Raising Equity: Recent Episodes
Dr. Kira Banks
Raising Equity explores social issues and inspires listeners to create a more equitable world. Host, Dr. Kira Banks, is a psychologist, professor, consultant, wife and mother. She is a thought leader in diversity, equity & inclusion helping people and institutions bring their ideas into action. Dr. Banks is known for her work during the Ferguson Uprising where she was a consultant for the Ferguson Commission, local activists, and community organizations. More recently, she guided organizations after the murder of George Floyd to act beyond symbolic statements and make substantive change. Podcast and other videos available at http://bit.ly/RaiseEqYT
The n-word has been in the news yet again, and for this family it was the talk of the snow day. In this episode, I talk to a mom who thought she was sending her kids over to a neighbor’s house for fun. What they weren’t expecting was the kid host to put on a show riddled with the n-word. Now the question is, what to do and how to move forward. What would you do?
Subscribe to the podcast here:
– Apple Podcasts: https://itunes.apple.com/us/podcast/raising-equity/id1453341709
– Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/5mQa52prkzXoeGhmnDMPOc
I would love your support! Your contributions, no matter how small, can help me make more content like this: https://buymeacoffee.com/drkirabanks
Congratulations!! You did it. You spent a FULL year pouring into yourself and upping your self-love game. Take some time to reflect on what you learned, what changes you observed, and how you plan to continue cultivating your growth. Hopefully you listened to my encouragement the first week and completed the self-love quiz so that you could take it again at the end to see how your score has changed. My score increased by almost 10 points! I’m committed to continuing to progress, and I hope you enjoyed the journey. Thanks for joining me!!
What do you need to say that you haven’t yet? This week is all about finding your voice and speaking your truth. When you think back on a time when speaking up has caused trouble, how did that experience impact you? When you have something to say but haven’t, where do you feel it in your body? This question might sound silly, but the mind-body connection is powerful. Oftentimes, we feel tension in our throat, chest, or somewhere in our bodies when a truth we want to share feels stuck or unsafe to speak out loud. Finding your voice is an important part of self-love so you can advocate for yourself and others.
https://youtu.be/1T2C5d9aap0
“Endless possibilities surround me. I am inspired by all that life has to offer.” This week invites you to practice hope even when times seem bleak. Slow down and see possibilities rather than be quick to only see roadblocks. It can be hard sometimes, so an exercise remembering all the ways you have been inspired throughout your life can be a great reminder.
https://youtu.be/YYYxnIhKtt4
Can you take a compliment? This week invites you to reflect on how much you are willing to let your accomplishments be known. Reflect on if you are comfortable with others noticing your positive qualities or if you’re more liklely to shy away and deflect. Self-love includes accepting where you are awesome and being OK with others acknowledging it, too!
Commit to loving yourself, even when you’re struggling. It’s OK to have a rough day or rough season. This week invites us to reflect on a difficult time and consider what lessons it had for us. How did you get through, and how did you show yourself kindness in the midst of difficulties? Learning how to be compassionate with yourself even when you have big feelings is hard. Be patient with yourself but keep on keepin’ on.
This week is for the people pleasers! As you go throughout the week consider what you are doing– Is it something that pleases you? Are you doing it to please others? Don’t stress about changing anything, just notice. And try to move more towards things that please you. It’s OK if it ends up pleasing others as a byproduct, but you are important enough to please simply because you are you. Release the need to be liked by everyone.
https://youtu.be/5eBkLaal2po
Remember a time you felt brave. How did you summon your courage? What did you learn? This week reminds us that we have the strength and courage to face any challenge we encounter even when we feel afraid. It’s a lesson I’ve learned over the years and have made a point to teach my children. We can do hard things. And being afraid doesn’t stop us from doing.
https://youtu.be/I36mOTnP7y0
This week asks us to reflect on and let go of blame, shame or hurt. It could be something that happened to you or something you did. Holding onto baggage can be a burden, so I hope you use this week to unpack some of what you’ve been carrying around.
https://youtu.be/GYFbcs7HNIU
“I am enough.” When you say that statement, do you believe it? I hope so. And if not, I hope you do a little bit more than earlier in this self-love journey. We are each growing, so no need to be perfect now. Just know that the best version of you is still loading. No need to compare yourself to others.
