Episode 67: In AWE of Huda Essa-LeadHERship Series

Huda Essa is a TEDx Speaker and the author of the motivational children's book, Teach Us Your Name, focused on empowering children to take pride in their many identities while showing respect for themselves and others.  Another culturally authentic and responsive book that she has written is “Common Threads: Adam’s Day at the Market”.  She is also currently writing for education professionals focusing on overcoming limitations of unconscious bias in order to best serve their school communities so that staff, students and families can reach their greatest potential for success in our ever-changing world.  Additionally, she is the producer of a series of short films focused on matters of social justice.

Huda has positively influenced countless communities around the nation through her engaging and thought-provoking learning opportunities.  She utilizes her extensive experience as a Cultural Competency Consultant, former Teacher and English Language Development Specialist to support organizations in successfully meeting their diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.  In her Keynote presentations and interactive learning opportunities, she works closely with teachers, school site leaders, school district officials and higher education professionals to help them develop practices and cultures that promote cultural competence, engagement, unity, and academic achievement.  Huda also works with students, parents and community members in order to engage the entire village so as to reach maximum current and future growth and success.  Furthermore, her work extends to supporting professionals in businesses, corporations and non-profit organizations.  Her belief is that the learning needed to work towards social justice is a lifelong education that can be applied to virtually all ages, social identities, and careers.  Her explorations include international travel to gain insight from communities around the globe in order to share and apply the learning with U.S. audiences.

In today’s episode, we learn more from Huda’s story of embracing her own identities as well as her work to help others overcome their own challenges of implicit bias. Huda provides such gracefilled wisdom and insight around several important topics, and our conversation has me thinking more deeply about power dynamics in our country. She is brilliant, friends!  We also discuss her journey to embrace her own identity as a Muslim woman in America, and I know there is a true mission in Huda’s message today.  She is a precious sister to me who has blessed me so deeply, and I am so excited and honored to share with you and amplify for you Huda Essa’s LeadHERship Story.

Connect with Huda:

Culturelinksllc.com

Huda’s Website: You can find her Tedx Talk and partner with her there.

Huda on Twitter 

Common Threads: Adam's Day at the Market

Teach Us Your Name

Mentioned in Podcast:

Austin Channing Brown on Jen Hatmaker’s “For the Love Podcast” 

Holy Envy: Finding God in the Faith of Others by Barbara Brown-Taylor

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