Learning to Living Together is a four-part podcast series about inclusion and school integration in the twenty-first century. Across the four episodes, we delve into the meanings, tensions, and practices of integration and inclusion in today’s context.

In this podcast series, Equity Fellows Dr. Sarah Diem and Dr. Federico Waitoller bring together their expertise in racial and socioeconomic integration, inclusion of students with disabilities, and their intersections with race to grapple with the following questions: Are we still longing for racial integration and inclusion? What do integration and inclusion mean to different community members? Are we still dreaming about the project of learning and learning to live together? Is it still feasible? What will this project look like in 2023 and moving forward?  

In the podcast series, we hear from individuals with various backgrounds, experiences, and engagement with social struggles about their perspectives on inclusion and integration. Guests include:

• Seena Skelton – Director, Midwest & Plains Equity Assistance Center; Director of Operations, Great Lakes Equity Center
• Terah Venzant Chambers – Professor of Educational Administration and Associate Dean in the Graduate School, Michigan State University
• The Donato-Sapp family – Helena Donato-Sapp, Jeff Sapp, and Sino Donato
• Peter Piazza – Director of School Quality Measures, Massachusetts Consortium for Innovative Education Assessment

In episode 3, we focus on the practical aspects of integration and inclusion, focusing specifically on how to go about achieving integration and inclusion in school communities. We learn about the importance of funding, community buy-in, and the need to change mindsets if we are to experience integration. We also learn about a specific framework for integration developed by youth organizers that focuses on race and enrollment, resources, relationships, restorative justice, and representation. And perhaps most importantly, we hear about the importance of listening to students and involving them in school decisions and solutions, as well as developing relationships and caring for one another.

Check out other episodes:

• Episode One
• Episode Two