A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
Educational Conversations with Scholars in Mind. "Our mission is to empower and uplift scholars pursuing higher education at HBCUs, ensuring they have the resources, support, and opportunities needed for a successful future. Through mentorship, scholarship programs, and community engagement, we strive to create a pathway to excellence, fostering academic achievement, leadership development, and a strong sense of cultural identity. Together, we are building a brighter future for young scholars, strengthening the legacy of HBCUs, and fueling positive change in our communities."
A Better Chance TV with host Dr. Monique S. Robinson
The Unseen Work of Education: Mentors, Mistakes, and Liberation
What changes when educators stop whispering their stories and start saying them out loud? We went live to introduce Voices of Education, a new anthology that brings together teachers, advisors, and leaders across K–12 and higher ed to tell the truth about classroom life—mentors who saw more in us, rookie mistakes that taught the real lessons, and the quiet breakthroughs that keep us going.
We kick off with gratitude and a clear mission: give educators a platform to be seen and heard. Anthony Brown shares how he wrote from a place of responsibility and thanks, honoring the people who pushed him to claim his calling—then reveals a personal transformation that reframed his purpose. A higher ed advisor draws on her first‑gen story to guide new students through the maze of college choices, while a social studies powerhouse shows how a Black history teacher made the past feel urgent and alive. And when K rystal opens up about leaving the classroom to run a restaurant, the conversation reframes “leaving” as another way to teach—through leadership, jobs, and community care.
Midway, we ask everyone to capture the power of education in a single word. The responses—empowered, knowledgeable, full of possibilities, transformative, powerful, and liberating—anchor a bigger theme: learning frees people. These aren’t slogans; they’re lived moments, like an elementary teacher who chose discipline as love or an assistant principal who bridged a hesitant student to college. Along the way, we highlight HBCU advocacy, culturally responsive teaching, first‑generation support, classroom management, and the real work of coaching, STEM entrepreneurship, and National Board Certification.
If you’re a new teacher, you’ll find guidance and solidarity. If you’re a veteran, you’ll feel your influence honored. If you’re pivoting careers, you’ll see how purpose travels with you. Grab Voices of Education through the authors to support them directly, share the teacher who changed you, and join us at our upcoming gala book signing. Subscribe, leave a review, and pass this along to someone who needs a reminder that their story still matters.
Welcome to a Better Chance for Youth television show with your host, Monique Robinson, where we highlight, celebrate, and recognize students from all over the country who are doing great things in the classroom, community, and athletics. Every student deserves an opportunity. An opportunity for hope in the future. So let's celebrate our students, the next generation of teachers, engineers, entrepreneurs, and future leaders. Join us on another incredible segment of a Better Chance for Youth show with your host, Monique Robinson.
SPEAKER_09:Welcome, welcome, and welcome, everybody. Today we are actually going live. So you know, when we go live, it must mean that it is something important happening. Now, look, if my guests, you know, they probably come on here a little bit better dressed than me, but today I just wanted you all to see my shirt that somebody gave me. I thought it was cute. Anywho, focus, Monique, focus. So we have a very special announcement today. Um, those of you all who actually follow the things that we do outside of a Better Chance for You Futures Incorporated, we actually launched a book. Um, so the book project is mainly for educators, and it's kind of like a two-part thing. Those who who know, um, I am an educator, have been for several years, and along the way, I met some really, really amazing educators who are all unique and special in their own way. Um, and they were like powerhouse teachers. So I invited them to join in this project, but uh most importantly, I wanted them to tell their story on our platform. So our first guest that we have today is absolutely no stranger. Um, you know, it's kind of like everything is coming full circle with this um HBCU advocacy educators, and then actually, you know, it's like this person is one of my closest friends in this advocacy world. So today, you know, the mentee got to, you know, kind of help the mentor in this project. So let's welcome to our show, our first guest today. You know, no introduction needed. Like, he's part of the reason why I do everything I do because he he taught me, but you know, I had to kind of coach through this this process. So let's welcome Mr. Anthony Brown.
SPEAKER_11:Well, hello, how are you, Monique? Well, Dr. Robinson.
