Presented by Massachusetts ASCD | Women’s History Month Special

This powerful episode honors Women’s History Month by centering the voices of women who are boldly disrupting inequitable systems, resisting harmful policies, and reshaping education through justice, truth, and healing. Hosted by @wearemascd and @iamcraigaaronsmartin of @ccmedgroup, this panel unites leaders on the frontlines of advocacy, activism, and equity in action.

📆 Recorded Live: March 31, 2025 | 6:00 – 7:15 PM EST
📍 Virtual Panel Event

🔥 Featured Speakers:

• Shaplaie Brooks – Executive Director, Massachusetts Commission for LGBTQ Youth

• Dr. Shaunna Harrington – Former MASCD President, Higher Education Leader

• Kathy Lopes – President, AMSEL (Association of Massachusetts School Equity Leaders)

• Nikki Barnes – Managing Director of Equity & Engagement, KIPP Massachusetts

• Christian Maiden, Esq. – Legal Advocate, 8th District Court of Appeals

• Sasha Goodfriend – Executive Director, Massachusetts Chapter of the National Organization for Women (NOW)

💡 Topics We’re Tackling:
✅ How anti-woke and anti-equity policies are impacting schools
✅ Mental health as a form of resistance and justice
✅ Strategies for combating misinformation and white supremacy culture
✅ The urgent need for women-led activism and policy reform
✅ Collective steps to create change in education and beyond

🔊 Key Takeaways & Quotes:

"Equity is not a moment—it’s a movement."
"Disruption is an act of love."
"We need paid parental leave for teachers."
"Mental health is part of the fight for justice."
"Women are the global majority—and we lead with truth."

📢 Call to Action:
Listen, share, and join the movement to uplift and support women educators and advocates shaping our collective future.

🔗 Follow @wearemascd, @ccmedgroup, and @iamcraigaaronsmartin for more conversations that spark change.

#WomenDisruptSystems #BraveVoicesInEd #WeAreMASCD #MASCD #CCMEdGroup #EquityInEducation #JusticeIsLove #LeadershipMatters #MentalHealthInSchools

In this powerful episode of Brave Voices in Education, Craig sits down with author, educator, and unapologetic truth-teller Kwame Sarfo-Mensah—founder of Identity Talk 4 Educators—to explore what it means to teach, lead, and liberate as a Black man in education.

Kwame unpacks the urgency of disrupting dominant narratives that silence Black male educators and learners, shares his journey from classroom teacher to nationally recognized thought leader, and breaks down why culturally responsive teaching is not a buzzword—it’s a mandate. Together, they explore questions of legacy, resistance, and purpose.

Key Takeaways:

• Why representation alone isn’t enough

• The impact of Black male educators on student identity and outcomes

• How Kwame navigated burnout—and turned pain into platform

• Building schools that affirm every child’s genius

🎙️ Connect with Kwame Sarfo-Mensah
Website: https://www.identitytalk4educators.com
Instagram: @identitytalk4educators
Book: Shaping the Teacher Identity – Available now

💻 Learn more: https://bravevoicespod.com
🔔 Subscribe for new episodes weekly!
#BraveVoices #KwameSarfoMensah #BlackMaleEducators #LiberatoryTeaching #CCMEdGroup #IdentityTalk4Educators

When offered $250K in federal funds, Corey Yarbrough chose courage over censorship. In this powerful clip from the Brave Voices in Education podcast, Corey explains why 826 Boston rejected the funding to protect student expression. “That money came with a muzzle — and we refused to silence our students.” This is what values-driven leadership looks like. 🎙️✨

Watch the full episode to hear how Corey leads with integrity, builds community, and champions youth voice.

#BraveVoicesPod #CoreyYarbrough #826Boston #YouthVoice #DEI #Leadership #BraveLeadership #CCMEdGroup #NonprofitLeadership #ProtectStudentVoices

In this episode of Brave Voices in Leadership and Education, Craig Aarons-Martin engages in a profound conversation with Corey Yarbrough, an executive director and social justice advocate. They explore Corey's journey from his upbringing in Norfolk, Virginia, to his impactful work in Boston's educational landscape. The discussion emphasizes the importance of youth leadership, the challenges faced in the current educational climate, and the significance of diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) in shaping future generations. Corey shares his experiences navigating federal funding cuts and the courage it takes to advocate for marginalized voices. The conversation also touches on self-care, vulnerability, and the need for connection in leadership roles, culminating in a call to action for listeners to engage and support their communities.

What does it really mean to live brave? Not perform it. Not post about it. But live it — when nobody’s watching.

In this solo episode, I’m pulling up real close to share what I’ve been sitting with in therapy, in prayer, and in quiet moments of reflection.

I talk about growing up in New Orleans with blue-collar, God-fearing parents who gave with their whole hearts — even when it cost them. I share a recent conversation with them about generosity, legacy, and why speaking truth to power will always be worth it — even if it means losing opportunities.

This episode is about the messy, beautiful, sometimes painful work of figuring out if we are living brave enough — for ourselves, for our people, and for the future we hope to build.

Inspired by the wisdom of Brené Brown, Viola Davis, and my own Mississippi-born Daddy — this is a heart offering for anybody tired of being brave only for others but forgetting themselves.

"If this episode blessed you, stretched you, or sat in your spirit like it sat in mine — go on and share it with your people.

Send it to your crew. Post it. Tag me. Let’s keep this conversation going beyond the mic.

And if you know somebody — or you are somebody — with a story to tell, a lesson to share, or a voice we need to hear in this season, I want to invite you to apply to be a guest on Brave Voices in Education.

Visit www.ccmeducationgroup.co/brave-voices to tell us a little about your story.

Make sure you like, follow, and subscribe wherever you’re listening so you don’t miss these Brave conversations that are shaping the future of leadership, education, and community care."

Why this podcast? Why now? In this first episode of Brave Voices in Education, host Craig Aarons-Martin gets personal about the journey that led him here. From navigating spaces that weren’t built for us to fighting for equity, belonging, and real change in education, this podcast is about amplifying the voices that too often go unheard.

If you’ve ever felt unseen as an educator, leader, or student—or if you believe in the power of storytelling to transform systems—this episode is for you. It’s raw, it’s real, and it’s the start of something powerful.

🎧 Tune in, subscribe, and let’s get to work.