The Advocate's Chair | From Buffalo to Black Education Advocacy | Duncan Kirkwood on Leadership, Resilience & School Choice

In this powerful episode of The Advocate’s Chair, Neonta Williams sits down with nationally recognized education advocate, author, resilience trainer, and former BAEO Alabama State Director Duncan Kirkwood for a conversation that is honest, inspiring, and deeply transformational. From growing up in Buffalo, New York, to finding purpose at Alabama State University, Duncan shares how education changed the trajectory of his life and fueled his passion for advocacy, leadership, and empowering families. In this episode, Duncan discusses: • How HBCUs transformed his identity and purpose • The realities of educational inequity in America • Why parent advocacy matters now more than ever • The importance of resilience, grit, and personal responsibility • His journey from education organizer to international resilience trainer • Lessons learned from leadership, public service, and community organizing • Why transformational leadership is about impact — not titles Duncan also shares the story behind his book Rerouting: Resilience Tools & Tactics and how it led to speaking engagements and trainings across the country and internationally. This episode is packed with wisdom for parents, educators, advocates, leaders, and anyone passionate about creating change in their communities. 🎥 Don’t forget to LIKE, COMMENT, and SUBSCRIBE for more conversations that equip, inform, and empower families across Alabama and beyond. 📍Hosted by Black Alabamians for Education 📅 Join us for the Parent Symposium in Selma, Alabama on August 8th.