Addressing Inequity in Education and Beyond w/ Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto :: Ep 20 Blue Lift Podcast

Title: Addressing Inequity in Education and BeyondEpisode 20- Dr. Mona Ivey-SotoPeggy sits down with Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto, an associate professor at Belmont University with a diverse academic background.Dr. Ivey-Soto emphasizes the importance of preparing educators to work with marginalized communities, which can include communities of color as well as low-income white communities in rural areas. She discusses the challenges these communities face in accessing resources and opportunities. Our conversation covers concerns about the potential impact of universal school vouchers in Tennessee, which Dr. Ivey-Soto argues would be catastrophic for low-income communities by diverting funding from public schools. We discuss the concepts of implicit bias and structural racism, and the importance of diversity, equity, and inclusion efforts in education that authentically involve marginalized voices. We also talk about Dr. Ivey-Soto's grassroots organization, the Mothers Collective, which provides tangible and relational support to marginalized families in the Nashville area and she shares examples of how the organization has helped families in crisis.Highlights:Dr. Ivey-Soto's Academic Background and Career Journey (2:57)Defining and Addressing Marginalized Communities (6:14)Challenges Faced by New Teachers in Rural Areas (12:16)Concerns About Universal Vouchers in Tennessee (17:01)Implicit Bias and Structural Racism (32:11)Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI) in Education (46:48)The Mothers Collective and Grassroots Work (53:31)Follow Dr. Mona Ivey-Soto: The Mother’s CollectiveWant to be on the show?Email: [email protected] the Blue movement at www.blueliftpodcast.comAbout Blue Lift and Peggy Kingsbury:Peggy grew up in GA and attended the University of Georgia. With an undergraduate and a masters degree in Criminal Justice Peggy is keenly interested in how politics and public safety intersect. Peggy is also an entrepreneur, small business owner, and lover of the outdoors. Peggy became focused on politics in Tennessee when the supermajority legislature began making headlines for silencing voices, enacting laws targeting underrepresented people and refusing to listen to their constituents.  Join Peggy for BlueLift as she interviews influencers and candidates in Tennessee politics with a focus on Williamson County and middle Tennessee.Find out more and follow along at www.blueliftpodcast.comProduced by Jim McCarthy and ItsYourShow.co