The Kira Banks Podcast

Latest Episodes:

Gun Violence as a Public Health Issue: What can you do? Aug 16, 2019

Show notes

It’s back to school time, and wouldn’t it be great if we didn’t need to consider bulletproof backpacks and the kids didn’t have to do intruder drills?!? Gun violence is a hot-button issue but one we can’t avoid.
Moms Demand Action for Gun Sense in America volunteers share how we can work together to prevent gun violence. One thing I learned is saying “gun control” can make some people defensive. Listen to learn the language and legislation you need to know.
#MomsDemandAction #MomsDemandActionMO #Everytown #EndGunViolence #RecessRally #DrKira #RaisingEquity #REPodcast

5 Years After #MikeBrown: What Have We Learned and What is Being Done to Combat Police Violence Aug 09, 2019

Show notes

Today marks the 5 year anniversary of the state-sanctioned killing of Michael Brown Jr. The Ferguson Uprising that followed his death has inspired countless people to find their place in the movement, including us here at Raising Equity. Brandon Anderson is an activist and entrepreneur from Oakland who created Raheem, a database for reporting police conduct. The site reminds us we cannot fix what we cannot see. He urges us to go beyond counting the lives lost to police violence to gathering the data to hold police, and more importantly the system of policing, accountable.
#Raheem #PoliceViolence #DrKira #REPodcast #RaisingEquity #BrandonAnderson #MikeBrownForever #FergusonUprising #FergusonTaughtMe #FergusonTaughtUs

Living Outside of the Binary Box Jul 26, 2019

Show notes

How many ways does the idea of gender box you in? Dr. Amber Johnson inspires us to think beyond the either or, beyond the binary. They share personal stories about their journey and how to support children in their gender expression. Dr. Johnson has great suggestions for questions we as adults can ask that model agency in pronouns and dress. Listen in to soak of some of their brilliance and to learn about gender, gender expression and gender identity.

#DrKira #RaisingEquity #REPodcast #AmberJohnson #gender #smashthebinary #genderasasocialconstruct #genderexpression #gendernonbinary #gendernoncomforming #enby #transfuturism

“Is Trump racist?” is not the question. Trump fans the flames of RACISM. Jul 18, 2019

Show notes

It’s time for us to have more meaningful conversations on what Donald Trump and his presidency really means. Please WATCH, SUBSCRIBE and SHARE this conversation discussing what questions we need to be asking beyond “is Trump’s tweet racist?”
Dr. Richard Harvey studies the psychology of oppression and shares his thoughts about the patterns we need to be paying attention to as a country to understand the bigger questions of systemic oppression and to be able to navigate the residue Donald Trump’s presidency will leave behind.
#DrKira #RaisingEquity #systemicracism #systemicoppression #institutionalracism #criticallover #Trump #racism #RottenBarrel

https://youtu.be/y844NIQ0j5Y

Shutting Down the School to Prison Pipeline Jul 12, 2019

Show notes

In 2015, EVERY Pre-K through 3rd grade student suspended in the city of St. Louis, Missouri public schools (SLPS) was Black.
Every. Student.
That district had the 2nd highest suspension rate of elementary students in the country. Shut It Down is a program in St. Louis, Missouri that works with teachers and administrators to help create equitable spaces and environments that respond to trauma. Dr. April Warren-Grice, the current project director, shares with us her passion for seeing the genius in every kid and stories of how Shut It Down is changing schools for the better.
#DrKira #RaisingEquity #REPodcast #AprilWarrenGrice #BlackDoctors #Blackademics #ShutItDown #SchoolToPrisonPipeline #SLPS #StLouis

https://youtu.be/1V4vU_zspAc

Love and Magic Meets Black Girl Magic Jul 05, 2019

Show notes

Who doesn’t want some love and magic in their life? As we continue to explore stories of Black Girl Magic, I am lucky enough to talk to Reine Bayoc, chef and co-founder of SweetArt bakeshop, resident chef at ANEW, and all around conjourer of love and magic. Come get you some.
#BlackGirlMagic #DrKira #REPodcast #RaisingEquity #loveandmagic #sweetartstlouis #loveandmagic #womeninthekitchen #womenrunningthekitchen #plantbasedcomfortfood #blackwomenchefs

Being Latina in Predominantly White Spaces, Pt. 2 Jun 21, 2019

Show notes

You know when you meet a young person and you just KNOW they are going to set the world aflame? And then you hear them talk about how they are already standing up for themselves and others, and you feel like the world is going to be alright?
In this week’s episode, I talk to a 13 year old young lady, who identifies as Caribbean Latin American, about her experience at school and other spaces. Raising Equity is all about preparing kids to analyze and transform systems. and Aitana is already doing just that! And remember, this is a multi-part series, so don’t forget to listen to my convo with her mother Juliana in last week’s episode!
#RaisingEquity #REPodcast #DrKira #Aitana #Immigrants #LatinAmerica #RisingStar

Being Latina in Predominantly White Spaces, Pt. 1 Jun 14, 2019

Show notes

In this multi-part series, we hear from a mother-daughter pair about the challenges of being Latina in predominantly White spaces.
How do you raise your child to be proud of herself when her school and city leave her feeling left out? In this episode, I talk with Juliana Varela about how she supports her Latina daughters amidst environments that range from neglectful to down right hostile. She shares the importance of language and culture and how she helps them navigate the Black White binary that often pervades US race conversations. Next week, we will hear directly from her daughter, so make sure to subscribe to the podcast to be the first to hear a rockstar of a young lady.
#RaisingEquity #REPodcast #DrKira #JulianaVarela #Immigrants #LatinAmerica #BeingLatina #BeingLatinx

My Mother-in-Love Jun 07, 2019

Show notes

We’re back with more maternal wisdom and Black Girl Magic. Mardra Johnson Thomas is adamant that elders need to share with youth, and she does just that. She is a licensed mortician, jazz vocalist and professional actress– to name a few of the lives she has lived. She reflects on growing up after Brown v. Board, being an Army brat, and rejecting fear as a limiting factor, The stories of her grandmother, who was enslaved, remind us how close that era is to today.
#BlackGirlMagic #Motherinlove #MaketheAdjustment #PissinginHighCotton #MardraThomas

https://youtu.be/SwOOPFwHJTA

My Mother’s Experiences as a Black Woman May 31, 2019

Show notes

Do you know the stories of the women in your family? I knew my mom was one of the first systems analysts at IBM and the CEO of an Urban League affiliate, but I hadn’t heard the full story of how she was targeted by hate when she integrated her grade school in St. Louis or organized to get Black Studies offerings at her college in the sixties. #BlackGirlMagic is right in front of us if we slow down to notice.
#BlackMomsBeLike #BlackMoms #FamilyStoryTime #DrKira #RaisingEquity #WhoRaisedYou

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