What would you do if you had an abundance of money? What a time to be asking this question. I imagine many of you would say feed all the hungry children, or provide housing and healthcare for everyone. This week pushed us to reflect on our relationship with money. Do you trust yourself with money? What are the limiting beliefs you’ve been taught about it? More money more problems? Root of all evil? Get clear on what has shaped your attitude towards money. And spend some time thinking about what you would do if you had an abundance of it.
“I am worthy right now. I don’t have to wait until I achieve certain accomplishments to love myself and enjoy my life.” This reminder was right on time for me as I can often get caught up in the next thing and put off doing something fun or taking a break. I know I’m not alone, because a recent coaching client told me she only feels valuable when she is productive. The pressures to achieve are real, and it’s essential that we remind ourselves that our worth doesn’t equal our work.
“I am gentle with myself as I learn new things. It’s OK to make mistakes as I grow.” I believe this statement. I tell my kids a version of it, yet when I really slow down to reflect, I’m still pretty hard on myself when I make mistakes. This week reminds us to find the lessons in mistakes and encourage ourselves with compassion rather than punish ourselves with criticism. Easier said than done! I’d love to hear how you are gentle while learning new things.
“I release the need to control outcomes. I trust that everything is working out for me.” This week’s mantra was so loud, lol. I am known to like to control things, which makes trusting the process hard for me. Yet this week invited us to envision what our day would be like if we didn’t have any anxieties or worries. I was reminded of my on again off again practice of mindfulness and the power or deep breaths to calm the nervous system. What do you to relax and release control?
You can do this. This week is all about the pep talk we give ourselves when feeling doubt. Notice I didn’t say “IF” we’re feeling doubt. Hopefully you’ve grown in your confidence as you’ve gone through this year of self-love, but it’s also normal to sometimes need encouragement. This week’s affirmation is “When I feel doubtful, I remember I have the power to make a positive change in my life. I can do this.”
Listen to your heart and trust it to lead the way. Can you think of a time you listened to your heart and things worked out for the better? How about a time when you felt betrayed by your own heart? This week encourages us to practice listening and trusting our heart. One way we can do that is to check in with ourselves about decisions. If our heart isn’t giving us a loud and resounding, “yes,” let the answer be “no.” What ways do you practice letting your heart guide the way?
I am worthy of my own love. Does the phrase hit different now compared to the beginning of this journey? My hope for you is that it does and that you are more comfortable engaging in activities simply because you want to and it feels good. This week invites is to identify what unconditional self-love looks like. As you continue on this journey towards, keep exploring and discovering. You’re worth it.
This week pushes us to reflect and explore what we have been told about our bodies and pleasure. Part of the affirmation is, “I am entitled to discover all of the pleasures” my body holds. Do you believe this statement? Were you raised to be ashamed of enjoying your body? This truth came into focus for me after reading Adrienne Maree Brown’s book “Pleasure Activism.” And this week’s reflections on how I can love my body in spite of what I was taught inspired me to keep discovering.
It’s easy (for a time) to be who others want us to be. There’s less friction for them, but it can leave us feeling resentful. Spend time this week reflecting on who you have been expected to be, how that is shaped by family, which might even include parts of yourself we’re proud of. What aspects do you want to hold onto or grow? What aspects do you want to put down and leave behind? You get to decide who you are. Enjoy the journey of discovery and evolution.
“I am my ancestors wildest dreams!” You’ve likely seen it on a t-shirt, and this week pushes us to reflect and explore those who have come before. Who were they? What would you ask if you could? What would you thank them for? Spend some time this week being close to your ancestors whether it’s through looking at pictures, cooking a meal, lighting a candle, or asking elders to tell you stories from the past.
https://youtu.be/C_I3wjYuLoM
This week’s message might feel like a contradiction with all the pain and oppression happening here and abroad. However, the message remains: You are entitled to have a happy life. Limitless bliss and joy are your birthrights. That doesn’t mean every moment of every day exudes joy and bliss, but it definitely means you are deserving and have access to these experiences. How are you touching joy daily?