SPEAKER_09:I know it's it's weird when people say that sometimes. I know, right? So, Anthony, how are you? How are you doing? How's the weather in Cleveland?
SPEAKER_03:Listen, first of all, I am absolutely amazing. Um today is a beautiful day in the neighborhood. Oh the summer's shining. Uh, listen, the birds were singing, might have been a little brisk for a moment, but you know, all is well. I ain't even gonna hold you.
SPEAKER_09:That's that's absolutely so. You know, I had to do my little intro, you know, because I finally, finally, well, you know how it is. I mean, I always am one of those that like to give people their flowers while they're living. Like, I don't want to ever be said that Monique did not thank somebody that helped her along the way.
SPEAKER_03:Uh-huh. And I always if I can help somebody as I travel along. Yes.
SPEAKER_09:See, no, you know, see, you don't went there, you know, went way back. But anywho, so I had to make it known, like, you know, even before our pre-show, before we started today, I was telling people that, you know, Anthony is honestly the reason why I have a television show. ABC Youth is where they are. They was like, How? I said, Because I called ever since that call, it's just been we've been joined at the hip, and then our birthdays are a day apart, so you know, it's kind of like exactly 20. Anyway, so Anthony, how do you feel? Like, you know, you not just one book, but this is your second book.
SPEAKER_03:You big second book, OMG, right?
SPEAKER_09:Yes, so this is second book. Now, we do have some of the authors that are coming on today to tell their story to, and I'm proud of all of them. I know, right?
SPEAKER_03:I'm just lit, I'm just living in. I'm just trying to catch all of the blessings from you know, I'm just trying to catch it. I'm the saucer trying to catch it all.
SPEAKER_09:So, we are actually gonna have all of them come on and you know talk a little bit with them, and then we're gonna go into like our discussion.
SPEAKER_03:So, okay, because you know, they they uh look, I'm a guest today.
SPEAKER_09:I am a guest, you never a guest. So, um, coming first. Uh let's let's let's bring on Miss Latanya Henry. Okay, let's bring her on.
SPEAKER_11:Let's do that.
SPEAKER_09:Uh-oh. You trust in my glasses, we might not find her, but I'm just playing. Hey Miss Latanya, how are you? Good evening, yes, and so like everybody before the pre-show, I was telling people that every author that is in this project, I'm connected to in some way. So I met Miss Latanya at a church function. I was a panel, uh panelist, I believe. Um, and they were talking about authors and educators and things like that. And so Miss Latanya, after the thing, she bought two books and she was like, How do I become an author? I was like, You serious? Yeah, she, you know, she said, and so, and that's how you know she became last year. She was on our board. Um, and she still, you know, she still probably worked with us regardless. But you know, life and things like that. You know, she was like, Look, I just I got so much going on, I can't be on the board, but I'm still gonna be a part of ABC. I said, I know we ain't letting you go nowhere anyway.
SPEAKER_03:But we appreciate y'all your work, we appreciate all your support and love.
SPEAKER_09:That's Miss Latanya, and then we we have um oh lord, we have a dea is on the project too. So let's welcome a dea to the show.
SPEAKER_03:Let's bring on a dea.
SPEAKER_11:Hey, yeah, yeah. Listen, we woke up this morning. Yes, that part.
SPEAKER_09:Oh lord, that part Anthony, I met a dia because we used to work together. We almost got, you know, I I promise, you know, it's it's old, so they can't prove it anyway. And the teachers probably got over it by now. But her and I almost got fired on our first day of work. I had to tell you offline that story.
SPEAKER_02:Yes, yes, we did. Uh-huh.
SPEAKER_09:But you know, we it's so funny, but it's truthful. Like, you know, if you're a teacher, make sure you know what time you're going to happy hour. Go to happy hour at the right time. I just put it that way. Thank God I don't drink, and everybody knows I don't drink.
SPEAKER_03:Listen, well, but the question is, is there a right time? Because it's always happy hours somewhere.
SPEAKER_09:Not going to make you refuse to go there with you today. I refuse.
SPEAKER_10:All right.
