DR. CARRIE YOUNG MCWILLIAMS
Dr. Carrie Young-McWilliams
EMPOWERING CHANGE THROUGH EDUCATION, ADVOCACY, & LEADERSHIP
Happy Wednesday, Golden Divas and Divos!
I am thrilled to introduce Dr. Carrie Young-McWilliams, the teacher of all teachers, as our special guest at Club Fifty. Rick and I enjoyed having her on our radio show, Let’s Stay Together Talk, where she delved into the captivating Super Bowl 59 halftime show featuring Kendrick Lamar.
Like many viewers, we were perplexed by the events during that 20-30 minute break. Hip-hop isn't my usual go-to, but Dr. Carrie illuminated the experience. She provided an insightful breakdown of Kendrick's powerful commentary on race, identity, and social justice, masterfully conveyed through his impactful diss track. Her deep analysis helps clarify the significance of his message and the cultural shift he represents.
Dr. Carrie passionately champions justice and relentlessly pursues equality through her impactful books Triumph in the Trenches, Voices of Wellnes, and Our Stories Belong in History, as well as her educational initiatives and global outreach. Her thought-provoking works tackle critical issues of mental wellness, cultural awareness, and social justice, aiming to ignite meaningful conversations, promote more profound understanding, and inspire transformative change.
Don’t miss this inspiring discussion with the educational advocate expertly guiding us through these challenging waters—call LIFE!
MEET DR. CARRIE YOUNG-MCWILLIAMS
Dr. Carrie Young-McWilliams has passionately advocated social justice and educational equity from Mississippi to Maryland. With a background deeply rooted in civil rights activism, Carrie brings extensive experience in academic leadership, having spearheaded transformative initiatives in low-performing high schools and led district-wide reform efforts. Her diverse career encompasses roles as a Dean of Students, curriculum author, classroom teacher, and presenter at esteemed national forums like the Aurora Symposium and the National Association of School Principals. Carrie holds degrees from prestigious institutions such as the University of Central Florida, Sacred Heart University, and the University of Sarasota, where her doctoral research focused on student mobility. As the CEO of Young-McWilliams Education Consulting Services, LLC, and co-founder of EmpowerED Solutions by Young & Horner, Llc. she continues her mission to advance diversity, equity, inclusion, and justice (DEIJ) in education, all while proudly representing Delta Sigma Theta, Inc. Of course her most prized achievement is serving as adult coaching aka mother to Kenna and Carra.
IN CONVERSATION WITH DR. CARRIE YOUNG-MCWILLIAMS
C50: Carrie, what inspired you to participate in social justice advocacy?
CYMC: My mother was a civil rights worker in the 60s in Mississippi. My father's side of the family was big on politics at the local and State levels. I guess you can say this is how I became inspired.
C50: With so much happening today, could you explain to our loyal C50 readers which social justice issues you believe are the most important?
CYMC: Our Nation's public education system has been in crisis for some time. This is important because to be a viable nation; we must have a skilled labor force and an educated electorate.
C50: You are very passionate about your work. Please describe your experience with advocacy and why it is essential in schools and the workplace.
CYMC: I became aware of my drive for advocacy while I was in undergrad at the University of Central Florida. As a political science major, I was fascinated by Cesar Chavez and his fight for farm workers' rights.
C50: Can you talk to us about how biases are created?
CYMC: Bias lives within all of us based on our experiences. It is dangerous not to check bias against other experiences you haven't been exposed to.
C50: How is racism intertwined with our country's identity?
CYMC: Race was developed as a social construct. It was never about color. It was about power. As our country grew, it became the "standard" by which everything built was measured. This is where we get the institutional racism we all have been victimized by from the education system, tracking, medical care, or lack of medical care, predatory loan practices, etc...
C50: What is educational equity, and why does it matter?
CYMC: Equity means providing students with what they need to have access to a viable, timely, student-centered, and relevant curriculum.
C50: Carrie, please discuss the principle of educational equity.
CYMC: Educational Equity ensures that all students receive the resources, support, and opportunities they need to succeed, regardless of their background, identity, or circumstances. It focuses on fairness, removing barriers, and addressing systemic disparities to create inclusive and effective learning environments. Barriers include health services provided by school-based health centers, free and reduced lunches to address hunger, and transportation.
C50: What are your most common misconceptions or resistance when discussing educational equity?
CYMC: Equity is often misunderstood as equality. Some feel that if you give everyone the "same" resources, we are all on equal footing. That would be fine, except for the 400-year head start the white majority culture had.
C50: How can we collaborate to make our schools and education system more equitable?
CYMC: I am working on a book to answer that question. What I will say today is that Brown v. the Board of Education, Topeka, Kansas, never asked for integration; they asked for the fair share of resources and taxes for Black students as white students had, and that was not supposed to be based on real property taxes.
C50: What resources or support systems are most needed to advance educational equity?
CYMC: Community schooling with an upgrade to preservice educational programs to seek those who understand the communities they are to serve. Student teaching and internships should be conducted where teachers plan to work and live. This can be achieved by growing your programs and housing incentives, to name a few.
C50: Since DEI (Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion) initiatives have been diminished in our democracy, how can we ensure that individuals who have historically been underrepresented or subject to discrimination based on their identity or disability receive fair treatment in the workplace and schools?
CYMC: Educate yourself first, unlearn the white supremacy misconceptions you have been taught, and teach children to recognize what race and racism are. Speak up in white spaces that continue to push those historically marginalized communities to the edge. We can no longer think of someone else, will you.... once we have worked on our own misconceptions... YOU ARE that someone.
C50: You can connect with Dr. Carrie at https://care2empower.org/
