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We are back! Welcome to Season 13 of The Integrated Schools Podcast. It’s been almost eight years and over 170 episodes, but as we kick off this new season, we are reflecting on where we find ourselves—as a country, as an organization, and in our own lives. Val is navigating life with a college freshman (who earned a 100% on his first African American Studies test!) and a high school senior, while Andrew is stepping into the classroom for the first time as a high school audio engineering and musical theater teacher. These real-world transitions ground us in the ongoing, messy work of wrestling with parenting, privilege, and public education. In this kickoff episode, we take a hard look at the state of public education right now. With federal rollbacks on civil rights enforcement, decreasing oversight, and expanding voucher and privatization schemes, the national landscape feels tricky and daunting. Yet, even in this moment, we find local reasons for hope. Across the country—from Denver and Winston-Salem to Charlotte-Mecklenburg, Montgomery County, and beyond—school districts are undergoing boundary redraws and student assignment reviews that explicitly aim to reduce socioeconomic segregation. These local efforts remind us that when the ground is shifting, there is an opportunity to build toward real change if we show up and demand it. As we look ahead to Season 13, we are focused on tilling the soil for future systemic change and radicalizing our hope. Guided by Dr. Loretta Ross's reminder to "hold our link in the chain," we are preparing to dream together about what public education could look like on the other side of this moment. Throughout the season, we'll be bringing in a diverse range of voices—including Afrofuturists, Indigenous thinkers, youth, and caregivers of students with special needs—to imagine a truly just, multiracial education system beyond simply rebuilding what was. How are you holding your link in the chain during this political moment, and what does your dream for a truly integrated, multiracial public education system look like? LINKSShare your thoughts, local stories, or feedback via voice memo at speakpipe.com/integratedschools or email [email protected] the show and access monthly happy hours, show notes, and discussion guides on PatreonExplore or connect with an Integrated Schools Local ChapterListen to the Season 12 finale: Val’s reflection on parenting transitions and letting goJoin the MovementSupport is a verb! Help keep these unsponsored, nuanced conversations going by joining our Patreon community, starting a podcast listening group in your neighborhood, or sharing this episode with a friend. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we wrap up another school year, we're taking a moment to reflect on the conversations, challenges, and lessons that shaped Season 12. This year, we explored what it means to build belonging, strengthen community, advocate for public education, and stay connected through uncertainty. Along the way, we learned from educators, organizers, authors, students, parents, and community members who reminded us that while the challenges facing our schools are real, none of us are facing them alone. We also hear from listeners navigating school closures, parent organizing, and the everyday joys of integrated schools. Their stories remind us that community is built not only through big moments, but through the choices we make to show up for one another again and again. In This EpisodeBelonging mattersOne of the biggest themes we kept returning to this season was belonging. From conversations about disability justice to discussions about third spaces and community care, we explored what it looks like to create schools and communities where everyone feels seen, valued, and connected. The power of conversation and communityThis season reinforced something we deeply believe: meaningful change happens in relationship with one another. We reflected on lessons from guests like Dr. Loretta Ross, who reminded us that none of us are responsible for fixing everything alone. The work becomes sustainable when it's rooted in community. Public education under pressureThroughout the season, we examined some of the challenges facing public education today, including: School closures and spatial injusticeThe resurgence of "massive resistance" to educational equityImmigration enforcement's impact on students and familiesThe ongoing struggle for educational justice across generationsLearning from historyAgain and again, our guests reminded us that today's struggles are connected to longer histories of organizing, resistance, and collective action. From the Lemon Grove desegregation case to reflections on Thurgood Marshall's legacy, we explored how history can help guide us through the present moment. Listener