SPEAKER_09:And then our um, I don't know, we have one our one more author in the back, and she actually is a powerhouse in the field of social studies. And I had the pleasure of working with her at a school here locally in San Antonio, and that's Ms. V Lewis.
SPEAKER_03:Let's bring her on. Hello, hello. Hey, Ms. Lewis. How are you? Wonderful.
SPEAKER_09:So these are all our fabulous authors, and I I honestly appreciate you all much for writing, you know, for trusting the process. And some of you are like, you know, the orders be going off all the time. I said, okay, I guess they're doing their own book signing. And that's good. You know, I'm I'm happy about it. So after our first commercial break, um we're gonna get into our discussion, you know, because we we we just have to talk about some of these subjects together because education is so broad, and you can't really just answer some of the questions by yourself. And I am honestly from the bottom of my heart, before we go to commercial, I just want to tell you all thank you, and I appreciate you all. And people are already requesting issue two, so we'll talk about that later.
SPEAKER_00:Celebrate the excellence of HPCU with the HPCU trivia game. This board game provides an exciting and educational way to learn about notable alumni, historical events, sports news, and more. This trivia game is sure to be a fit and perfect for college-bound youth, alumni, and the entire family. Don't miss out on this opportunity to support, educate, and entertain the HBCU Trivia Game today. Go to HBC2 Trivia Game.net to order.
SPEAKER_09:Welcome back, welcome back. I am here with um, I guess I would say, all of the newly published authors. Um, some of us have published a couple of books already, and I hope that they will share that information when we get to our final moment segment. But our first discussion question is, and you can you can you know speak at your own. What inspired you to share your story in this publication? Like, what message did you hope for it to bring to people reading?
SPEAKER_03:Monique, you may have to call them out because they're gonna sit here.
SPEAKER_09:I know they're gonna sit here like in church, like you in Sunday school. I ain't gonna read because I don't want them calling.
SPEAKER_03:We're just gonna put them on the spot and whoever on the screen is who's gonna talk.
SPEAKER_09:Yep, one, two, three, you it tag okay.
SPEAKER_08:Um, I always wanted, I have previously written um a couple of books, but I always wanted to do one on the education mainly because um parents to see what we actually go through, and I wanted um educators to feel seen, um, knowing like we're in this journey together.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, okay, that's a hot one. That's good. We're in this journey together. She said, We're in this love together. Okay, no, just kidding.
SPEAKER_10:Uh-uh. No, Algebra.
SPEAKER_03:What about you, Miss D. Lewis?
SPEAKER_09:Well, um, I have always had a passion and a desire to write, I just haven't gotten started, and I thank God for Monique giving me this opportunity. However, um, after 23 years in the military, teaching has always been a part of my, I guess, passion with my children in church settings. And so getting in the classroom and really seeing what goes on in the classroom as an educator is important to for those that's desiring to be educators to see the reality of it. And it's it's more than teaching ABCs and one, two, threes. Um, you deal with a lot, as I wrote in in my chapter, you deal with a lot, and sometimes you're more than just a teacher. A lot of times you are your mentor, you're a counselor, and so it's real, it's real in the classroom, just like it's real at home. So that's my passion behind it. Okay.
SPEAKER_03:And look at that, look at Natalia, like, yeah, it's about that passion. She's like, I agree with you.
SPEAKER_07:I do, I agree, and that that's the reason why um, you know, why I'm I'm really blessed to have participated in this. Um, this is my first time being an author, as you as you already heard. Um I unlike my counterparts here, work in higher ed. So um, you know, I'm not I'm not privy to the life of uh the classroom K-12. Um but I see the students as they are getting ready to enter into college and the the opportunity to help them navigate higher education and help them to, you know, sort of uh develop as a college student, kind of growing into an adult. Um, those are things that uh I I feel very privileged to have an a hand in um that that guide because um I was a first gen student and I didn't have that. Uh I had to navigate all of that all by myself. So I I really appreciate the opportunity to do this and to help people do it. Um, who may not have had a mentor.
SPEAKER_09:That's good. I guess.
SPEAKER_03:You know, minimal, I guess.