This week pushes you to think about what makes you feel loved. We are all worthy of being loved and cherished. And the author reminds us that true love starts with YOU. Don’t wait to get what you want from others. Give love to yourself. Romance yourself. You deserve it!
“I am grateful for every blessing in my life, big or small.” I really am! And yet this week reminded me of some tools I can use to boost my gratitude. Spend some time reflecting on what you appreciate about yourself, your relationships, your life. If you can identify something you are grateful for each day, it can help you see more opportunities for gratitude. The more you look for it, the more you find it. You’ll soon realize, you don’t have to wait for big news or major milestones. Gratitude can come in all sizes!
You’re doing the best you can, and you can give yourself care and compassion even when overwhelmed. Honestly, it can be hard to say these words to myself. It’s easier for me to think about what I might tell a friend who is having a hard time. That fact helps me know that I have work to do to have more compassion for myself when I’m feeling overwhelmed. On this self-love journey, I’m working on giving myself a tender pep talk rather than a harsh scolding when things don’t go the way I planned. Why? Because I’m doing the best I can.
You can do hard things. Seriously, it might not be your preference, but you can do it! This week’s mantra is “I am strong & capable. I can keep trying even when things are hard.” It’s a good reminder that might help you keep trying, keep getting back up, keep pushing through. Of course, this mantra isn’t for times when the hard thing is toxic. It’s for those challenges in life that make us stronger and for the goals that we can look forward to reaching when the hard work is finally over. Kara Lawson, the coach of Duke women’s basketball said we have to “do hard better.” That sentiment has helped me when things are hard.
https://youtu.be/JHROcdosuF4
Make your peace of mind a priority. While our mood can vary, it’s important to know who, what, and where brings you peace. Slow down to be curious about what adds to your peace and what disrupts it. Practice mindfulness and being aware of yourself in the present moment at different times throughout the day to learn what you’re feeling. Checking in with myself is how I learned spending time in nature is my happy place!
You have permission to change your mind. As you grow and chance, you get to want different things, and this week encourages us to own that truth. If we’re doing this thing we call life “right,” we aren’t the same people we were in the past. It’s OK if goals… even people… no longer fit who we are and what we want in life. Spend some time reflecting on your current desires and what’s holding you back from going for what you really want.
We’re halfway through!! What is time?!
Spend some time this week reflecting on your progress. Where have you grown? Where do you need support? If you notice places where you skipped over activities or rushed through content, know you can circle back. Look for new ways to love yourself each day, and congratulations on investing in half a year of intentional self-love!
https://youtu.be/VFn5rJAdKPY
Mistakes happen. It’s important to forgive yourself and let go of being perfect. Having kids has been a huge lesson in giving myself and them permission to make mistakes. None of us have gone down these roads before, so we can’t expect each other to get everything right. Being patient with myself and others has helped me choose compassion in times where I used to choose judgement. How do you handle mistakes?
Being open to new adventures and engaging the world with a childlike wonder and curiosity are the topics of this week. It was fun to look back on previous adventures and exciting to think about my dreams for the future. Making my bucket list helps me realize there is lots to look forward to in life and some of the items can happen sooner rather than later. What adventures are you planning? Or, for you, is adventure the absence of planning?! Let me know about your adventures of the past, present, and future!
https://youtu.be/dNOUQxJcNo8
This week is all about claiming unlimited potential for our lives. Unlimited! Unlimited! (as sung by Cynthia Erivo as Elphaba). Seriously, though, where do you feel the most confident? Where does doubt linger? I reflected on the ways that while I am very comfortable talking to people and groups of people, I’m less comfortable with writing. I think it has something to do with there being now immediate feedback, no one to ask questions of vibe check. Hopefully this week helped you identify your own sweet spots and areas of growth.
https://youtu.be/TUFCgzyznwU
This week’s affirmation is all about what makes you you! What do you like about yourself? What are you learning to like? We want to grow in our ability to say “Not only do I completely love myself. I really like myself!” Sometimes that is easier said than done. And it’s worth cultivating the qualities in ourselves that we appreciate in others.
