What Do You Mean By That?

Latest Episodes:

58: The School to Prison Pipeline: Six-Year Olds Don't Belong in Handcuffs May 06, 2020

Show notes

Have you ever stopped to think about what the phrase, "school to prison pipeline" really means? What about who it affects? Chances are unless an issue affects you or your loved ones personally, it's not at the top of your priority list of concerns.

Sara and Misasha have been tackling election issues, and this particular one took center stage during the first round at the Democratic Presidential Debates last July.

If we fix our school system, we have a better chance of fixing the current prison pipeline. Listen in to this heart-wrenching exploration of the link between education and incarceration.

Show Highlights:

According to a 2003 report by the Bureau of Justice:
68% of state prison inmates in Colorado did not receive a high school diploma.
41% of inmates in the nation's state and federal prisons and local jails had dropped out of school.
This is the last report filed but these numbers continue to be referenced by the government.
Most studies estimate the rate of incarcerated people who have not received a high school diploma at 65% - 74%. For many, prison is replacing higher education.
'School to prison pipeline' is "a term that describes how American kids get pushed out of public schools and into the juvenile and criminal justice systems", according to a 2015 report by AJ+ and The Marshall Project, a nonprofit news organization that focuses on the criminal justice system.
The 'push out' often starts with zero-tolerance policies that result in harsh punishments like out-of-school suspensions.
Sara and Misasha discuss the long-term negative impacts that a student experiences upon being suspended.
Getting an education reduces the chances of imprisonment and also reduces the chance for repeat offenses.
African Americans and Latinos are disproportionately caught up in the criminal justice system. Together, they made up half of the US prisoners in 2017 but represent a combined 32% of the general population.
Reducing suspensions must be a key part of disrupting the school to prison pipeline.
Research shows that being suspended just once in 9th grade doubles the likelihood that a student will drop out of high school.
Many want to blame the schools for the problem, but we're not giving schools the money, resources, and training to create and enforce policies.
Homelife and parent involvement are crucial to addressing student behavior and recidivism.
The Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention in the US Department of Justice report that more than 230,000 children aged 14 and under were arrested in 2017.
The disproportionately harsh discipline that black children encounter often begins when children are literally in or just transitioning out of diapers.
Data indicates that preschoolers (ages 2-4) are being expelled from their learning setting at three or four times the rate of children in grades K-12.
Black preschoolers are three times more likely to be suspended than their peers.
Black children are disproportionately the victims of exclusionary discipline.
There is no evidence that black children have worse behavior than their peers.
Studies reveal that black children are more often disciplined for subjective behaviors and white children are more likely to be disciplined for objective behaviors.
Misasha shares the meaning of 'consent decree' and how it applies to the US Department of Justice and communities regarding disparity in school discipline.
An astounding 33 states don't have a minimum age for criminal liability. This makes it legal to prosecute a 5-year old in juvenile court.
South Carolina has a minimum age of 6.
In another five states, the minimum age is 7.
Examples of the outrageous handcuffing and zip-tying of our children.
The Trump administration rescinded Obama-era school discipline guidance, misleadingly citing school safety concerns. This effort came after the US Department of Education made clear that civil rights enforcement isn't a priority.
How do we protect more 1st and 2nd graders from being criminalized? Sara shares some ideas about where we need to start.
Familiar yourself with your school's policies on discipline.

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Suggested Episodes Related to Income Inequality:

47: The Changing Face of Insurance: Why You Should Care

49: Why Are We Talking About Income Inequality When The Economy Is Strong?

50: Why Aren't Black Kids Playing Baseball?

52: What Happens When You're Sick and Poor: Healthcare in the United States

57: It All Starts Here: Educational Inequality

Suggested Episodes Related to Criminal Justice:

37: Criminal Justice: Jaw-Dropping Stats You Should Know About

38: Criminal Justice: 15 Going on 28

41: Ji Seon Song: Understanding and Navigating the Juvenile Legal System

57: It All Starts Here: Educational Inequality Apr 29, 2020

Show notes

In today's episode, Sara and Misasha continue the election arc with studies involving the root causes of educational inequality.

Join them to hear about educational inequality's inextricable link to income inequality, why it should matter to us all, what needs to be resolved first, best practices, and more!

