Season 2, Episode 4: Mothers as Loving Experts (Part 2 of 3)

For our fourth episode of Rewriting the Rules℠ Season 2, we’re continuing our focus on being the adult we wished we had as a child and teen, from the perspectives of our mothers and grandmothers. This is how we continue to create a community that wraps its arms around our youth.   

For today’s episode, we welcome back two of our mothers and loving experts from our last season, Michelle Dennard and Nyia Harris.   

References:   

• St. Paul Youth Services: spys.org  

• Rewriting the Rules℠ Season 1 Episode 3: Respecting Mothers as Loving Experts  

• New York Fashion Week  

• Cultivating Self-Advocacy for All Students on College Campuses  

• Why do Students of Color Drop Out More Than Their Peers?  

• Advocacy for Children of Color in the Classroom  

• Chores for Money Chart   

• Schoology App  

• Untapped Resources: Black Parent Engagement that Contributes to Learning   

• Restorative Justice Circles   

• Am I really my Child’s First Teacher?  

• A Black Mother Reflects On Giving Her 3 Sons 'The Talk' ... Again And Again  

• Can I authorize my Child on my Credit Card?   

• How the EMV credit card chip works and why it matters  

• Know your rights   

About Michelle:   

Michelle Dennard is a strong Black woman who loves her grandkids. “I’m on the ride of my life,” she says. Dennard also works for the Osseo Area School district as an Education Support Professional working with special education students and was named “Education Support Professional of the Year” by Education Minnesota in 2020-2021.  As a loving expert, Michelle says: “I tell them [my grandkids], you have to motivate yourself. Cause' you not gonna get it from everybody all the time. Sometimes you gotta look in that mirror and say I am somebody. If don't nobody cheer for you, you cheer for yourself."

About Nyia:   

Nyia Harris is a wife, a mother of two girls, 11 and 13, a business owner, and a Brooklyn Park resident.  As a loving expert, Nyia says: “I consider myself to be an expert at raising well-adjusted, confident smart kids. I consider myself an expert at listening."

Further Reading:  

• The need for Advocacy for African American Parents   

• Investigating the Lessons of Black Parents in Voice and Advocacy  

• Report shows young people, people of color less likely to have valid photo identification  

• Parents of Black Children Advocacy Framework 

*The music you hear on the podcast is provided by Blue Dot Sessions and is used here under a Creative Commons License.