ReflectionsWe also heard from listeners who shared: The grief and organizing that can emerge when a neighborhood school closesThe importance of family voice and participation in public schoolsMoments of joy that remind us why integrated schools matterA Few Things We're Carrying ForwardBelonging is foundational to healthy schools and communities.Public education is strongest when families, educators, and communities work together.History can offer both perspective and possibility.Community sustains us through uncertainty.There is real joy to be found in learning, growing, and building alongside people whose experiences differ from our own.Looking AheadAs we prepare for another season—and as our own families navigate major transitions—we're thinking about what comes next. What conversations are you having in your community? What challenges are showing up in your schools? What stories should we be telling together? Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Thank you for listening, learning, and staying in community with us throughout Season 12. We're grateful to all of our guests, our listeners, and everyone committed to creating public schools that serve all of our children. Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits.d This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey.   Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

On the 72nd anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Andrew and Dr. Val sit down with Cecilia Marshall — granddaughter of Supreme Court Justice Thurgood Marshall and founder of the newly launched Thurgood Marshall Foundation. Together, they reflect on what it means to carry forward a legacy rooted not in individual heroism, but in collective courage, sacrifice, and community responsibility. Ms. Marshall shares intimate stories of knowing Thurgood Marshall simply as “Grandpa,” and how, only later in life, she came to understand the magnitude of his work and the sacrifices made by the families behind Brown v. Board. The conversation explores the importance of telling these histories honestly — especially to children — and why public schools remain one of our most important democratic institutions. From the bravery of the 200+ plaintiffs across the five Brown cases, to present-day debates around diversity, public education, and belonging, this episode asks what it means to build bridges in a deeply polarized moment — and what responsibilities we each carry in shaping a more just future for all children. In honor of the 72nd anniversary of Brown v. Board of Education, Integrated Schools is launching the 1954 Campaign.We are asking you to give:$19.54$195.40$1,954or any amount meaningful to youHalf of the proceeds will support the Thurgood Marshall Foundation and its work preserving and sharing this history with future generations.LINKS:The Thurgood Marshall FoundationIntegrated Schools 1954 Campaign - Please donate today!Justice Marshall's Liberty Medal Acceptance SpeechRecovering Untold Stories: An Enduring Legacy of the Brown v. Board of Education DecisionBecoming Thurgood: America's Social Architect - PBS Documentary about Thurgood MarshallBrown v Board @ Sixty Five: The Stories We Tell Ourselves (our 5 part series on the Brown decision)Ep 18 – Rucker Johnson and the Grandchildren of Desegregation (BvB@65)Ep 19 – Segrenomics, Black Teachers, and Noliwe Rooks (BvB@65)Ep20 – Amanda Lewis on Desegregation Without Integration (BvB@65Ep 21 – Beyond Black and White with David Hinojosa (BvB@65)Ep 22 – I Hope They Hear It In Our Voices (BvB@65)S7E3 – Generational Work: Stefan Lallinger on IntegrationNAACP Legal Defense Fund Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits.d This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey.   The Brown v Board PlaintiffsThe bundle of five cases commonly referred to as Brown v. Board actually contained more than 200 plaintiffs. Below are their names and their associated cases. Belton v. Gebhart (Bulah v. Gebhart) Delaware State Court, Wilmington, Delaware Ethel Belton Sarah Bulah Joseph Crumpler John W. Davis Emma Fountain Barbara Byrd Henry Charles Hill Lois May Johnson Mary Johnson Willie Robinson John Short Harlan Trotter Bolling v. Sharpe U.S. District Court, Washington, D.C. Mrs. Sarah Bolling Spottswood Thomas Bolling Wanamaker Von Bolling William Briscoe Sarah Louise Briscoe James C. Jennings Adrienne Jennings Barbara Jennings Consolidated Parent Group, Inc. Briggs et al v. Elliott et al. U.S. District Court, Eastern Division, Charleston, South Carolina James Bennett Onetha Bennett Harry Briggs Robert Georgia Annie Gibson Gilbert H. Henry Susan Lawson Frederick Oliver Mary Oliver Mose Oliver Bennie Parson Edward Ragin Hazel Ragin William Ragin Lee Richardson Lucrisher Richardson Rebecca Richburg Henry Scott William Stukes Gabriel Tindal Davis v. County School Board of Prince Edward County