Show Highlights:

Harvard Gazette profiled former Presidential candidate and popular two-term governor of Massachusetts, Deval Patrick, a Harvard undergrad who also graduated from the Law School in 1982, grew up a poor black school child in the housing projects of Chicago's South Side.
The odds of escaping a life of poverty despite being highly intelligent and driven were against Patrick.
In the article, Patrick addresses how, through education, he was able to triumph over the poverty-ridden life that may have, at one time, seemed to be his destiny.
"Public school" is defined as a federally-funded school administered to some extent by the government and charged with educating all citizens.
The government has struggled to answer these rather difficult questions since the inception of public education:
What is the primary purpose of public education?
Who should be able to receive the educational services provided to the general public?
How does the government ensure consistently high quality in the educational services it provides?
The Organization for Economic Co-Operation and Development (OECD) ranked the United States 20th among the 34 market-based democracy-leading countries grade-wise in reading, science, and math.
By 8th grade, only 44% of American students are proficient in reading and math.
The proficiency of African-American students, many of whom are in under-performing schools, is even lower.
The matter of educational inequality must be solved first before other types of inequality resolution follow.
The gap is not due to the color of the skin, but rather to the access to quality education and the host of other systemic issues with which they're faced.
According to researchers, the key gaps are poverty rates, diminished teacher and school quality, unsettled neighborhoods, ineffective parenting, personal trauma, and peer group influence.
"Talk, Sing, Point" in early childhood: the difference in life experiences begins at home.
What is the LENA vest and what is its importance?
With the help of Faculty Co-Chair and Harvard Law School Jesse Climenko Professor of Law, Charles J. Ogletree, The Achievement Gap Initiative at Harvard is analyzing the factors that make educational inequality such a complex puzzle.
Best practices to create strong schools will matter the most.
The surprising difference between private and public school outcomes.
Research suggests that poverty in the United States tends to be deeper and more difficult to escape than in other countries.
Please consider voting for initiatives that help the education system!

Resources / Links:

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Colorado's House of Pod

Women of Color Incubator

Sara's a Mentor Now!

Applications Are Open Until May 8

FREE 6-Week Program

Email Becca@houseofpod.org

Suggested Episodes:

25: School Lunches: Why Kids Are Going Hungry

49: Why Are We Talking About Income Inequality When The Economy Is Strong?

Mentioned Book:

Five Miles Away, A World Apart: One City, Two Schools, And The Story Of Educational Opportunity In Modern America by James E. Ryan

Bowling Alone: The Collapse and Revival of American Community by Robert D. Putnam

Our Kids: The American Dream in Crisis by Robert D. Putnam

56: Ableism Part 2: The Whitewashing of Disability Apr 22, 2020

Show notes

When you think of a disabled person, what image comes to mind? For example, do you think of a particular gender? Do you picture how they get around? How about their skin color?

In today's episode, Sara and Misasha take on the subject of how both physical and mental disabilities impact people of color and everyone else who isn't white, cisgender, and economically advantaged. You'll also learn about #disabililtytoowhite and what you can do to support the work of disabled people of color who often do extraordinary work for very little pay.

Don't miss this eye-opening and thought-provoking dialogue in Part 2 of the Ableism series!

Show Highlights:

Misasha provides an overview of the history behind #disabililtytoowhite and how it started a meaningful conversation about race and intersectionality in the disabled community.
The resulting conversation was witness to disabled people of color publicly sharing their plight at feeling invisible in the disabled community and finally feeling validated by having these conversations in a public space.
The hashtag was also a wakeup call and a call to action for white disabled people to become better allies.
There's still a gap where mental health is concerned, and mental health continues to focus on middle-class whites.
Disabilities are not just physical but can be invisible, as well. Mental health disabilities are no less valid than physical health disabilities.
Sara shares the list of questions that the U.S. Department of Health and Human asks to help people navigate the support they would receive through the Affordable Care Act.
Sobering statistics, as of 2016:
- 1/2 of all people killed by police are disabled.
- At least 30% of the 2.3 million people incarcerated in the U.S. are disabled.
- Examples of police officers misinterpreting autistic behavior as non-compliant or disrespect were found.
People with disabilities have much lower employment rates than people without disabilities. Geography and demography reveal some surprising information!
Young black and Latinx people in the U.S. have a very different relationship with mental illness than their white peers, including higher rates of attempted suicide.
The subject of mental illness is still largely taboo in communities of color.
Insurance can be a roadblock to receiving mental health treatment for those who have lower-tiered plans.
Social Security is highly valued by those with disabilities but the social security program is way past due for reform.
Disability issues make up some of the hot topics to keep in mind during this election year!

