The Radical Bureaucrat

Latest Episodes:

S1-E4: Radical Change, the Harvard Way Dec 09, 2018

Show notes

“Is there any way to rock the boat without falling out of it?,” is the central question of Debra Meyerson’s article “Radical Change, the Quiet Way,” which Sam and Abram spend this episode discussing. Meyerson’s article resonates because it addresses those “tempered radicals” who work to steer institutions toward justice from the middle – meaning without positional power. It’s a topic that forces us to contend with the racist and otherwise oppressive foundations upon which these public institutions, which we perceive as equitable and necessary, were built. Sam and Abram discuss this question of whether to work toward incremental change or to give into our frustrated impulse to “burn it down!” They also raise the issue of the aftermath of a generation of tempered radicals. That is, imagine a generation of marginalized people (for example, people of color) learns to advance in their institutions by quietly biding their time and absorbing bigotry until they access positional power. What happens once they’re in power, but have only accessed it by keeping quiet? Next, Sam and Abram break down the four strategies for organizational change in Meyerson’s article: disruptive self-expression, verbal Jiu-jitsu, variable term opportunism, and strategic alliance-building. Pulling out examples like wearing a dashiki to work or asking who’s going to take notes in a meeting, they explain and expand on each strategy. Further reading: “Radical Change, the Quiet Way” by Debra Meyerson. Harvard Business Review. October 2001. https://hbr.org/2001/10/radical-change-the-quiet-way The Autobiography of Martin Luther King, Jr. edited by Clayborne Carson. "

S1-E3: Dream Boldly, Prioritize the Mission (Vinny Schiraldi) Dec 03, 2018

Show notes

In today’s episode, Sam and Abram chat with Vinny Schiraldi, who oversaw radical changes running Juvenile Corrective Services in Washington, DC. Listen to Vinny explain how, guided by his approach of “acting incrementally while dreaming boldly,” he vastly cut down on institutionalization, abuse, and corruption. The story includes a steady stream of trauma and a lot of patient collaboration. Topics of conversation include the advocates and bureaucrats with whom Vinny painstakingly reformed the system; how to work with staff who are traumatized by, but also propagate, a toxic status quo; myths and facts about juvenile justice; and how an institution that is a site of abuse and violence can become a place of healing. Vinnie also shares how he went from working at a group home to running a major juvenile justice system – and how he arrived at his conclusion that “mass incarceration is going to end.” Content warning: This episode may not be suitable for children, and includes some brief descriptions of violence and abuse (including sexual violence) in juvenile justice settings. Additional Reading: Beyond the Bars Conference, Center for Justice at Columbia University Florida should shut down youth-detention centers where ‘fight clubs’ thrive by Candice Jones, Patrick McCarthy and Vincent Schiraldi (October 18, 2017) How New York City Has Shown that “Less is More” When It Comes to Probation Supervision, by Vincent Schiraldi, HuffPost (October 10, 2017) KEYNOTE ADDRESS: 2017 NTCOSS Conference; Darwin, NT, Australia (September 28, 2017) “Juvenile Prisons: It’s Time to Close ‘Factories of Failure,’” by Vincent Schiraldi on The Crime Report (September 26, 2017) FB Live discussion between Vincent Schiraldi and CSSW Interim Dean Irwin Garfinkel on youth criminal justice (November 15, 2017) Show notes by Hannah E. Brown; “Aquarela” do Brasil by Ary Barroso, Performed by Peter Markowski, Luke Maurer, and Abram Guerra; Thanks to Chris Martinie for logo and all of you for your love and support.

S1-E2: Reformer, Revolutionary, or Something Else? Nov 26, 2018

Show notes

What can a viral video of a teacher ripping up an elementary schooler’s book tell us about government regulation and management? In this inaugural recording, Sam and Abram try to unpack some of the arguments and assumptions in Elizabeth Green’s January 2018 article in The Atlantic: “The Charter School Crusader” about Eva Moskowitz and the school system she founded and now leads: Success Academy Charter Schools. First, we explore the context of the education reform movement in NYC and restructuring of public schools during the Bloomberg era. This gives way to a discussion of the terms revolutionary and radical—which we define as an effort to change the underlying structures and systems. Moskowitz positions herself as a revolutionary because she is changing the school system with entrepreneurial leadership and top-down authority, all while operating as a private citizen. Sam and Abram ask whether revolutionary change must include activating the power of a mass movement of the people, and holding oneself accountable to the public. This leads to a discussion about end goals, efficiency, and accountability. Moskowitz believes she can most effectively make change as a private citizen, but uses public funds in the process. Sam and Abram untangle this puzzle and raise more questions, like: Is efficiency more important than making schools equitable, accountable, and parent-friendly? How do we, as bureaucrats, hold ourselves accountable to the services we need to provide in real-time while also asking ourselves deeper question about our goals and measures? How do race and school segregation play into this debate? Additional reading: · The Charter School Crusader by Elizabeth Green, The Atlantic, January/February 2018. https://www.theatlantic.com/magazine/archive/2018/01/success-academy-charter-schools-eva-moskowitz/546554/ · CREAD: Culturally Responsive Educators of the African Diaspora. https://creadnyc.com/ · Reinventing America’s Schools: Creating a 21t Century Education System by David E. Osborne. September 2017. · She Breaks Rules While Expecting Students to Follow Them by Lisa Miller, New York Times book review of Eva Moskowitz’ memoir. https://www.nytimes.com/2017/12/08/books/review/education-of-eva-moskowitz-memoir.html · The Education of Eva Moskowitz by Eva Moskowitz. September 2017. · Success Academy’s Radical Educational Experiment by Rebecca Mead, The New Yorker, December 2017. https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2017/12/11/success-academys-radical-educational-experiment

S1-E1: What are we Talking About Here Nov 18, 2018

Show notes

Michelle Alexander, author of The New Jim Crow, described a scenario in which a person rescues a baby drowning in a river--then another one, then another. How many babies would you have to rescue before walking upstream to address the root cause? How do you continue rescuing babies downstream while you walk upstream? Fleshing out this and other metaphors, Sam and Abram lay out key concepts and themes they’ll explore in this first reason of The Radical Bureaucrat. Through discussion of articles and books, and interviews with thinkers and changemakers, they’ll explore many questions that follow from the premise of somehow creating fundamental change within a system that sets you up to do narrow, everyday tasks. In this episode, Sam and Abram discuss the meaning of the terms “radical” and “bureaucracy,” share a bit about their own backgrounds, and list issues they’ll tackle this season, including: leadership, organizing communities, changemaking “from the middle,” democracy, what we want institutions to do vs. what they’re actually for, and imagining what institutions could be while continuing to serve the populations who rely on them. If fascism is, as Hannah Arendt wrote, “organized loneliness,” then affirmation that other people grapple with the same big issues is integral to changemaking. Join us this season as we grapple out loud and affirm that, if you’re asking some of the same questions, you’re not alone. Additional reading: · The New Jim Crow by Michelle Alexander. January 2010. · Hannah Arendt: German political theorist. 1906-1975. https://www.iep.utm.edu/arendt/ · 3 Education Brothas: A podcast about all things education through the experiences of Black men. http://www.3educatedbrothas.com/

The Radical Bureaucrat Trailer Nov 10, 2018

Show notes

The Radical Bureaucrat trailer, where we briefly preview the coming season.

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