Welcome to the Equity Drop podcast!
Explore the work of thought leader Caroline Hill, founder of 228 Accelerator. This podcast is a safe space for the hard conversations that must be had in order to solve problems rooted in systemic oppression and re-design for equity. Expect to learn, heal, and re-define what equity means to you.
EPISODES
Deep Dives with equityXdesign: A framework for the new democracy
These texts are about rethinking education and designing for equity in the context of historical and contemporary injustices. The authors, along with various contributors, explore historical models of education, particularly the experiences of Black Americans, to identify design principles for achievement at the margins. These principles include recognizing historical context, valuing radical inclusion, and centering process over product. The texts further explore the role of implicit bias in design thinking and advocate for a framework that actively mitigates bias and promotes equity. The authors also challenge the dominant discourse on education by highlighting the need to create equitable learning experiences for all students, especially those who have been historically marginalized. The text argues that the current educational system, shaped by white supremacy and systemic injustices, needs to be fundamentally redesigned to ensure that all students have an equal opportunity to succeed. Ultimately, the sources urge educators to engage in self-reflection, become more aware of their own biases, and actively work towards creating a more just and equitable education system.
Deep Dives with equityXdesign: Designing at the Margins
These source materials explore the history of anti-Blackness in education, highlighting the challenges and successes of Black education in the United States, particularly in the South. The texts discuss the importance of considering historical context, and they emphasize the need to dismantle systemic racism and create more equitable systems and practices. The materials emphasize the significance of design thinking as a tool to improve educational equity, but they also highlight the need to challenge the implicit bias of designers to create truly equitable solutions. The sources offer a framework for designing at the margins, prioritizing radical inclusion, and recognizing that the process of design is just as important as the product itself. The texts ultimately aim to provoke reflection on the role of education in perpetuating and dismantling racism, with a particular focus on how educators can design equitable learning experiences for marginalized students.
Deep Dives with equityXdesign: Blood Memory and Growing Democracy
This source explores the concept of "blood memory," which represents the collective history and experiences of a people passed down through generations. The author argues that this memory is crucial to understanding and responding to current social and environmental issues and that education should be a primary means of revitalizing this memory. The author critiques the traditional education system and proposes a new approach emphasizing the interconnectedness of social justice, environmental justice, and personal well-being. The piece calls for a collective effort to design a more equitable and sustainable future by recognizing and valuing the wisdom of past generations while adapting to the realities of the present.
Deep Dives with equityXdesign: Emerging Technologies and Equity
The source discusses how to avoid colonizing the metaverse, which is a virtual world with immense potential for innovation and community building. The author argues that we must be mindful of the ways we think and interact in order to create a more inclusive and equitable virtual space. This requires acknowledging our own biases and cultural baggage, practicing new ways of being, and reimagining a social contract that prioritizes healing and collaboration. Ultimately, the goal is to build a metaverse where everyone feels welcome and empowered to explore their full potential.
Deep Dives with equityXdesign: Starting with Self
The text excerpts from a newsletter series explore the development of a new framework for equity-centered design, focusing on the importance of personal healing and transformation as a foundation for achieving social justice. The author, a Black American and queer individual, reflects on their own experiences with identity and the challenges of navigating systems of oppression. They argue that true equity requires not just external changes, but also an internal shift in how we see ourselves and our relationships with others. The newsletter series promotes the concept of "equityXdesign," which emphasizes embodiment, self-awareness, and a healing-oriented approach to design.