Health Connection with our guest, Coach Ed Bradley.
    Featured Guest: Coach Edmond Bradley With over 20 years of experience in coaching, education, and leadership development, Coach Ed Bradley brings a unique blend of mentorship, empathy, and strategic insight to his work as a Transitional Life Coach. A former high school basketball coach and teacher, Ed has dedicated his career to empowering young people to find purpose, confidence, and direction. Ed is a Life and Transitional Coach with Powerful Minds Counseling whose mission is to provide individual, family, and group counseling that promote healthy and overall mental and emotional wellness. With a master’s degree in psychology and decades of experience with diverse learners, he helps clients gain clarity and momentum toward their goals.
    Community Engagement Connection Across Socioeconomic Backgrounds Key Question: How do students overcome the negative messages linked to socialization?
    Mental Health Connection: Check-ins across the board (student, mentors, educators, community)
    Calls to Action: Broaden understanding of state school testing and its implications. Encourage local school involvement and participation in school board meetings. Volunteer to mentor and work with students
    Sustained Effort and Common Ground: “All of us share this world for but a brief moment in time. The question is whether we spend that time focused on what pushes us apart, or whether we commit ourselves to an effort -- a sustained effort -- to find common ground, to focus on the future we seek for our children, and to respect the dignity of all human beings.” —President Barack Obama
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    58 m
  • Case Study - From Antiracism to Black Empowerment

    Case Study - From Antiracism to Black Empowerment
    Sep 17 2025
    InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 92 | September 17, 2025
    2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
    Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. This conversation is a throwback to a previous episode in April 2025 where we explored the evolution of Dr. Robert Livingston, Social Psychologist at Harvard University. He is the author of The Conversation: How Seeking and Speaking the Truth about Racism Can Radically Transform Individuals and Organizations, published in 2021. In this episode we dig deeper into a whole new revelation based on his recently released book.
    Revelation in 2025: The Paradox of Antiracism within White Supremacy A Radical Idea. Robert Livingston's new book, Play the Game, Change the Game, Leave the Game: Pathways to Black Empowerment, Prosperity, and Joy presents a radical idea, an intriguing departure of the premise of The Conversation. Racism does not require hatred, cruelty, fear, violence, or avoidance. Abraham Lincoln is an example of someone who is sympathetic towards the Black community (Emancipation was a monumental antiracist campaign), while simultaneously believing Black people to be inferior to White people (a state of dissonance and lack of empathy). By modern standards, that’s an example of taking an antiracism stance within the context of White supremacy: Challenging one form of racism (enslavement)— while simultaneously affirming another (White supremacy in social and political life)
    The Addiction Metaphor. White supremacy is like an addiction of the mind and body: it promises comfort, denies harm, escalates over time, and resists withdrawal—yet true freedom requires a courageous break and deep healing. Where does racism’s stubborn, addiction-like persistence leave Black people? “If White people are addicted to White supremacy, then this changes how we as Black people, must move forward in our journey toward racial equity.”—Dr. Robert Livingston
    A New Approach In the wake of this new revelation, Dr. Livingston decided to switch things up a bit for the 2023 Men of Color Leadership Conference in Boston. Instead of focusing on White-centered antiracism he decided to focus on Black-centered empowerment: We can’t wait for White people to change. That day many never come so we have to empower ourselves.
    Central Questions. What do I have to do to survive and prosper in a game that was not created nor intended for me? How do I navigate?
    Our Obligation to Live a Good Life. “The fact that I was able to write this book is a testament to the power of my ancestors. I experience both awe and gratitude when I think of their strength and resilience. From their resolute determination to survive the unimaginable horror of the Middle Passage, to their tireless tenacity in abiding the indignities of slavery, to their unrelenting fight for full citizenship and representation—our ancestors have endured and overcome so much. It is incumbent upon us to continue their struggle by utilizing the pathways explored in this book to achieve the equality and prosperity that we deserve. Above all, as we honor our obligation to carry on with their fight, we must never lose sight of our forebears’ ultimate desire for future generations: to have a good life. It is our duty to live well.” —Dr. Robert Livingston
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    58 m
  • Community Disengagement - The Disastrous Outcome of Gentrification

    Community Disengagement - The Disastrous Outcome of Gentrification
    Sep 3 2025
    InflexionPoint Podcast | Episode 92
    2025 Theme: Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change
    Introduction Welcome to another episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Featuring creator/host Anita D. Russell, joined by co-hosts Mavis Bauman and Gail Hunter. Throughout the year, we’ve been lifting up stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements. But in this episode, we take a different approach: exploring the adverse impact of community disengagement, focusing on the painful story of gentrification in Pittsburgh, PA.
    How We Got Here Anita opens up the conversation with a stark reality: Community disengagement in Pittsburgh cannot be separated from the city’s long arc of gentrification. Policies that began with redlining and urban renewal set the stage for today’s tech-driven investment and redevelopment, which often unfolds without strong tenant protections or genuine community power. The Pittsburgh Paradox: Pittsburgh was named one of America’s Most Livable Cities (2005–2018). In 2019, it was also identified as America’s 8th most gentrified city. In 2021, Jerry Dickinson, law professor at the University of Pittsburgh, described it as “America’s Apartheid City.” This is the Reality We Must Confront
    The History of Displacement Gail leads a disccussion revealing Pittsburgh' multi-layered history: From racial covenants, redlining (1930s) and urban renewal devastating a vibrant Black community (1950s-60s); to so-called "modernization" that triggered decades of decline (1960s); to Steel Collapse to "Eds and Meds" (1980s-2000s) leading to struggles against overwhelming odds for communty nonprofits. 2010s to Today: The city formalized “community input” via Registered Community Organizations, but too often those processes lacked teeth. Meanwhile, private reinvestment accelerated land values, displacement, and racialized housing cost burdens.
    Imagine Authentic Engagement Mavis guides you to envision what true engagement and anti-displacement could look like in Pittsburgh. The short answer is this: Participation without power is not enough. Authentic engagement means redistributing decision-making power back to the people most affected. Key shifts required: Shift from input to shared governance. Stabilize residents where they live. Integrate commuunity equity and inclusion in development rules. Resource community voice. Execute real-time accountability.
    Call to Action Gentrification in Pittsburgh is not new—it’s another chapter in a long story of disinvestment, removal, and broken promises. When people feel decisions are made over them, not with them, they disengage. But disengagement is not destiny. What action are you willing to take?
    Watch: https://youtu.be/XBBNWXAErWs
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    56 m
  • The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power (Part 2)

