Episode 77: Can Gamification Fight Racism? A Conversation on Race with 1Huddle

On this conversation on race, I'm joined by Sam Caucci, CEO and Nora Boussatta, sales leader from the organization 1Huddle.  We talk about how 1Huddle a company that creates games to reinforce learning uses gamification to educate people about race and racism.   Key Topics [3:00] Nora shares her experience growing up biracial, and Muslim-American in New Jersey. Her father was born in Morocco and she was raised in a Muslim-American home   [4:26] Nora talks about her first experience with race and racism wanting to fit in at her mostly white college.   [5:43] Sam shares growing up in a blue-collar home and becoming an entrepreneur.   [7:25] Race is personally important to Sam because his wife is Black with a father from Jamaica. They have a daughter and he is concerned about how racism will impact her. He wants her to be safe and successful.   [11:01] Sam and the other people at 1Huddle began to develop games to support issues of social justice, racism and Black History month. He shares how they came up with their ideas. The process of game creation which included putting Obama's book into a game, info from "Just Mercy" by Bryan Stevenson, "How to be an Anti-Racist" by Ibram Kendi and content from history. 25:40 Sam talks about why companies have to address racism, and put money behind their words. He addresses his role as a white male co-founder in supporting diversity, equity and inclusion. 32:46 Nora shares having to push back against white male student making racist remarks to her. Studies that show people with white sounding names get more interviews than people with African-American sounding names who have the same if not better qualifications and more experience