Since the beginning of the #BlackLivesMatter movement, I have heard on numerous occasions, from various people — Black and White — on the assumed disconnect between the social media campaign and violence within low-income Black communities. I find myself not engaging with these people. My eyes glaze over and I search for the nearest exit….
Academics alone will not make you successful
I was asked to give a speech to new high school inductees into the National Honor Society. I was asked to share the speech so I have posted it here. Enjoy! Hello students! I believe congratulations is in order for the National Honor Society inductees. I remember being in the National Honor Society and having a…
7 Ways Museum Educators Can Change the World
Dr. Melissa Crum is an artist, education consultant and diversity practitioner who uses her personal story and professional practice to tell a creative, inspiring, and eye-opening message that everyone must hear. Watch her TEDx talk “Tale of Two Teachers.” Then read seven helpful approaches below! 7 Ways Museum Educators Can Change the World From Columbus to…
What happened when I followed my dream…
She Makes It Beautiful – An Interview with Entrepreneur, Dr. Melissa Crum She Makes It Beautiful (SMIB) encourages and inspires women to follow their entrepreneurial dreams by interviewing and sharing the phenomenal stories of women entrepreneurs who’ve already taken that courageous leap and soared. I asked entrepreneurs in diverse creative professions to participate, and they were…
How motherhood made me a feminist…
I was asked to participate in a female-center story-telling campaign that celebrates women by sharing their vulnerable stories. Here is mine. Thank you Karrio Ballard for asking me to be apart of such a great idea. Super Woman In Ohio Melissa Crum As told to and by Karrio Ballard “It’s going to be ok.”- Melissa Crum…
3 Questions to Ask Yourself Before Your Community Service
On college and university campuses nationwide, engaging with “the community” (organizations and individuals unaffiliated with the sponsoring institution) is a common practice. In these collaborations, it is essential that faculty and students apply a critical lens—evaluating why, between whom, and how the engagement is occurring—in an effort to prevent paternalism, an approach that assumes a…
Dear Shonda: Why we should critically think about focusing on the Brandons of the world
Dear Shonda, Thank you for tackling so many issues in “The Lawn Chair” episode of Scandal: classism, police brutality, the symptoms of PTSD (researchers found) brown and black people exhibit from years of living in violent communities where they fear their lives from certain people IN their communities and the police OUTSIDE of their communities who are…
Books We Love! Muslims and the Holocaust?
In the wake of the 70th anniversary of the Holocaust, it’s important that we educate our students on the numerous perspectives of historical events. One alternative story comes from “The Grand Mosque of Paris: A Story of How Muslims Rescued Jews During the Holocaust” by Karen Gray Ruelle and Deborah Durland Desaix. Share with you…
Raising Expectations: Stories from “Humans of New York”
A couple days back, I posted the portrait of a young man who described an influential principal in his life by the name of Ms. Lopez. Yesterday I was fortunate to meet Ms. Lopez at her school, Mott Hall Bridges Academy.“This is a neighborhood that doesn’t necessarily expect much from our children, so at Mott…
Need to introduce privilege to your students? Look at this interesting way!
For those innovative, social justice oriented educators out there! Try this in your classroom and tell us what happened!
6 Historical Women Who Gave No F***s
Minus the language 😉 great information to incorporate in the classroom!
Mosaic Education Network 