Resources / Links:

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Suggested Episode:

Episode 54: Ableism Part 1: How Just Being Aware Isn't Enough Anymore

55: Special Roundtable Episode: Running While Black Apr 15, 2020

Show notes

We, Sara & Misasha, were honored to be featured on the podcast of a dear friend, Running Life: A Fitness Protection Production run by host Coach MK - and the content was so important and relevant that we are co-launching the show on both of our platforms today.

We entered the conversation because as a running coach who isn't ever really "just" talking about the running, MK's social media feeds had been covered with call-outs, shaming anyone who violates the recommendation from the Centers for Disease Control recommending that everyone cover their faces every time they leave the house.

But the truth is, people of color think about safety more than any of us ever will. From running with hoodies to walking into convenience stores with red bandanas serving as make-shift face coverings, people with darker skin will be judged differently - potentially fatally - even if they're in the same scenarios that white people are in.

Enter Dear White Women.

We were asked to moderate this incredible roundtable discussion with Fitness Protection Sponsored Athlete Nikkia Young, ReBuild Coach Lovey Roundtree Oliff, and Dalia Kinsey of The School Nutrition Dietitian Podcast and the Body Liberation RD Instagram account - all of whom identify as black women.

Nobody has the same experience as someone else, and this is why conversations about different experiences are vital. To be clear, these are three college-educated, skilled women with considerable economic privilege; all three live in predominantly white neighborhoods – so keep in mind, some people of color face even more challenges. We invite you to listen, in spite of any discomfort you may feel because that is where real, lasting change begins.

For more on the Running Life, the Fitness Protection Program, and to get on their lists, visit https://www.fitnessprotection.com/

OTHER RESOURCES:

@fitnessprotectionllc

@bodyliberationrd

54: Ableism, Part 1: How Just Being Aware Isn't Enough Anymore Apr 08, 2020

Show notes

There's a lot of consequences out there for people who are fully functional but there are even more consequences for people who have disabilities right now. In today's conversation, Sara and Misasha bring you an enlightening and timely discourse on ableism, and how just being aware of it isn't enough anymore.

They'll also be touching on the current COVID-19 pandemic, and what happens when you have a child with special needs when everyone is expected to stay home and you're not prepared for that.

Get ready to look at the world in a whole new way without making assumptions, while reaching out to offer help.

Show Highlights:

Misasha shares her own story of wearing a brace as a teenager, the impact it has had on her life, the spinal fusion surgeries she's had to endure, and the gratefulness she feels for the ways in which she can now experience movement.
Ableism is a set of beliefs or practices that devalue or discriminate against people with physical, intellectual, or psychiatric disabilities. Ableism often rests on the assumption that people need to be "fixed", in one form or another.
Ableism projects the idea that people with disabilities are somehow "lesser than" others. This is similar to sexism, which projects the idea that women are somehow "lesser than" a man.
Everyone deserves to be treated with respect, including those with disabilities.
A disabled person's preference for what they would like to be called should always be honored.
Ableism usually derives from non-disabled people with good intentions.
The medical model of disability may be at the root of ableism because this is where we first learn about disability. But just because something is different, does not mean it's bad.
From a young age, we are taught to treat people with disabilities with helpful politeness, but this can actually come across as pity that they're not able to do anything independently and might be one more root cause of ableism.
"Learning Difference" is the term that is currently favored over "Learning Disability".
If you slip and say something offensive to a person with a disability, it doesn't mean you're an ableist. Even those with disabilities can sometimes make these mistakes!
Attitudes, actions, and phrases that might not seem discriminatory, but are harmful to those with disabilities:
- Announcing someone else's disability in an introduction
- Apologizing to the person for their disability
- Forgetting that disability is also a type of identity
- Ignoring the disability
- Assuming that people with disabilities want to talk about it all the time
- Insulting their medical equipment
- Insisting on helping out
Many special needs kids rely on schools as more than just a learning experience. As the vast majority of schools in the US have transitioned from the classroom to online schooling, teachers and administrators have struggled with how to offer learning to special needs students.
Routine is very important to students, and those differently-abled have all of a sudden found themselves not only without routine but without the services of a behavioralist, speech-language pathologist, counselor, etc.
Parents that have weighed in on the situation have offered ideas such as an illustrated storyboard to explain what's happening; offering access to your stash of food supplies in case kids need specific brands because of allergy needs, consistency needs, or sensory issues; and just asking the parent what their needs are, which may be money or just the opportunity to talk.

Resources / Links:

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Suggested COVID-19 Episodes:

53: COVID-19: Not Exactly Making Things Better on the Immigration Front, Either!

51: Coronavirus: How Sheltering in Place Can Make Us Better Humans

53: COVID-19: Not Exactly Making Things Better on the Immigration Front, Either! Apr 01, 2020

Show notes

In today's episode, Sara and Misasha share how COVID-19 has had a much bigger impact on the rights of immigrants in the United States and detainees at the border than what they originally thought.

Listen in to learn more about immigration, as it a key issue in this election year. Sara and Misasha bring you compelling information on those that are being held at our border, discuss the alarming public charge rule and other legislation that may be making its way down the pipeline.

Show Highlights:

In early March, the Trump Administration announced that they were going to start taking DNA from immigrant detainees at the border.
Thankfully, there are organizations who have team members still working alongside asylum-seekers and immigrants to achieve justice in the ICE detention centers and courtrooms.
At some detention facilities, there's a lack of soap and hand sanitizer for those who are detained there.
The decision to close immigration courts has been left to individual judges.
The Justice Department has quietly asked Congress for the ability to ask chief judges to detain people indefinitely without a trial during emergencies.
President Trump has cited the recent pandemic as a reason for heightening border restrictions and restricting asylum claims.
The Department also asked Congress to pause the statute of limitations for criminal investigations and civil proceedings during national emergencies and for one year following the end of national emergencies.
President Trump recently declared the Corona Virus a national emergency.
"Immigrants face a very tough choice during this crisis: risk exposure or risk homelessness", states Louise McCarthy is the President & CEO of the Community Clinic Association of Los Angeles County (CCALAC).
The public charge rule "enforces a long-standing law requiring aliens to be self-sufficient, reaffirming the American ideals of hard work, perseverance, and determination" is the official DHS definition. Misasha delves further into the rule.
Since the new rules announcement, there has been a nationwide uproar from civil rights groups.
Immigrants and low-wage workers will not fare well in the recently-passed Stimulus Package.
Suggestions from Sara and Misasha on ways to help the collective community.

Resources / Links:

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52: What Happens When You're Sick and Poor: Healthcare in the United States Mar 25, 2020

Show notes

Sara and Misasha continue with their income inequality arc in today's episode, with a special focus on what happens when you're sick and poor.

Their recent exploration into income inequality issues is part of their deep dive into election issues. If you haven't yet listened to the last couple of episodes, links are provided so that you can have a greater understanding of the bigger picture.

Join Sara and Misasha in this journey into the lives of those who are unable to take sick days when sick due to financial or logistical hardships, and the potential fallout of working during an illness.

Show Highlights:

Misasha shares a discussion from the "Neighborhood" app about an obviously sick woman wearing a mask while working at a pharmacy counter.
There is no federal law that ensures all workers are able to earn paid sick days in the United States.
Sick days can be incredibly costly to those who become sick or whose families depend on them to provide care in the event of an illness.
Taking needed sick time often means that workers have to choose between going without pay to stay home, or must show up at work sick and delay treatment for themselves or a dependent.
Statistics show that if you're earning more money, you are better able to get paid sick days. Conversely, if you're in a low-wage position, you are less likely to receive paid sick days.
For the average worker who does not have access to paid sick days, the cost of taking unpaid sick time can make a painful dent in the monthly budget for the worker's household:
Losing a half-day of work due to illness, the lost wages could be equivalent to the household's monthly budget for fruits and vegetables.
Losing 2 days of work due to illness, the lost wages could be equivalent to a month's worth of gas, thereby making getting to work more difficult.
Losing 3 days of work due to illness, the lost wages could be equivalent to the entire grocery budget for the month or their monthly utility budget.
In the event of a lengthier illness, such as 7 days of unpaid sick time, a worker could lose the equivalent of a monthly rent or mortgage payment.
Research shows that state laws providing the right to paid sick days appear to be having a small but meaningful effect as the share of workers who have access to paid sick time has increased, particularly at the low end of the wage spectrum.
Access to paid sick time for low-wage workers has increased since 2012.
Unequal access to paid sick days is just one part of the bigger healthcare problem, as it highlights the problems of income inequality.
Sara and Misasha discuss cancer treatment and the devastating financial impact with or without health insurance.
As the gap between the rich and poor grow, so does the gap in their health.
Possible solutions for managing health and equalizing the playing field.
Some Democratic candidates are pushing for "Medicare for All", which is a way to get rid of the private insurance market and offer insurance for everyone through a single-payer system.
Two important questions to consider for the upcoming Presidential election regarding "Medicare for All": 1) How will we pay for it? 2) How will it work?
Sara and Misasha cover other considerations regarding "Medicare for All" and what would happen to the private insurance market.
Please vote!

Resources / Links:

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Suggested Episodes:

Episode 50: Why Aren't Black Kids Playing Baseball?

Episode 49: Why Are We Talking About Income Inequality When The Economy Is Strong?

Episode 10: Equal Pay Day: The Reality of Gender Parity

51: Coronavirus: How Sheltering in Place Can Make Us Better Humans Mar 18, 2020

Show notes

This episode addresses our mental well-being in the face of the dramatic changes that have taken place over the last week.

Join Sara and Misasha as they offer encouragement during this time of "social distancing" and the fear that is developing around it.

Show Highlights:

Sara leads a brief meditation and mindfulness exercise on gratitude.
Shifting your mindset to "I get to do this" instead of "I have to do this" can make a big difference in the way you feel.
Pointers from Dr. Sue Varma:
- Limit your news sources.
- We need something to do.
- Buy only what you need for a defined period of time.
- Think about how to separate emotion from fact.
- Make regular phone or video calls to people you love or who are in your immediate community.
- Think about how you can help those who need food, medicine, or basics, especially if they're elderly or immunocompromised.
Consider the nextdoor app to get updates on your neighborhood
Remember to exercise! Get plenty of sleep, and eat as healthy as you can.
Music is a great tool to change up the energy.
Re-organize or catch up on other tasks you've been putting off.
Nearly 22 million low-income kids from across the country rely on the free and reduced-price meals they receive from school, and for many of them that is the only nutritious food they might receive on any given day.
"No Kid Hungry" helps to bridge the gap during the summertime for these kids. They are now shifting the focus to helping fill the current needs.
"Blessings in a Backpack" helps ensure kids have what they need to be successful at school and are taking steps to make sure these kids are taken care of, even if the schools are closed.
Some school districts are planning to hand out food.
If you're at the store and you see food labeled with "WIC" (it has a red circle), and you are not part of the "Women, Infants, and Children" program, please leave those foods for those who receive federal assistance with their groceries and have a limited selection of items from which to choose.
Misasha discusses the "Coronavirus Aid Package" that the House of Representatives recently passed.
Some cities are stepping up to help the homeless in various ways during this outbreak.
More great ideas from Ellen McGirt:
- Be a good bystander.
- Consider over-tipping.
- Remember those socially isolated by default.
- Understand how COVID-19 interacts with public policy.
- Not everyone is safe in their home. Reach out and assist those if you can.
This affects us ALL, and we need to look out for one another.

Resources / Links:

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50: Why Aren't Black Kids Playing Baseball? Mar 11, 2020

Show notes

Welcome to the 50th episode of the Dear White Women Podcast!! Thank you for all your comments, feedback, and support. Please continue sharing this podcast with your friends and family members, especially those with whom you need to have these uncomfortable conversations.

On today's episode, Sara and Misasha continue the income inequality arc with the topic of kid's sports.

Have you ever paused to consider the racial makeup of the athletes that we watch on TV? And in what sports? Furthermore, have you ever taken a look at why it is the way it is, other than simple demographics?