U.S. District Court, Richmond, Virginia Hal Edward Allen (father) Hal Verner Allen (son) Margaret G. Allen (grandmother) James Henry C. Allen (grandson) Margaret G. Allen (mother) Herman Alexander Allen (son) Florence Gertrude Allen (daughter) Thomas H. Allen (father) Herman Wesley Allen (son) Thelma Leola Allen (daughter) Ellen Banks (guardian) John Banks, Jr. (guardee) Frankie Louise Berkeley Eddie Bigger (father) Virginia Bigger (daughter) Katie H. Bigger Leonard R. Bland (father) Floyd M. Bland (son) Reginald W. Bland (son) Clara S. Booker (mother) Blanche A. Booker (daughter) Ronald O.F. Booker (son) Joseph E. Booker (father) Loretta Booker (daughter) Carrie Brown James Brown (father) Phillip J. Brown (son) Nelson Carey (father) Mary Lizzie Carey (daughter) Anna Bell Carey (daughter) John Davis Rosa Bell Davis Isaiah Dennis (father) Adline Dennis (daughter) Charlie Dupuy (father) Pauline Dupuy (daughter) Susie Earley (mother) Bertha E. Earley (daughter) Helen Virginia Epps (mother) Alma D. Epps (daughter) Helen M. Epps (daughter) Agnes Farrar (guardian) Walker Camp Farrar (guardee) Alice Fowlkes (guardian) Alexander Fowlkes (guardee) Leroy McCormick (guardee) Amanda Goode Frances Goode (mother) Willie L. Goode (son) Katherine Goode (daughter) Dolly M. Goode (daughter) Harry S. Hall Thomas Hall (guardian) Mary E. Couch (guardee) Elsie Hargwood (mother) Junita Hargwood (daughter) Virginia Harris (mother) Ethel D. Harris (daughter) C.W. Hicks (father) Deloris Hicks (daughter) Marjorie Hicks (daughter) Inez O. Hicks Sarah Elizabeth Hicks (mother) Leigh Edward Hicks (son) Mosley Jefferson (father) Dorothy Alice Jefferson (daughter) Carrie Irene Jefferson (daughter) Robert Johns (father) Barbara Rose Johns (daughter) Joan Marie Johns (daughter) Kate Johnson (mother) Burnell Johnson, Jr. (son) Jasper W. Jones (father) Peter Jasper Jones (son) John Paul Jones (son) Nannie Lee (mother) George Lee (son) Sopophonie Miller (mother) Mattie Jean Miller (daughter) Herman Monroe (father) John Monroe (son) Harry Monroe (son) Richard Monroe (son) Emma H. Morton Mary Moton Viola W. Neal (mother) Catherine Neal (daughter) Lee Emmett Neal (son) Alma Randle (mother) Rosetta E. Randle (daughter) Ethel L. Randle (daughter) Martin R. Randle (son) Silas Redd (father) Gladys E. Redd (daughter) Charlie Redd (son) Nellie J. Richardson (mother) Jeanel E. Richardson (daughter) Anita Louise Richardson (daughter) Pinkie Rowlette (guardian) Reginald Rowlette (guardee) Alice Goins (guardee) Rowland D. Saunders (father) Vernethia C. Saunders (daughter) Henry Scott (father) Henry Scott, Jr. (son) Otis Scott (father) John Henry Scott (son) Walter Wallace Scott (son) Thomas H. Scott P.H. Shepperson (father) Lester Shepperson (son) Florine Shepperson (daughter) Willie Lee Shepperson (son) Louise Sims (mother) Helen L. Sims (daughter) Rebecca A. Sims (daughter) Sallie Spencer (mother) Mary L. Spencer (daughter) James Spencer (son) Alice M. Stokes (mother) John Arthur Stokes (son) Carrie Stokes (daughter) Jannie Streat (mother) Mary E. Streat (daughter) Pattie Taylor (mother) Dorothy L. Taylor (daughter) W. Howard Thompson (father) Frances Thompson (daughter) Rachel J. Thomson (daughter) John Townsend (father) Mildred Junita Townsend (daughter) Arlene Shirley Townsend (daughter) Mary Trent (mother) Barbara Reese Trent (daughter) Rose Marie Trent (daughter) Mattie Vaughan (mother) Calvin A. Vaughan (son) Maude E. Walker (mother) John Junius Walker (son) Maude Estelle Walker (daughter) Theophilus Walker (father) Edward Leon Walker (son) Mabel Gertrude Walker (daughter) John L. Watkins (father) Stella Watkins (daughter) John Watson, Sr. (father) John Watson, Jr. (son) Eva Werkler (mother) Rosa M. Werkler (daughter) Myrtle V. West (mother) Metteaner S. West (son) W.C. West (father) Barbara Jean West (daughter) Olivia Wiley (mother) Ettal L. Wiley (daughter) Frank Williams (father) Bessie Williams (daughter) Mildred Williams (daughter) Louise Willis Amelia Womack (mother) Clarence W. Womack (son) Aubrey D. Womack (son) Bert S. Womack (father) Elizabeth Womack (daughter) Leslie Woolridge Oliver L. Brown et al v. Board of Education of Topeka, Shawnee County, Kansas U.S. District Court, Topeka, Kansas Oliver Leon Brown Darlene Brown Lena M. Carper Sadie Emmanuel Marguerite Emmerson* Shirla Fleming Mrs. Andrew (Zelma) Henderson Shirley Hodison Mrs. Richard (Maude) Lawton Alma Lewis Iona Richardson Vivian Scales Lucinda Todd *Marguerite Emerson's name was misspelled on the original court documents Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're revisiting our conversation with Dr. Loretta Ross because her book, Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel, is the Integrated Schools book club pick for this month. You can register for one of our amazing, free book club sessions here. We’re joined by MacArthur “Genius” and legendary activist