“I belong here. I am more than enough. I am worthy to have a seat at the table.” That affirmation is a whole word. Say it daily. Say when you’re about to walk into a new room, an intimidating space, a difficult conversation…. There will be times when you feel like an imposter or a fraud, but those feelings are not facts. This week is all about reminding ourselves who we are despite whatever stories we are being told by others or that voice in our head. You are more than enough.
https://youtu.be/f_oC0bZ-5zs
This week was a hard one for me and yet the affirmation was still resonant. “I am grateful for all the love in my life. I surround myself with positive people who bring out the best in me.” The first part literally brought me to tears thinking about my parents, particularly my father. They are my biggest cheerleaders, and I am immensely grateful for them and am lucky to have them in my life. The second part of this affirmation about people who bring out the best in me caused me to reflect on the relationships that have faded and grown over time. It can be sad to realize that a person you care about is no longer a positive force in your life. I’m curious who is cheering you on and how you continue to surround yourself with those who bring out the best in you.
This week’s affirmation is one of my favorites: “Life loves and supports me. I can move through my days with joy and ease.” I feel calm and comforted by this one and will definitely be playing it on repeat beyond this week. It’s important to pay attention to the places where you feel a sense of ease and work intentionally to create more moments of it in your life. I share a few examples of how we can do that, and I’d love to hear from you!
You get to change your mind. Period. Who you are today is not who you were yesterday, and that’s a great thing. It’s called growth! This week asks us to lean into the permission to change our mind and shed the fear that comes with change and evolution.
Releasing what we thought would happen or how we expected things to be is hard. Fully embracing life after those moments is even harder. This week invites us to name the losses we are mourning and be open to the surprises we can be grateful for in the aftermath. If you have a loss you want to share, reach out in the comments or @drkirabanks across all socials.
Keep finding ways to love yourself and embrace your awesomeness! Easier said than done, at least for me. It’s much easier for me to be critical of myself, but this journal of self-love has helped me own my gifts. This week pushes us to reflect on what we love about ourselves, how we have come to own, that and how we can continue to love the parts of ourselves we struggle with so that 10 years for now we have more ways to love ourselves.
This week is all about your gifts. Do you know what they are? Do you use them or are you shy about letting them shine? Acknowledging our gifts can help us be guided by them even when we don’t know where they are taking us. And sometimes, as adults we have the opportunity to discover gifts we didn’t have the support to explore as children.
Kira and Aaron have a chat about changing their focus from outrage to activism, no matter how small.
https://youtu.be/mAvfDrYomdw
Do you know how to stay in your lane? I’m a work in progress, but this week’s reflection on focusing on what I can control and releasing what isn’t mine was a great reminder. And sometimes recognizing what we can and can’t control can be a powerful reminder to lean in where we can and work with others when things are outside of our control.
https://youtu.be/I1fCSW3AFK8
You made it a quarter of a way through!! Congratulations and thank you for hanging in there. Whether you’re just listening along or doing all the exercises each week, you are on the journey to deepening your love of self. I hope you reflect on how you’ve grown and honor the work you’ve put in.
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? This week is all about fun and laughter. It’s something we can engage in on purpose, and this week’s exercises give you all sorts of ideas to help you cultivate those moments. You deserve to have a life filled with fun, and I hope you let your sense of humor run free this week.
In this episode of “Ask Dr. Banks,” a mother seeks advice about how to handle the racism her son is experiencing at school. It’s hard for a number of reasons including 1) it’s a private school, so no one likes to experience, let alone, pay for poor treatment 2) some of the racism is coming from people who claim to be her son’s friends, and 3) there’s not much faith the school has the skills or will to do anything about it. Listen in and share what advice you would offer this mother and son.
If you have stories or problems that you would like to share, please reach out to us! Contact information is at the end of the video @ 51:48
How does your intuition or gut guide you? This week continues the exploration of our intuition. If it’s something that feels familiar to you, I hope the journal exercises helped build more strength in that muscle. For those who are new to the concept, keep paying attention and noticing. You might be surprised how slowing down to reflect on your intuition brings more clarity about how it can help you.
https://youtu.be/7-a-jUgViPg
If you like to know things, learn formally or informally, or simply have access to information, in the episode you’ll hear my thoughts on how the actions of the current administration are threatening those actions. There is an attack on knowledge, with attempts to bully higher education into complying with demands, potential rollbacks on access to education for kids with disabilities and the defunding and gutting of offices related to museums, libraries, and archives. Our ability to access knowledge is shifting as I type, and I think this thread among recent and threatened actions is worth discussing… and worth resisting.