SPEAKER_09:So you Anthony, you're just gonna slide by and not answer it, huh? Like you're gonna be.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, I you know what? I've been so caught up in in in in the ladies and what they were saying. I don't even I don't forgot the question, so don't worry about me.
SPEAKER_09:See what I mean. Didn't I tell y'all you you had this is so like unscripted, just be yourself. Um, what inspired you to share your story?
SPEAKER_03:I think I was bullied. Uh Monita told me I had to do it.
SPEAKER_09:I plead defense. Miss Latina, I said whatever you hear, it is not listen.
SPEAKER_03:I I I probably would say that uh you know what? Before we even go there, hold on, wait a minute, before we even go there, we got one more of our authors who just joined us. Um, better late than never. Listen, she better been out there dropping some fries, and you know, and she she has some orders to take before she got here. So let's bring on Dr. Crystal Call. Hey, Crystal. Hey, y'all. Um I'm assuming you were taking orders, that's why you weren't here.
SPEAKER_09:No, long story short, I literally just flew back in. My flight landed at 6 20. Um, getting from the airport, I went to go see my mom. My mom is battling uh stage two breast cancer, and so I just had to lay my eyes on her for the long weekend. So I went to see her, and then I had a chamber meeting that uh I had to jump into uh at 7 and talk to them for updates uh on the chamber. We're trying to launch the new website, and then uh I told them I gotta jump into another uh meeting.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, listen, thank you for being here today. Listen, so uh well first of all, we're gonna continue to pray and uplift your mom during this time. Thank you. I love the fact you like I love how you tell the old folks. You sometimes we gotta go go lay eyes on real quick.
SPEAKER_09:Yes, yes. I just had to lay my eyes on her and reach out and touch her, give up. Okay, yes, listen, you better, you better.
SPEAKER_03:So the question is, Crystal, what was the inspiration for you to write your chapter in the book?
SPEAKER_09:Whoo! Um, the transition from being an educator to a um a restaurant frying chicken, frying French fries taking orders, um, was a huge transition for me. And it made me feel like I wasn't connected to the education world after spending 17 years of my life uh there as a career. And so when Monique brought the opportunity um to just share my experience with that, it it allowed me to feel connected to the education world again. So that was my inspiration for um for wanting to do this project.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, all right. It was, I mean, I we we can take that. Now I think I was about to say I was I was gonna answer then I saw Crystal. I got excited.
SPEAKER_09:No, but I gotta tell you how I met Crystal. You're gonna laugh.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, okay.
SPEAKER_09:This this is better than how I met Adia. Crystal and I was at the same school, and Crystal have a son. Well, actually, let me rewind that back. I used to go and hide out in her office because I didn't want to do no work because I was over tested. Allegedly. Yes, please, allegedly. They can't do nothing to us now, though, at this point. I mean, but um from that point, and then she came in one day and was like, I got a son that got to get out. He's been getting out of my house. I was like, uh uh, we got connects to HBCU, we're not gonna put him out, and so that's how we connected. And you know, her son is doing extremely well. He was actually one of our first like ABC college bound kids from this area. Okay, so that's how so I told her how I met everybody.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, good. All right, so I want to say for me, uh, my inspiration behind this particular chapter, um, and because now and mind you all ladies that Monde caught me right as I was wrapping up and sending my book to the to the publisher and the printer at the time. So um I would say that for me, the inspiration uh behind my section really became a place of gratitude and responsibility. I wanted to both honor the journey, not just my own journey as an educator, but the people who poured into me uh when I didn't even believe in myself at the time. I didn't even think I could be an educator at that point. I always said that education didn't find me. I found myself through education. Um, so writing this chapter was a way of documenting some of that discovery. And I guess I wanted to really give voice to the parts of the educator story that don't always get amplified, you know, to make the highlight rails. You know, sometimes I, you know, I think in my second, I'll talk about some of the rookie mistakes that we don't always talk about because they don't teach us everything in school, you know, or or who were those quiet mentors on the side who was like just kind of like just nodding their head, or you can go to for advice, or some of those moments when you found that breakthrough. Um the breakthrough that came after the failure when you thought you had it all you had going on, and you realized I don't, and I had to learn from those mistakes, and and finally, I think those sacred moments uh when a student finally sees themselves differently because of something I may have done. So, those are I would say the inspire me moments that happen uh in the classroom every day for me. So, yeah, there you go.