Dr. Loretta Ross for a conversation that left us grounded, challenged, and deeply moved. From her early work in reproductive justice and anti-violence movements, to her current mission disrupting “call-out culture,” Dr. Ross offers us a path forward rooted in grace, accountability, and radical love. We explore what it means to “call in” rather than call out—especially in an era where public shaming feels ever-present and social media rewards outrage. Dr. Ross shares her personal story of trauma, healing, and transformation, and helps us understand how real change happens not through perfection or purity, but through connection and curiosity. Together we unpack the power of holding ourselves and others accountable without dehumanizing. We talk parenting, public schools, and what it means to stay in the struggle without breaking our link in the “chain of freedom.” Whether you’re navigating tricky conversations in your school community or trying to show up better in the fight for justice, this episode is for you. LINKS:Register for book club!Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You’d Rather Cancel – Dr. Ross’s new bookWhat If Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In? – NY Times Article about Dr. Ross’s workWhat Is A Good Parent?  Blog post by NY Chapter member, Meredith WinfreyMothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy – Dr. Elizabeth McRaeEp 11 – White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy – Dr. McRae’s 1st time on our showS5E14 – White Supremacy and Black Educational Excellence – Dr. McRae’s 2nd time on our showSend us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits.d This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We’re going back to the archives today to revisit a conversation with Heather McGhee. In February of 2021, Heather McGhee’s book, The Sum of Us came out. With a focus on the ways in which racism harms everyone, and the potential good that can come from cross-racial coalitions, the book was exciting to us. When we realized that Integrated Schools was featured prominently in the chapter about education, we were blown away. The book is based around three main concepts.  The first is the “zero-sum lie of racial hierarchy”, or the idea that progress for people of color necessarily has to come at White folks’ expense. The second is the idea of the “drained pool,” the disinvestment by White people in public goods simply because they have to share them with people of color. And finally, the “solidarity dividend,” the idea of gains that we can unlock, but only when we come together across lines of difference. This last idea, the most hopeful, inspired Ms. McGhee to go back on the road and make a podcast documenting examples of the Solidarity Dividend in action. She joins us to discuss the podcast, what it means to be a good ally, the power of relationships in sustaining movements, and what role the Integrated Schools community should play in participating in the current, cross-racial movement for public education. LINKS Ms. McGhee’s first appearance on our showThe Sum of Us PodcastThe Sum of Us BookJames Haslem from HEAL TogetherMs. McGhee and Victor Ray’s Op-Ed in the NYTCalifornia Calls – organizing in CaliforniaMs. McGhee’s mother – Dr. Gail ChristopherTruth, Racial Healing, and TransformationACTION STEPS Listen to The Sum of Us PodcastRead The Sum of Us BookGet involved locally – find organizations that align with your values, and just show up!Take opportunities to share space with folks – school pick up/ drop off is a great place to startShare stories off cross racial solidarity with others. Stories from The Sum of Us, from our podcast, or from your own life.Use these links or start at our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – @integratedschls on twitter, IntegratedSchools on Facebook, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We're joined by YA author, María Dolores Águila to uncover the largely untold story of the 1931 Lemon Grove Incident—the first successful school desegregation case in California, led by Mexican and Mexican American families. Through her book A Sea of Lemon Trees, Maria invites us into the world of 12-year-old Roberto Alvarez, a child asked to carry the weight of his community’s fight for educational justice. Together, we explore what it looks like when communities organize, when young people lead, and when stories become a form of power. We can’t be what we don’t see. Maria shares how her work is rooted in creating “social capital” for young readers—especially those who have not seen themselves reflected in books or history. When our kids see communities like theirs organizing and winning, it expands what feels possible. The Lemon Grove case unfolded during a time of anti-Mexican sentiment and mass deportations. The parallels to today are hard to ignore. What we don’t