Black Lives Matter at School Conference - 2022

Dr. Bettina L. Love is an award-winning author and the Athletic Association Endowed Professor at the University of Georgia. Her writing, research, teaching, and educational advocacy work meet at the intersection of education reform, anti-racism, carceral studies, abolition, and Black joy. The aim of her scholarship is twofold: firstly, to advance how the field of education understands and critiques the systemic and structural racism of public education within the U.S.; and secondly, to advocate for abolitionist approaches in the field of education that seek new possibilities for educational justice. In the pursuit of making her scholarship a reality, she works with activists, communities, youth, families, and school districts to build communal, civically-engaged schools rooted in the aspirations of abolitionist strategies that love and affirm Black and Brown children. In 2020, Dr. Love co-founded the Abolitionist Teaching Network (ATN). ATN’s mission is simple: develop and support teachers and parents to fight injustice within their schools and communities.

Dr. Love is a sought-after public speaker on a range of topics, including Abolitionist Teaching, anti-racism, Hip Hop education, Black girlhood, queer youth, Hip Hop feminism, art-based education to foster youth civic engagement and issues of diversity and inclusion. 

Mike Browne (he/him) is an east coast transplant from New York with an MBA degree in International Business and Marketing. He currently serves as the Sr. Director of Community Engagement at Cultivate Learning at the University of Washington where he organizes culturally responsive professional development workshops and opportunities for leaders working with young children. Prior to that, he served as the Sr. Community Engagement Manager at Hilltop Children’s Center and Educator Institute. After exchanging his tap shoes for football shoes, played Division 1 Football for the University at Albany, where he played cornerback and safety. Following 3 years of working and living in London and Spain, he found his way to Seattle where he has been building bridges between communities to help create a city where the voices of the marginalized are heard, inclusive policies are created, and citizens unite to form a vibrant urban center. While over the years, his job titles may have changed, and the cities he lives in may look different, one thing has remained the same – his ability to create and implement purposeful desired community change, form effective relationships, and sustain community vitality. Feel free to contact him via LinkedIn,  via email, or on Twitter @miguelito_brownie.  

Dr. Danné E. Davis is an Associate Professor at Montclair State University. Dr. Davis' research interests center on multicultural education, the arts, and teacher education. Her current work involves increasing elementary teacher candidates' awareness of and responsiveness to LGBT diversity. Using music and song to teach about the Black Experience is another focus.

Amir Gilmore Ph.D. (he/him) is a professor of Cultural Studies and Social Thought in Education and Associate Dean of Equity and Inclusion for Student Success and Retention at Washington State University. Amir’s interdisciplinary background in Cultural Studies, Africana Studies, and Education allows him to traverse the boundaries across the social sciences, the arts, and the humanities. His interests in Black Critical Theory and Black Masculinities ground his scholarship on Black Boy Joy, and he is well versed in areas such as Critical Race Theory, feminisms, and social theory. His vision and scholarship make critical contributions to the fields of Black Studies and Education, as well as connects to larger discussions of Afrofuturism and Black Aesthetics. He’s a New York-raised, Black, male educator with a PS5.

Brandyn-Dior (Brandyn) McKinley is an assistant professor at Smith College School for Social Work in Northampton, MA. Her scholarship - which is influenced by her background in human development, clinical social work, and family studies - uses an interdisciplinary approach to examine the impact of historical and structural forces of oppression on the holistic wellness of Black women and Black families. 

In her recent work, Dr. McKinley explores how intersections of race, class, and gender inform the strategies that Black middle-class mothers use to navigate predominantly white spaces on behalf of their adolescent daughters as part of their broader efforts to protect Black children from the social, emotional, and academic costs of discrimination.

Jason McGill is a career social services professional who brings deep knowledge of working with young people experiencing homelessness. He is a community advocate who is rooted in Justice, Equity, Diversity, and Inclusion work. He first became involved in efforts to address youth and young adult homelessness after working many years in a behavioral health hospital setting and witnessing the revolving door to treatment with many patients who identified as experiencing homelessness. He is often asked if systems can be reformed and my response has been and continues to be, he believes that we could cultivate a community that is transformative, if we worked as a collective.

Rashad Norris received his BA in Marketing Communication with a Minor in English from the University of Puget Sound where he also played basketball. He earned his Master’s in Public Administration from the Evergreen State College.  As the founder of Relevant Engagement Consulting LLC, he partners with the State of Washington (DYHS) Department of Child, Youth and Families Services Community, Reentry and Parole Programs Juvenile Rehabilitation by conducting culturally relevant healing sessions with incarcerated teens as a part of the youth's re-entry process.  

In addition to his work, he has extensive experience in creating black and brown male engagement programs and services and providing proven youth of color engaging strategies.  He has been asked to lead workshop sessions for professional development with teachers and administrators from local and state school districts regarding student engagement practices. Rashad also delivers motivational presentations that uplift young people in the community through keynote addresses, seminars, professional development workshops, and conference presentations to adults working in the education system.  

Joy Turner, MPA is a program analyst for Seattle Public Schools. She is first generation college graduate who works to make higher education accessible to all students. Joy’s work includes demystifying the college application process and getting young people thinking about college and beyond.

Dr. Verónica N. Vélez is an Associate Professor in Secondary Education and Education & Social Justice. Her research focuses on Latinx im/migrant mother activism, community-based participatory action research in grassroots contexts, popular education, and (re)imagining cartographic tools for movement building and critical inquiry. Each of these areas is informed by expertise in Critical Race Theory (CRT), Latinx Critical Theory (LatCrit), Radical and Tactical Cartography, and Chicana Feminist Epistemologies. Influenced and inspired by these varied, but interrelated frameworks, she and her mentor, Dr. Daniel Solorzano at UCLA, developed Critical Race Spatial Analysis (CRSA), a framework and methodological approach that seeks to deepen a spatial consciousness and expand the use of geographic information systems (GIS) in critical race research in education. 

In addition to her scholarly work, Dr. Vélez worked as a grassroots organizer with Latinx im/migrant families for over 15 years on local school reform efforts and adult literacy campaigns rooted in popular education. Alongside Dr. Longoria at WWU, she is currently organizing with teachers, administrators, and community members to collectively lead the development of Ethnic Studies in Bellingham Public Schools.