SPEAKER_09:Okay, I like that plug. Inspire me is actually the name of his book, guys.
SPEAKER_02:Oh, you got it, you got it, you got it, you know.
SPEAKER_09:He tried to drop that on the slide. I get it. We got your commercial, Anthony. You have to do that now, but his commercial is always on the lineup. Um, and you know, I decided to do the project for many reasons because I just felt as uh much as my teachers love me in some way, um, that it was my way to give back. And leading to our next question, I actually will kick it off. Our next question is uh what teachers um impacted you in your chapters? I have three. Uh one is my kindergarten teacher who I still sometimes reach out to, um, is Mildred Rogan. Um, the second is Miss Constance Beale, uh Connie Beale. She was my saving grace um in elementary school because I was a unique child. I won't call myself bad, I'll just say I was unique. Um, and she would, I think she just would give me detention or lunch detention just so I could sit and not get in trouble at recess. But I love being in Miss Beal's space because she would just, you know, hey, look, get it together. And she was the first teacher to call my dad. Most teachers called mom, they didn't get it. I was, you know, I love my mom, but my mom was a nurture. My dad was more disciplinary, and Ms. Bill knew that. And then uh last would be Mr. Mr. Doug Toes, who um taught me how to stand out with my musical abilities and know that a singer is not just a person that can sing one thing, you got to know how to do it all. And so I wanted a creative way to think them, thank them, but also create a space for other educators to have a voice. So that's why we have voices of education.
SPEAKER_03:I love that.
SPEAKER_09:So now we gotta look now. We gotta go around table, hear what they got to say. I read y'all chapter, so I know if you you done switched out on me or not.
SPEAKER_02:No, I know.
SPEAKER_09:Well, I had two. Um I don't know if I had a third, I can't remember, but two that stand out is uh Miss Montgomery Jackson and um and Miss Ray Rafford. Miss Bray Rafford was my second grade teacher, Miss Montgomery Jackson was my fourth grade teacher. Um Miss Ray Rafford taught me uh discipline. And she said, if you don't learn anything else in my classroom, you're gonna learn how to behave, you're gonna learn discipline. And that has carried me uh all my life because discipline is so important in so many different aspects of life. You have to be disciplined, you know, to uh eat eat right, to lose weight, to, you know, manage your bills, to, you know, manage life is just is so important um discipline. And then Ms. Montgomery Jackson, um, she just she taught me um probably discipline as well, but it was just a pleasure to be around her because she taught also like style and grace. And I had the opportunity to actually um be taught from her, but actually teach her as well, and and be taught from her as a teacher because I was able to go back to my elementary school and teach fourth grade right next door to Miss Montgomery Jackson. So it was such a pleasure. Um, and she actually called on me uh to teach her because right when I started uh teaching there at that school, um was the transition from like paper, everything when you used to submit your attendance and things like that on you know on paper, and the clerks would come around at 10 o'clock every day to collect your attendance, and then we transitioned to computers, you know, and having to having to complete your attendance on the computers. Um and so she I just I I hear her in my head right now calling my name Cross, uh, for me to come across the hall to help her submit her attendance on this computer, you know, because she was now reaching like the end of her career. And, you know, all of these years, yeah, you know, she's been submitting attendance on paper, and now she got to log into the computer and put a code in and all of this stuff, and so it was just it was a pleasure to actually learn from her as a teacher and then to be able to uh teach her as a teacher as well. Wow, that's cool.
SPEAKER_03:All right, uh, come on, come on, Latanya, what you got?