know about our history can make the present feel confusing—but these stories remind us: we’ve been here before. While Roberto Alvarez was the named plaintiff, this was never a story about one hero. It was about a community—families organizing, neighbors supporting, people taking risks together. Every role mattered. Resistance is real—and it costs something. This wasn’t a clean or easy victory. Families faced threats, pressure, and even deportation. Telling the full story—including the hard parts—matters, especially for our kids. Through a 12-year-old’s perspective, the absurdity of segregation becomes clear. Kids often see injustice plainly—before we, as adults, complicate it. We keep coming back to this: All of our kids are watching. They’re watching how we talk about history. They’re watching how we respond to injustice. They’re watching whether we stay—or walk away. What might shift if we saw ourselves not as individuals navigating systems, but as part of a community shaping them—together? LINKS:A Sea of Lemon Trees: The Corrido of Roberto AlvarezBarrio Rising: The Protest that Built Chicano ParkMenudo Sunday: A Spanglish Counting BookThe Lemon Grove Incident Mexican RepatriationS11E10 – Micro Activism: Making a Difference One Step at a Time  Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey.  Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What happens when we stop thinking about schools as buildings—and start seeing them as the ecosystems that hold our communities together? In this episode, we sit with Dr. Mara Tieken to explore school closures not as isolated decisions, but as part of a broader pattern of spatial injustice—where resources, opportunities, and care are unevenly distributed based on where we live. Together, we wrestle with a hard truth: school closures are often framed as inevitable… but what if they’re actually the result of choices—policies, priorities, and patterns of disinvestment—that we can question? We grapple with several key ideas: Schools are more than buildings—they are social, cultural, and economic anchors in our communitiesClosures disproportionately impact Black, Brown, and low-income communitiesThe most common justifications (cost savings, academic improvement, “efficiency”) often don’t hold up under scrutinyWhat gets labeled as a “failing school” is often a school that has been failed—by policy, funding, and systemic neglectSchool closures don’t just disrupt students—they create lasting grief, loss, and disconnection across generationsThis conversation also reminds us that we are not powerless. Across the country, communities are: Organizing and building multiracial, cross-class coalitionsQuestioning the data and narratives used to justify closuresRunning for school board, advocating for policy change, and showing up for each other’s schools—not just our ownWe are left wondering, what would it look like to treat every school as our school? Not just when it’s under threat—but all the time. Because if public schools are foundational to our democracy, then caring for them can’t be an individual act. It has to be collective. LINKS:Dr. Tieken's Hechinger Report Op-Ed - Shuttering public schools is a strategy that rarely saves much money and often leads to test score declinesAnd from The Washington Monthly - Don't Fall for the School Closure TemptationRural Schools Open - Dr. Tieken's guide to fighting school closures and doing it well, when needed. Dr. Eve L Ewing - Ghosts in the SchoolyardAnd Dr. Ewing on our show - S11E12: Schools and Race: Eve Ewing on the Construction of American Racism  Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, Andrew and Dr. Val are joined by Logan Tilton, a history student at North Carolina Central University and one of the Levine Museum of the New South’s fellowship students. Together, they reflect on what it means to learn history not as a list of dates and names, but as a living story shaped by community, struggle, resilience, and collective memory. Drawing from a powerful fellowship trip to Montgomery and Selma, Logan shares how visiting the Equal Justice Initiative sites and hearing directly from a Selma foot soldier deepened her understanding of history, accountability, and the ongoing connections between past and present. This conversation explores the emotional weight of historical truth, the importance of learning from young people, and the role community plays in sustaining hope. This episode reminds us that history is not over. The patterns of inequality, exclusion, and violence that shaped the past are still with us. But so are the patterns of resistance, courage, care, and collective action. Logan’s reflections offer a powerful reminder that when young people are trusted with truth, they can carry it forward with clarity, insight, and hope. LINKSThe Levine Museum of The New SouthThe Levine Museum's Catalyst Fellowship ProgramThe Equal Justice Initiative's Legacy SitesFoot Soldier Park - Selma, ALBryan StevensonJust Mercy: A Story of Justice and Redemption - by Bryan StevensonS11E15 – Unearthing Joy: Gholdy Muhammad on Teaching with LoveThe Old South: A Psychohistory - by Earl E. ThorpeSend us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

