'Young People Driving Their Own Destiny': Our Children Can't Wait podcast EP 14

Dr. Joe Bishop discusses youth voices and youth organizing with social justice education researcher and scholar Dr. Justin Coles of the University of Massachusetts, Amherst.

As a teen, Justin saw his community change from racially diverse to predominantly Black. He questioned why the reputation of his high school was negatively affected by the change in its racial composition. This led him to pursue racial justice work centering on youth.

In this episode, he outlines to Joe the importance of learning accurate American history in order to answer the question: What are the realities of race and policy that affect us today? He also shares the importance of respecting youths’ agency instead of trying to control them.

Why are our current standards, systems, and policies disconnected from youth?

Special Guest: Justin A. Coles is an Assistant Professor of Social Justice Education at the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, in the Department of Student Development. At UMass Amherst, Justin also serves as the Director of Arts, Culture, and Political Engagement at the Center of Racial Justice and Youth Engaged Research (CRJ). At the CRJ, he is also the director of the Black Healing, Joy, and Justice Collective. Justin serves as Co-Editor of the academic journal Equity & Excellence and Education.