    The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power (Part 2)
    Aug 20 2025
    Our theme for 2025 is Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change. Thank you for tuning in to the latest episode of InflexionPoint Podcast where we are dedicated to antiracism activation and the art of listening in authentic conversation, engagement, action, and accountability. Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts.
    The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power In the previous episode of InflexionPoint Podcast, we broke down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. In this episode we provide concrete examples of equity in community engagement from multiple organizations.
    Equitable engagement as a justice-rooted practice, not just a participatory one.
    • Uses values-based, power-aware approach to involving individuals and communities in decision-making processes, policy development, program design, and resource allocation.
    • Centers the voices, needs, and lived experiences of those historically marginalized or excluded by the dominant culture—particularly Black, Indigenous, people of color (BIPOC), low-income communities, immigrants, youth, people with disabilities, LGBTQ+ individuals, and others whose perspectives are often overlooked.
    • Redistributes power, builds trust, and creates co-ownership of outcomes.
    • Is not a zero sum game.
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    57 m
  • The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power

    The Heart of Engagement for Equity - Justice, Listening, Sovereignty, and Shared Power
    Aug 6 2025
    Our theme for 2025 is “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Episodes focus on both theory and practice, allowing our audience to gain insights that they can apply in real-world community engagement efforts.
    In this episode, we break down how equitable engagement goes far beyond good intentions. Equitable engagement is gaining traction in fields ranging from community development and education to corporate leadership and public policy. But too often, it's treated as a checklist rather than a transformational practice.
    Centering the conversation around justice, listening, sovereignty, and shared power reclaims the deep roots of this work and highlights what true equity demands. From culturally grounded outreach to building inclusive leadership teams and using technology to bridge the divide, we explore strategies that help us show up better, listen deeper, and co-create more just outcomes.
    Watch: https://youtu.be/28D897yZrsk
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    58 m
  • The Quest for Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso - From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré

    The Quest for Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso - From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré
    Jul 16 2025
    Our theme for 2025 is “Community Engagement & the Grassroots of Change.” Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Reimagining the Power of Burkina Faso: A Converstation with Leontine Osuagwu Leontine Osuagwu's home country is Burkia Faso. She is the co-founder of Dunamis Global Empowerment Ministries with her husband, Emeka Osuagwu, where they empower nations through Liberation, Transformation, and Dominion, and the founder of Leo’s Leadership Lounge, where she equips today’s leaders to rise as authentic, emotionally intelligent catalysts for transformational change. With over 20 years of leadership experience across corporate, nonprofit, and for-profit sectors, she helps leaders cultivate the mindset, strategy, and emotional intelligence needed to lead with excellence and create sustainable impact.
    Economic Sovereignty in Burkina Faso: From Thomas Sankara to Ibrahim Traoré In the previous episode we drew the line from community engagement and cooperative economics to sovereignty. In his book, Sovereign Psyche, Prof Ezrah Aharone defines the sovereign mindset as “an energizing mindset, consciousness, and thought process by which people define and express freedom through the unique particularities of their political and ideological self-identity.” In this episode we dig into the role of sovereign psyche in the African nation of Burkina Faso under the past leadership of Thomas Sankara (1949-1987) and current leader, President Ibrahim Traoré.
    Watch: https://youtu.be/uTaThO3mbZo
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    57 m
  • The Sovereign Psyche Starts in the Community - Expanding Cooperative Economics and Collective Power

    The Sovereign Psyche Starts in the Community - Expanding Cooperative Economics and Collective Power
    Jul 2 2025
    In 2025 we turn our attention towards “Community Engagement and the Grassroots of Change.”
    Throughout the year we explore the stories, strategies, and successes of community-driven movements making a difference. Sovereign Psyche Starts in the Community: Expanding Cooperative Economics and Collective Power In this episode we explore the connection between Community Engagement, Cooperative Economics, and Sovereignty through the work of Ezrah Aharone, Adjunct Professor of Political Science at Delaware State University.
    Community Engagement & Cooperative Economics: The Bridge to Sovereignty.
    We take the position that community engagement and cooperative economics serve as a bridge to sovereignty.
    Community Engagement – the intentional process of involving people in collective action to address local issues, shape decisions, and build power through participation, dialogue, and trust. It centers on equity, shared leadership, and long-term capacity-building.
    Cooperative Economics – an economic model that emphasizes democratic ownership, shared resources, and mutual benefit.
    Sovereignty – “an energizing mindset, consciousness, and thought process by which people define and express freedom through the unique particularities of their political and ideological self-identity.” — Ezrah Aharone
    The Sovereign Psyche – challenges people to reject internalized systems of dependency, inferiority, and Western validation.
    Community Engagement becomes the first step in building a sovereign psyche because it awakens collective memory and practices shared agency.
    Cooperative Economics is sovereignty in action expressed through “institutional capacity and control over destiny.”
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    1 h