Intuition is like a muscle. We have to use it for it to get strong. But for some of us, the thought of trusting our inner knowing feels out of control or even foolish. This week invites us to consider that our intuition, or our gut feelings, are always working on our behalf. Nature can be a great way to tap into that knowing!
“No,” is a complete sentence. This week asks us to acknowledge that our energy is valuable. Therefore, we need to be willing to say “no” to what drains us and “yes” to what matters most. Easier said than done, like many tasks in this book. But it’s important to figure out what helps us decline and what helps us recognize when something is an “absolutely, yes!”
Do you struggle to love yourself? This week invites you to declaring that you are lovable, worth loving, and easy to love. I think this task is easier for some, and I think others feel it’s selfish to make such a declaration. But I hope the activities of this week have helped you realize it’s not selfish, arrogant, or too brash to assert this truth.
On this episode, I sit down to have a conversation with one of my book club members and we discuss their personal journey with the “A Year of Self-Love Journal” by Jamila White. For him hasn’t been easy, but remember you don’t have to keep up with my weekly posts to be a member in good standing! You just have to be curious about loving yourself (because you’re worth it!) and know that self-love can make you a more powerful member of your community. How’s the book club going for you?
This week in the self-love journal pushes us to reflect on our ability to see when we’re doing too much and willingness to ask for help. I’ve gotten better about both of these things with age, but I am definitely a work in progress. How do you know when you’ve taken on too much? What keeps you from asking for help? Some of the exercises of the week can help you reflect on what’s on your plate and how to tackle or delegate your responsibilities/
https://youtu.be/fEydRSL051U
This week in the self-love journal invites us to celebrate ourselves and the day we were born. In addition to looking back at memories of past birthday celebrations, we’re asked to look forward at what our ideal birthday celebration would look like. What are your birthday traditions? Even if you’re not into birthdays, hopefully you realize you’re worth celebrating daily!
This week’s affirmation reminds us that we deserve rest. It’s not a reward or something to be earned. It simply IS. Rest is how we take care of our bodies, our minds, and our spirits. It was a great reminder of something I KNOW but don’t always DO. Whether it’s skimping on sleep or not slowing down to nourish my body and spirit, I’m working on being more consistent about rest. How are you replenishing yourself?
https://youtu.be/YRvkjyMGFBs
Is your superpower the ability to choose? Do you trust yourself to make good decisions? I can’t say “yes” definitively to both of these questions, so this week I pushed myself to ask “why?” I realized that there are too many scenarios where I FEEL like I don’t have a choice, where really I do. And that even though I make mistakes, I still am capable of also making good decisions. I’m reclaiming my superpower, and I’d love to hear how you are, too!
https://youtu.be/Ar7_NJjPJmo
In this episode, I reflect on the week’s mantra: “I am worthy of the same compassion and kindness I generously give to others.” It’s helpful to think about how we show up for friends and if we give ourselves the same grace and patience. Do you? Are you as kind to yourself as you are to others?
https://youtu.be/PeqqK7ZZT7I
In this episode, I reflect on the week’s mantra: “I’m creating a new relationship with my body based on love and appreciation.” How do you speak love to your body?
https://youtu.be/sDpp6RFNCA4
Welcome! The Raising Equity Podcast is now the Dr. Kira Banks Podcast!