When crisis comes for one of us, it comes for all of us. In this powerful and deeply moving episode, Dr. Val and Andrew sit down with two parent leaders in Minneapolis—Carina (a White mom and longtime bridge-builder in dual language spaces) and Cisne (a Spanish-speaking immigrant mom and vice president of their dual language parent organization)—to talk about what it means to care for our community when ICE arrives at your doorstep. What unfolds is a story about more than fear. It’s a story about relationships built long before crisis hit. About language justice. About sharing power. About mutual aid that moves in both directions. About what happens when Latino leadership is centered—not as an afterthought, but as the foundation. We also hear from the professional interpreter who made this conversation possible in real time—offering a powerful reflection on interpretation as social justice work. This conversation is heavy. And it is also filled with hope. Because what we’re reminded of again and again is this: systems may fail us. Relationships keep us safe. This episode reminds us that integration work is not theoretical. It is not performative. It is not about optics. It is about who gets to make decisions.Whose language is spoken first.Whose safety is prioritized.Whose children are protected. It asks those of us—especially those of us who are White, documented, resourced—to reflect on how we are using proximity to power. Are we holding it tightly? Or are we sharing it? It reminds us that bilingual education is not enrichment for some and marginalization for others—it is an opportunity to build bridges, leadership, and collective strength. And it underscores something we’ve said for years: public schools are one of the few remaining places where we canbuild the kind of cross-racial, cross-class relationships that sustain us in crisis. If we choose to. The children missing from classrooms in Minneapolis are our children. The parents afraid to leave their homes are part of our communities. The mental health impacts will ripple far beyond one city. Integration is not just about where our children sit in class. It is about whether we are willing to stand together when it matters most. Thank you for being part of this work. Thank you for staying in it—even when it’s heavy.   Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

What does it mean to outlast backlash? In this episode, we’re joined by Dr. Danielle Wingfield—legal historian, law professor, and public education advocate—whose work sits at the intersection of history, civil rights, democracy, and family. Together, we trace the long arc of resistance to public education, from enslavement and segregation to today’s fights over curriculum, parental rights, and school privatization. Dr. Wingfield helps us see that what feels overwhelming right now isn’t new—it’s cyclical. And that clarity matters. When we understand the playbook, we can respond with intention instead of panic. We talk about: The history of massive resistance—and why today’s attacks on public education are part of a much longer projectHow curriculum control, “parental rights,” and privatization have been used before to maintain racial hierarchyWhy public schools remain essential to democracy—and why they’re being targeted so aggressivelyWhat “home place” looks like: community care, shared responsibility, mutual aid, and kinship beyond bloodlinesWhy progress always brings backlash—and why staying power is how movements winThis conversation is both grounding and galvanizing. It reminds us that we don’t have to solve everything—but we dohave to hold our link in the chain. Because when we know our history, we’re harder to divide. And when we stay together long enough, we change what’s possible. LINKS:The Resurgence of Massive Resistance - Washington and Lee Law JournalTeachers in the Movement - Oral history projectFirst Class Project - documentary seriesHomeplace (A Site of Resistance) - bell hooksHenry L. Marsh III - First Black mayor of Richmond, VA & civil rights attorneyOliver W. Hill - Civil rights attorneyBarbara Rose Johns Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

Back in 2021, we were honored to welcome Heather McGhee on the show to talk about her incredible book, The Sum Of Us. The interview ran long. The original, edited version is still in your feeds - Season 7 Episode 9 - https://integratedschools.org/podcast/mcgheerevisited/. But we wanted to share the unedited conversation for our IS Plus Supporters. Let us know what you think!

