This year’s Essential classes have challenged our pre-established beliefs and pushed us to the limits of our comfort. The Institutional Racism discussion, led by Cal Jackson of Courageous Conversation: Beyond Diversity™, was no exception. Upon completing Institutional Racism I am reminded of the experience documented…
In his essay , “The Purpose of Education,” Dr Martin Luther King, Jr stated, “At this point, I often wonder whether or not education is fulfilling its purpose.” As the granddaughter and daughter of educators devoted to critical thinking and hands-on science, I have found…
Is our education system serving its purpose? In the Essentials class on Education, we were asked to reflect on the “purpose of education”. Is the system positioned to equip students with tools and skills that align with the purpose? What lasting impacts do these tools…
Hyper Segregated Austin not a Vestige of a Bygone Era, but a Product of Intentional Design “Racism and inequity are products of design. They can be redesigned.” I first heard these words from Dr. Christine Ortiz, founder of Equity Meets Design, as she guided me…
“In December the Leadership Austin Essential 42 class ventured into los barrios, that is, the communities of a built environment. Never before had I seen mi barrio from a built environment lens. And, never before had I heard of the sustainability of a built environment, “the environmental durability,…
“Leadership Austin recognizes that we are currently suffering from three different pandemics: COVID-19, racial and social injustice, and a lack of leadership. When looking at these three issues, I see one common deficit contributing to their severity — a lack of moral courage. In May…
“When the closing poll flashed on the screen, the looks of despair glared through my computer screen. “How confident are you that racism will end in our lifetimes?” Turns out, the Essential 42 – Class 2021 wasn’t very confident. In fact, more than 50% of…
Toya Cirica Bell is a career attorney with a legacy of professional and community engagement. She is this year’s Leadership Austin board chair. Toya was born in Japan and grew up in San Antonio, Texas. She began working in Austin in 1992 and relocated shortly…