In this episode, a listener reached out to ask for advice about navigating conversations about Trump and politics at work. I offer some suggestions but more importantly encourage her to lean into where she has the most control—herself. It’s important to take care of ourselves regardless of who is president but also have ways we can contribute to the change we want to see in the world.
https://youtu.be/JJxeuRxv9h4
Ladies, if you’ve enjoyed the self-love book club, you’re going to enjoy this episode with Dr. Jameca who has a self-care CLUB! In this episode, we talk all things self-care and self-love offering tips and strategies. Whether you’re new to this or true to this, you’ll take something from this convo.
https://youtu.be/IsjiO1FevtI
I hope you enjoyed the first week of the Self-Love Journal! In this episode, we reflect on the mantra “I am willing to love myself. I am worthy of unconditional love.” How do accept and love on all parts of yourself rather than only the parts that are “easy” to love?
https://youtu.be/mf0QEGQ3gV8
We’re doing it! Thanks to those of you who commented and messaged. Over the next year, we’ll journey together through “A Year of Self-Love Journey” by Jamila White. The book consists of 52 weeks of prompts and practices for loving who you are. In this week, I’ll intro the book and give you a sneak peak. Order your copy, and meet me back here next week to process week 1!
https://youtu.be/kxkoxHrwYJc
The new year brings lots of commitments, and I want to suggest to you that with all the violence happening that YOU should be at the top of your list. Not in an individualistic, selfish way, but in a way that honors Audre Lorde’s conceptualization of self care. I knew of her famous quote, but over break I read her collection of essays “Burst of Light” to get a deeper understanding. She said “Caring for myself is not self-indulgence, it is self-preservation, and that is an act of political warfare.” So if there’s work to do in the world, or change you want to see, you care for yourself to be able to do that work. You care for yourself to be able to connect with others and move us towards a more humane and liberated world.
Do you know your lane in liberation work?
Are you caring for yourself in a way that helps you show up stronger, longer, and more open to community?
If you answered “no” to either of these questions, I encourage you to reflect on your understanding of self-care compared to Lorde’s framing of caring for oneself as an act of political warfare.
In this episode, I also share another book that I’m toying with creating a virtual book club around. It’s all about self-love. Interested? Let me know in the comments.
How will the affirmative action ruling shape DEI work? How does it influence our conversations about race? In this episode, […]
Have you ever wondered _how_ to have antiracist conversations? In this episode, I speak with Dr. Roxy Manning about her […]
What do you think about Target Corp. pulling pride merch? In this episode of Raising Equity, I share three lessons I think we can all learn. I talk about how NOT to be a fair weather ally and how to be consistent in your commitment amidst backlash. Listen and share your thoughts in the comments!
RaisingEquityPodcast #RaisingEquity #Target #TargetCorp #DEI #ABAR #DrKira #HeyFolx #InTheNews #backlash #ThreeLessons #DiversityDownload
I’ve seen many orgs struggle with hiring practices when it comes to recruiting and retaining people of color. First, let’s change the prevailing narrative: qualified people of color DO exist in all sectors and professions. Are you driving people of color hires away before they ever apply for the job? Or is your organization’s culture keeping POC hires from hanging around? It’s time to get honest about your practices and culture and reflect on WHY you’re having a tough time recruiting, promoting and retaining people of color. Maybe it’s time for an audit?
DrKira #RaisingEquity #RaisingEquityPodcast #hiring #diversityhiring #diversity #inclusion #dei #promotions
(this episode is audio-only)
I’m hearing a lot of stories, from all sides, describing people tired of doing the work around DEI. Fatigue around processing oppression. Fatigue around the marginalized sharing their stories and experiences of oppression. Fatigue around doing difficult work that does not always yield immediate results.
Keep in mind that this work is generational; it’s about ongoing work. When fatigued, find your rest and remember it’s a marathon and not a sprint. Staying clear about WHY your organization is doing this work will help you stay on track.
DrKira #HeyFolx #DEI #Diversity #DiversityDownload #fatigue #RaisingEquity #RaisingEquityPodcast
(this episode is audio only)
In this episode we learn from Julie Harris Oliver, host of the podcast The Other 50%. She has worked with production companies and producers to address the lack of diversity in the entertainment industry and to foster inclusive and equitable creative spaces. As a White woman doing diversity work, Julie shares how she has grown over the years in her awareness and her ability to take up space but most importantly share space and work collaboratively. #DrKira #RaisingEquityPodcast #HeyFolx #Hollywood #Entertainment #DEI #EquityAndInclusion #WhiteFolxWork #WhiteFolkWork #JulieHarrisOliver
Did you know Humans of St. Louis (HOSTL) had a book?! I sat down with Lindy Drew and she talked all things St. Louis and the journey of self publishing the HOSTL book. If you’ve ever wondered what it might be like to walk around different neighborhoods of St. Louis striking up a conversation with strangers, this book is for you.
hostl #hostlbook #LindyDrew #drkira #heyfolx #RaisingEquity #RaisingEquityPodcast
Have you ever heard of Maroon communities? Do you know they still exist? In this episode, we learn from Dr. Crystal Menzies (@emancipate_ED) who has traveled the globe studying resistance and liberation movements. This conversation will make you think about how to create practices in your own home that can create liberation within oppression.
