34) "Making Us Matter" (Eghosa Obaizamomwan Hamilton & T. Gertrude Jenkins)

In this episode, we're excited to have Eghosa Obaizamomwan Hamilton and T. Gertrude Jenkins, co-founders of Making Us Matter, on the show! In our conversation, the two educators will share about their doctoral work at the University of San Francisco, the creation of Making Us Matter, how anti-Blackness manifest itself in school systems across the United States, and much more! To learn more about Making Us Matter, you can visit the school's website at www.makingusmatter.com or you can connect with the school on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram.

BIO:

T. Gertrude Jenkins is a 13-year educator, specializing in grades 9-12 Language Arts. Over the course of her career, she’s taught in Orlando, FL; Atlanta, GA; and Redwood City, CA. Jenkins is currently pursuing a doctorate at the University of San Francisco as part of the International & Multicultural Education program in the School of Education. Her research focuses on anti-Blackness in K-12 school systems both in the U.S and abroad. As an educator activist, Jenkins has grown tired of having to constantly fight against covert and overt acts of racism in schools. Her motivation for creating Making Us Matter is steeped in her desire to provide an option and a safe space for families and Black educators alike, who’d prefer an educational institution that de-centers whiteness and places Black gaze at the forefront.

Eghosa Obaizamomwan Hamilton is a first generation Nigerian. She is originally from Sacramento but currently resides in Oakland, CA. She has a Master’s Degree in Education and is currently a Doctoral student in the International and Multicultural Education program at the University of San Francisco. She is moving towards her 13th year of teaching with a focus on social justice and anti-bias curriculum. Her research is centered on the experiences of Black girl learners and the cultural and ideological disconnects of educators in predominantly white secondary institutions. As a social justice educator, she seeks to give voice and visibility to those who have been left in the margins. Creating Making Us Matter was a necessary step in taking action towards combating anti-Blackness in schools and decolonizing curriculum through counter narratives.

---

Support this podcast: https://podcasters.spotify.com/pod/show/identitytalk4educators/support