Join the conversation by registering for one of our upcoming Book Club sessions!  The Integrated Schools Podcast returns with a great conversation with Emily Ladau, disability rights activist and author of Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an Ally. Ladau describes herself as "passionate about having conversations about disability and really engaging people to talk about a topic that they might otherwise feel uncomfortable with and really making it approachable and accessible to them." In the spirit of Dr. Loretta Ross, she models what it means to call people in: to meet other people where they are and offer them a bridge to understanding the lived reality - or rather, realities - of the over a billion people around the world who have some type of disability. Ladau takes an approach that is at once gracious and practical. "In order to be effective advocates for any kind of social justice, we first need the tools and the resources and the understanding, but often we are not socialized to think about disability at all... I don't want people to feel so worried about making a mistake that they don't get involved in the conversation in the first place; [nor] to get bogged down in specific rules, but… to have a working knowledge so that you feel like you belong in the broader work.” This conversation brings up the parallels between combating White supremacy and combating ableism, and the interplay between the two. Ladau points out that we can't fight back against either racism or ableism by keeping these issues siloed -especially because disability is an identity that cuts across all other identity groups. "It's also pretty much one of the only marginalized communities that anybody can join at any time. And I always say, you know, that's not a threat. We're cool, we're fun." LINKS: Join Book Club!!Demystifying Disability: What to Know, What to Say, and How to be an AllyEmily's website - emilyladau.comWords I Wheel By - Emily's SubstackThe 504 Sit InS12E6 - Calling In with Loretta RossCalling In - Dr. Loretta Ross's book  Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

As we come to the end of 2025, we wanted to pause together—to reflect on a year that has been emotionally heavy, nationally turbulent, and deeply personal. This year, our families have been in the midst of big transitions. We talk about what it’s been like to launch a child toward adulthood, to navigate new middle and high schools, and to sit with the uncertainty that comes with parenting when the stakes feel so high. We reflect on the school choices we’ve made—often outside the bounds of prestige or promise—and what it feels like, years later, to see our kids growing, learning, struggling, and coming out whole. We also hold the broader context of 2025. We name the ways the world feels like it’s unraveling: ICE raids disrupting communities and schools, cuts to public institutions, and the cumulative weight our young people are carrying after growing up through a pandemic and so much instability. This conversation doesn’t rush past the grief. We sit with it—and remind ourselves that survival, community, and care are not small things. They are strategies. Looking back on this season, we revisit conversations that shaped us—from Byron Sanders on identity and purpose, to Raising Antiracist Kids on honest conversations with our children, to Keri Rodrigues and Loretta Ross on calling people in and refusing to let our link in the chain break. Again and again, we return to the truth that none of us can do this work alone. The episode closes with reflections from our first-ever in-person Integrated Schools gathering in Columbus, Ohio. Bringing together people from across the country to hold space, share meals, sing, grieve, laugh, and recommit to this work reminded us of what is possible when we are physically together. Through voice memos from participants, we hear what it means to feel less alone—and more grounded—at a moment when the pendulum feels far away from justice. Ten years into the life of Integrated Schools, this episode is both a reckoning and a reminder: We are still here. And we’re not going anywhere. Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