DrKira #RaisingEquity #RaisingEquityPodcast #MaroonCommunities #CrystalMenzies
In this episode, I offer 3 questions we can ask ourselves to improve our allyship. We all have work to do […]
Don’t engage in training for the sake of training. It doesn’t end well. In this episode, I caution organizations from […]
You will see an increase in complaints, concerns, and conflict when you say you want a more inclusive and equitable […]
I want to urge to not to let your privilege paralyze you and keep you from creating inclusive spaces. You […]
This question is one political campaigns have had to wrestle with more squarely since protests of 2020. Dog Whistle politics, […]
Reproductive justice means SO much more than abortion access. This episode is dedicated to understanding how we broaden our aperture […]
Activism is here to stay. College students of the 2010’s are now in the workplace, and these employees expect real […]
We sit down with Britt Hawthorne author of Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide. Britt is an antiracist educator […]
You deserve help and support, and I want you to know that can happen even if your therapist comes from […]
If your org has done nothing to address and improve on the plight of Black folx in your organization then […]
We need to be willing to name what is happening in all of the racialized violence scenarios happening. How do […]
Now that it’s all over, we can take a deep breath and look back on the road to Supreme Court […]
We’ve grown to be able to say the word “microaggression.” Now what? Well, the realWork begins- the work to figure […]
It’s just as important to celebrate our future as it is to honor our past. So tell me who you […]
What is “The Built Landscape?” If you’ve attended any of my sessions, you’ve heard me use this phrase. I break […]
I am often asked “Should we focus more on internal DEI work or external facing work?” And my response is […]
Are you teachable? How do you respond when someone makes a request of you or corrects you? In this Diversity […]
Lots of leaders say they want to do equity work, but can they? Are they able? Capable? These three questions […]
Okay, are you REALLY serious about inclusivity? It is all of our responsibilities to check the calendar and know about […]
Did MLK want us to be colorblind? The answer is a resounding “no!” But I get the question a lot. […]
Is your org ready for Black History Month programming? Does it fit? Is it connected to anything else the organization […]
One of the approaches we are taking this season is partnering with a St. Louis NPR podcast “We Live Here,” […]
Have you ever been a part of a cohort or cluster of people who you have something in common with? […]
So you or your org have had their “diversity training.” Now what? What happens AFTER the diversity training? In this […]
Hey Folx! it’s not that’ I’m against the now very popular push to form a “Diversity Committee.” It’s just that […]
Welcome to Season 4 of the Raising Equity Podcast! A few things are changing this year: Dr. Banks will continue […]
Is your company really fighting racism or just talking about it? Richard D. Harvey and I co-authored a piece in […]
You asked, we delivered. The question of the week was “how do I talk to my kids about what’s going […]
The pandemic is hitting women differently than for men, partly because we are socialized to be in and for community. […]
“Mom, why are people going back to normal?” My 13 year old asked me this question out of the blue […]
You might’ve seen the viral video of a White man running with the TV to make the point that Ahmaud […]
Folx, we’ve been here before. In this episode I sit down with my husband Aaron Banks who is also a […]
Unnecessary meetings and holding people in jail simply because they can’t afford bail. Those are two things COVID-19 has pushed us […]
As places start opening up, I’m faced with a series of decisions. My beliefs align with #saferathome and #flattenthecurve, so […]
Dr. Wizdom Powell pushes us to think about how we get to health equity rather than focusing on health disparities. […]
The effects of a sneeze from someone infected with COVID-19 is as much a public health threat as a mass […]
The pandemic is making systems visible: branches of government, states rights, safety nets for people who are unhoused, capitalism. We […]
Today I want to share with you my thoughts on the “Stages of Grief” as we navigate the pandemic.
