Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we welcome Stephanie Deutsch, acclaimed writer and critic whose work has appeared in The New York Times, The Weekly Standard, The Millions blog, and numerous local publications. Ms. Deutsch is the author of You Need a Schoolhouse: Booker T. Washington, Julius Rosenwald, and the Building of Schools for the Segregated South, a compelling exploration of one of the most impactful educational partnerships in American history.

Growing up in segregated Arlington, Virginia, where she attended an all-white elementary school, Ms. Deutsch offers a personal perspective on how recent and lasting the impact of segregation remains. Through research and lived experience, she highlights educations power to drive change.

At the center of our conversation is the extraordinary collaboration between Booker T. Washington, founder of the Tuskegee Institute, and Julius Rosenwald, president and part-owner of Sears. Together, they started a transformative school-building program that led to the creation of over 5,000 Rosenwald Schools, which provided access to quality education for Black children across the segregated South. The generations that attended these schools would go on to become key leaders in the Civil Rights Movement, proving that education truly is the foundation of change.

Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. Today, we welcome Rosa E. Blackwell, a retired educator and former Superintendent of Cincinnati Public Schools, who dedicated 36 years to transforming education and uplifting communities. Ms. Blackwell shares her personal journey growing up in Cincinnati, shaped by a foundation of faith, family, and work ethic. Influenced by teachers who held high expectations and showed respect for all students, she made it her mission to ensure every child, regardless of background, had access to quality education.

Ms. Blackwell highlights the critical role adults play in shaping the lives of young people, emphasizing that excuses should never be the reason children fall victim to low expectations. Her commitment to excellence and community empowerment is evident as she speaks passionately about the need to hold all students to high standards.

Our host, Dr. Canada and Ms. Blackwell reflect on their contrasting academic experiences: Dr. Canadas shaped by desegregation and Ms. Blackwells by segregation. This comparison opens a deeper conversation about the level of support students receive in different educational environments and the effects of systemic inequities. Ms. Blackwell discusses the integration of Cincinnatis school system. She shares her insights on the ongoing challenges of training teachers and administrators to effectively educate students across diverse racial, ethnic, and economic backgrounds.

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we dive into Reauthoring Savage Inequalities: Narratives of Community Cultural Wealth in Urban Educational Environments, a powerful book exploring the dynamics that shape education in urban communities. Our host, Dr. Theresa J. Canada is not only leading this conversation, but shes also a contributing author. Her chapter, titled "Old School Urban Education: How Friends, Families, Communities, and Teachers Support Success in Early Childhood Education", centers on early childhood education, which has long been her passion and research focus.

Dr. Canada shares insights from her lived experiences and academic journey, highlighting the four key areas that have had a profound impact on educational outcomes for Black children in urban schools: friends, teachers, family, and community. Through personal reflection, she discusses how these support systems shaped her own path and how they continue to influence children today.