We’re joined by MacArthur “Genius” and legendary activist Dr. Loretta Ross for a conversation that left us grounded, challenged, and deeply moved. From her early work in reproductive justice and anti-violence movements, to her current mission disrupting “call-out culture,” Dr. Ross offers us a path forward rooted in grace, accountability, and radical love. We explore what it means to “call in” rather than call out—especially in an era where public shaming feels ever-present and social media rewards outrage. Dr. Ross shares her personal story of trauma, healing, and transformation, and helps us understand how real change happens not through perfection or purity, but through connection and curiosity. Together we unpack the power of holding ourselves and others accountable without dehumanizing. We talk parenting, public schools, and what it means to stay in the struggle without breaking our link in the “chain of freedom.” Whether you’re navigating tricky conversations in your school community or trying to show up better in the fight for justice, this episode is for you. LINKS:Calling In: How to Start Making Change with Those You'd Rather Cancel - Dr. Ross's new bookWhat If Instead of Calling People Out, We Called Them In? - NY Times Article about Dr. Ross's workWhat Is A Good Parent?  Blog post by NY Chapter member, Meredith WinfreyMothers of Massive Resistance: White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy - Dr. Elizabeth McRaeEp 11 – White Women and the Politics of White Supremacy - Dr. McRae's 1st time on our showS5E14 - White Supremacy and Black Educational Excellence - Dr. McRae's 2nd time on our showSend us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

In this episode, we’re stretching the boundaries of our “big tent”—the messy, hopeful space where we try to build a public education system worthy of all our kids. We sat down with Ms. Keri Rodrigues, President and co-founder of the National Parents Union, for a conversation recorded inside the U.S. Senate building (a first for us!). Ms. Rodrigues brings her whole self into this work: mother, organizer, daughter of immigrants, former student who didn’t always get what she needed from school, and fierce believer in the power of parents showing up together. While the methods of school improvement NPU has advocated for the in the past may not have felt fully aligned with our values, we share a commitment to the common good of public education—and in a moment when that institution feels increasingly under attack, widening the circle of who we can struggle with feels essential. In This Episode We Explore:Parent voice as expertiseWhy parents—especially those who’ve historically been pushed to the margins—carry knowledge that our systems often ignore, and what’s lost when family engagement is treated as transactional rather than transformational.The conditions that fuel fear-based parent movementsMs. Rodrigues offers a nuanced take on how groups like Moms for Liberty gained traction, and how a lack of authentic, respectful engagement with parents created space for bad actors to step in.Trust between families and schoolsWhat it means to leave “our hearts outside our bodies” every morning, and the very real fears that get activated when schools feel unwelcoming, dismissive, or unsafe—especially for Black, Brown, immigrant, and disabled students and their families.The broader crisis facing childrenFrom ICE raids to unregulated social media to defunding the Department of Education, Ms. Rodrigues paints a sobering picture of what American childhood looks like right now—and why focusing narrowly on academics misses the full context our kids are living in.Possibility inside the “messy middle”How unlikely coalitions (even with people we once vowed to “never work with”) can still form around shared values like literacy, safety, and teacher pay—and why bipartisan hope isn’t naïve, but necessary.Our own expectations of schoolAfter the interview, Val and Andrew reflect on power, privilege, trust, and the complicated dance between advocating for our kids and caring for all kids—work that sits at the very heart of public education in a multiracial democracy. Why This Conversation MattersIf we truly believe that public schools are foundational to a functioning democracy, then we need a tent big enough to hold disagreement, nuance, and shared purpose. Not a tent where we water down our values or ignore harm, but one spacious enough for collective problem-solving. As Ms. Rodrigues reminds us, movements built on love endure longer than movements built on fear. And right now, our kids need us rooted in love. Join the ConversationWhere do you see yourself in this big tent? What are your expectations for parent voice? How do you advocate as a parent or caregiver? How do you build (or rebuild) trust with your child’s school? Send us a voice memo: speakpipe.com/integratedschools Check out our Bookshop.org storefront to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Subscribe to our YouTube Channel for video versions of our episodes. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – IntegratedSchools on Facebook, @integratedschools on Instagram and TikTok, or email us [email protected]. The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy