Voices of Change with George Patterson: The Pain, Power, and Joy of Young People of Color

Defining Us uses the power of media and the promise of education to inspire educators to join the conversation on the socio-political cultural issues that matter.  In this episode of Defining Us…Stacey DeWitt interviews George Patterson, the Senior Director for My Brother’s Keeper (MBK) Grant Funded Programs in New York City Schools. George and Stacey discuss how the people who work within programs like MBK help mitigate trauma and promote success in school and beyond for students of color. 

Powerful Moments

Throughout this podcast there are powerful moments that provide deeper insight into the individuals and topics discussed in this podcast.  

• 3:59 – Many students of color may not relate to the curriculum and MBK is “equity in action”
• 7:02 – “My teachers showed me role models, “They realized what I was going through, and they reached out to me and they put support systems in place…”
• 14:16 – We can achieve a new American Dream and young people of color can provide leadership
• 21:04 – We’re all better when we know about everyone’s history
• 23:10 – “We understood the relational aspect of learning…”
• 28:46 – The current civil rights effort is different from others in the past

Critical Reflection Questions (During and After the Listening)

Use the following critical reflection questions to make deeper meaning of the topics discussed in this episode.

• How do my own identity, experiences and knowledge influence my understanding of this topic? 
• How does this topic connect with my current context?
• What are the implications to my practice? 
• Am I using a relationship-based approach in my interactions with students?
• How will I continue the conversation in my school/community/organization?

Inside the Conversation 

Want to know more? Continue the learning with some of the important individuals, organizations, and topics discussed in this episode.

• New York City My Brother’s Keeper
• New York City My Brother’s Keeper on Twitter
• New York City My Brother’s Keeper on Instagram
• The MBK Alliance

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• Stacey Dewitt on Defining Us
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