Season 2, Episode 7: Ndindi Kitonga - On Democratic Schools

In this episode of the Tiara Podcast, Dr. Ndindi Kitonga discusses the founding and mission of Angels Workshop School, a micro democratic school in Los Angeles that empowers youth to participate fully in shaping their learning environment and engaging with society. Rooted in humanistic and critical pedagogy, the school replaces top-down authority with shared decision-making, collective problem-solving, and curriculum shaped by both student interest and social relevance. Dr. Kitonga critiques traditional and even "progressive" schools for offering only surface-level autonomy, and emphasizes that true democratic learning must cultivate not only freedom but responsibility, self-assessment, and political consciousness. The school operates on a pay-what-you-can model, supports marginalized students (including neurodivergent and LGBTQ+ youth), and actively involves students in real-world issues such as homelessness and Palestine. Alumni stay connected, often becoming teachers or activists, reflecting the school's success in fostering lifelong civic engagement.