If your answer is "no" to any of the above, you'll want to join Sara and Misasha for their investigative insight into this area of concern.

Show Highlights:

Youth sports in the United States has long been an important part of growing up.
Youth sports is a nearly 17-billion dollar industry, which makes it larger than the business of professional baseball and the same size industry as the NFL.
The share of children ages 6-12 who play a team sport on a regular basis has declined from 41.5% in 2011 to 37% in 2017.
In 2008, participation was lower across categories, including baseball, basketball, flag football, and soccer.
Baseball itself is down around 20%.
According to CBS News, "the rising costs of playing sports, coupled with rising economic inequality, are increasingly leading poor and even middle-class families to hang up their cleats".
Pay-to-play sports is making organized athletics too expensive for many households.
Misasha provides a breakdown of household incomes and the percentage of children participating in sports.
The typical American family spends about $700 per year on their child's sports activities. However, some parents pay out as much as $35,000 annually to pay for lessons, camps, school sports fees, equipment, and travel.
Due to budget cuts, public schools are increasingly charging for sports.
Sara addresses the pressures that college-minded parents feel to help get their kids athletic scholarships at elite colleges.
Only 1 in 10 young people who play sports ever get a sports scholarship.
Today, Division I and Division II colleges distribute 3 billion dollars a year in full and partial scholarships to student-athletes.
The scholarship jackpots give some children from lower-income families the chance to attend schools they might not otherwise afford.
In addition to affordability issues, sometimes lack of participation has to do with lack of transportation or safety concerns.
Kids who get pushed out of sports by the age of 12 are unlikely to get back into sports at a later time.
Europe not only offers alternative models for balancing equality inefficiency and the overall economy, but it also offers alternative models for youth sports.
Norwegian youth leagues value participation over competition and scores are not allowed to be posted.
So, why aren't black kids playing baseball? Listen in for the reason why many young athletes are not picking up the sport.
Sara shares trends in the sports industry.
Misasha discusses race and the downsides of playing football, and the disparity between who's playing the violent sport and who's making the most money off of it.

Resources / Links:

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Suggested Episode:

49: Why Are We Talking About Income Inequality When The Economy Is Strong?

Wealth Inequality in America - YouTube Video

49: Why Are We Talking About Income Inequality When The Economy Is Strong? Mar 04, 2020

Show notes

You may have not thought about income inequality but it is definitely a big issue heading into this election season.

A new survey released in January by the Pew Research Center found that economic inequality is a concern with voters and not just liberals.

Americans across the board today see income inequality as a bigger problem than illegal immigration, which is the issue that Donald Trump rode to the White House in 2016.

On today's episode, Sara and Misasha cover the good, the bad, and the ugly on this topic that has the power to impact us all.

Show Highlights:

61% of adult Americans told Pew that there is "too much income inequality in the US".
42% said reducing income inequality should be a major priority for the federal government. This is 3 percentage points more than those who said the same thing about reducing illegal immigration.
This figure rose to 78% when only accounting for those who lean politically to the left.
Income inequality and wealth inequality is most pronounced when the stock market is doing well.
Almost half of those in the economic middle class earning between $35,000 - $99,000 per year report having issues paying medical and dental bills, and prescription drug costs.
The poor and the middle class were about as likely as the very rich to say that hard work was the key component to success in modern America.
56% of the poor or 82% of the middle class thought that they had either achieved the "American dream" or were on their way to achieving it.
Political observers agree that it will take far more than a Presidential election to reverse a trend that has been in the works since the 1970s, which is when the gap really starting widening in this country.
Advocates see hopeful signs coming from candidates willing to talk about making major changes to an often-undemocratic political system as well as ambitious, economic plans.
We're making more money than we ever have, but the gap is bigger than it's ever been.
The recovery from the great recession has been slow and uneven with lower-income Americans, many of them Latino or African-American, experiencing fewer of the benefits.
Misasha addresses rising infant mortality rates, lowered life expectancy rates, rising suicide rates and an epidemic of drug overdoses and their relevance to income inequality.
Steph Sterling, Vice President for Advocacy and Policy at the Roosevelt Institute, has some ideas to tackle income inequality and its potential lethal effects, as Misasha shares.
Surprising common ground between liberals and conservatives, according to research.