PaKou Her has over 20 years of experience in anti-racism organizing and she shares how she and her family are […]
How are small business owners doing? Celia Ward-Wallace sits down with me, from South Central LA, to talk about how […]
Today, I speak with a woman whose entire family is fighting a COVID-19 outbreak. What would you do if you […]
We are forever changed by the pause this pandemic has caused. In this episode of Raising Equity, Nkem Ndefo creator […]
The pandemic has pushed us to revaluate how we do life from work to school to play. It’s shown us […]
In this episode of Raising Equity, Dr. Jaqui Jones shares how primary care is important before, during and after pandemics. […]
Veterans Day is tomorrow, and I am a strong believer in honoring those who serve. We can be critical lovers […]
Ever meet a young person and know they will make a mark? Young people are consistently the force behind social […]
Institutions across the country are digging into their history to understand how they were complicit in slavery. Spoiler Alert: they […]
When people experience or witness racially traumatic events, they can have a variety of responses. Even watching videos can impact […]
Art can be revolutionary, as a way to capture what is and what can be. Cbabi Bayoc’s work has pushed […]
Talking about suicide doesn’t make people commit suicide. Too often when people are suicidal, they are told to be “happy […]
The second season of Raising Equity is here just in time for Fall!! Queer youth are often seen as the […]
It’s back to school time, and wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t need to consider bulletproof backpacks and the […]
Today marks the 5 year anniversary of the state-sanctioned killing of Michael Brown Jr. The Ferguson Uprising that followed his […]
How many ways does the idea of gender box you in? Dr. Amber Johnson inspires us to think beyond the […]
It’s time for us to have more meaningful conversations on what Donald Trump and his presidency really means. Please WATCH, […]
In 2015, EVERY Pre-K through 3rd grade student suspended in the city of St. Louis, Missouri public schools (SLPS) was […]
Who doesn’t want some love and magic in their life? As we continue to explore stories of Black Girl Magic, […]
You know when you meet a young person and you just KNOW they are going to set the world aflame? […]
In this multi-part series, we hear from a mother-daughter pair about the challenges of being Latina in predominantly White spaces. […]
We’re back with more maternal wisdom and Black Girl Magic. Mardra Johnson Thomas is adamant that elders need to share […]
Do you know the stories of the women in your family? I knew my mom was one of the first […]
Wriply Marie Bennet is the truth. From her artwork to activism, Wriply centers the experiences of queer folx of color. […]
Abortion rights are getting all the press- rightfully so given the bans across the country but the issue is bigger […]
Given the recent bill up for a vote in Missouri that would ban abortions as early as 8 weeks and […]
Black Girl Magic! I sat down with the uber-talented Brittany Ferrell to talk about her latest projects, being a Black […]
In this throwback interview from November 2018, I revisit the actions of four women in Memphis, Tennessee who used their […]
Have you ever wondered how White allies become allies? It doesn’t happen over night, and it’s not a final destination. […]
How do we make sure that White kids grow up to White adults who are anti-racist? We understand how they […]
DID YOU KNOW that some people accused of crimes in St. Louis, Missouri’s “Workhouse” jail spend almost 300 days in […]
White folk work requires reflection and action. In this episode, I talk to a mother and daughter pair that do […]
My 12 year old and I reflect on the homophobia and heterosexism series. The episodes have been a gift. We […]
Our schools have to be a part of stopping homophobia. I chat with Dr. Nicole Evans, principal of City Garden […]
I get schooled by Jason Heisserer who is the head of school at Crossroads College Preparatory School in St. Louis, […]
The United Methodist Church made headlines when it voted to keep a ban on same-sex marriage and LGBTQ clergy. Yet, […]
David Dwight, Catalyst for Forward Through Ferguson, talks about what he has learned and is unlearning from homophobia at the […]
Alexis Templeton, college student and Ferguson activist, talks about how homophobia and rigid gender role norms kept their family from […]
Kids hear and understand the hate of homophobia. It’s important that we talk to them to give them tools to […]
Welcome to the first of many Raising Equity podcasts where we explore issues of identity and equity in society! I’m […]