SPEAKER_07:Yes. Um the the first I think I mentioned this in the in the book. So Monique, don't get on me if I switch it up because I know for certain that my first teacher was my mother. You know, I think she she just um she she really just made me interested in education, just the way that she would um you know bring bring forth books for me to read. I mean, I I had I had books in my house everywhere. I never had to, I never had to question, you know, I never had to go to the library. There was always something, some story to tell. And she brought the stories alive when she read them to me. And then um also my my grandmother. And I realized that this is unconventional because I'm not talking about classroom teachers, but at the same time, you know, um the importance of starting the education even before you enter into the classroom, I just think is so um is so important. Uh I developed a learned a love for learning, a love for reading, a love for writing um very, very early on. And I passed that on to my kids. I I have uh a daughter who now has a master's degree in literacy, and she's a teacher, and she um, you know, she also works in higher ed. And um, and my second son is also um uh a PhD student, and he wants to become a professor. Um, all of this because of that little seed that was planted when I was four or five years old. Um and uh of course, moving through K-12, I've had lots and lots of teachers that have made an impact. But I think for moving forward in my life, I realized that education started at home, and I implemented that in our home. So I would I would definitely say that, yeah, mom and grandmother.
SPEAKER_03:You know, I'm just gonna jump in real quick and say, Listen, I'm always that's part of my mantra whenever I get in front of uh teachers or educators or even families. I'm always saying that a child's first teacher are their parents. You know, it may not be the formal setting that we are thinking about, even with this, but but somebody had to teach us how to wipe our nose, how to go to the bathroom, how to write our name, you know, to learn some, you know, some simple numbers, some sight words, some letters, you know. It was a lesson, yes, to help us get us ready for when we go into you know Miss Cross's class, you know, uh or or somebody else like that. So we you know, you mom, grandma, and them, come on, first teachers, shout out to them all the time, all the time. Anyway, all right, let's go, let's go, let's go. Come on, what you got, v. Lewis, what you got? Who was those now?
SPEAKER_09:It's hard to follow that. Um, because I do believe that your first teaching comes from home. However, for me, um, as far as education goes, get into education, I have to credit that to my 10th grade, and she was also my 12th grade history teacher. Um, Mrs. Powell. Uh, I she was my first African-American history teacher for all that time. I never had for social studies an African-American teacher. Oh wow, and so for 10th grade, of course, she was my um uh teacher, but it was 12th grade when I got into her African American history class, is when I was really inspired by that entire class. That's why my focus for my uh degrees have been African American women studies, and so Miss Powell, um, she made history come alive for me because you know, a lot of people say, Oh, I don't like social studies, it's so boring, it's so boring. But I was always just inspired by history. But Miss Powell told me, she was the first person that really planted that seed that we make history every day, and in order to know where we're going, in order to be successful in life, we have to know the past, you know. Um, we can't erase our past, and she she told me, and I'll never forget, and I say this the same thing to my students that America doesn't have. A pretty past, it's it's ugly, especially for us as African Americans, but it's our past, and how do we know to do better and be better and strive for better is to know the past, and so Miss Powell is is my inspiration for education. Okay, come on, Miss Powell.
SPEAKER_03:Yes, we are here for 10th grade and 12th grade. Yes, all right. Um you know we was coming to you.
SPEAKER_09:She's gonna sit there quiet.
SPEAKER_08:I'm a quiet person. No, so my path to education um is definitely different. Like my maker in college was criminal justice. I was going to law school, um, or I was going into the WNBA because that was around the time the WNBA was like just kicking off or whatever. So in my mind, like education was like the furthest thing from it. I interned with the Department of Juvenile Justice, and you know, life happened. I ended up getting married and you know, had my first son. And so my husband was like, Well, why don't you try stubborn for a while? Um, and I just never went back into um criminal justice. And then so the teacher that most influenced me was actually my high school English teacher, um Abby North. I will never forget her. She was like the most goth um teacher ever see, like always dressed in black, long hair, long nails, all like most people would think that you know she was weird or whatever, but I absolutely loved being in Miss Northumber's class, and she pushed us all the time. And like, you know, standing on the chairs, captain my captain, like all of that stuff, like stuff that engages kids. That was Miss North to the T. And so when I did end up going into education, my first thought was I'm gonna do English, and that was because of Miss North.
SPEAKER_09:And she was like a Miss Miss James was a bang up science teacher, though. Like when I was it, she was a science teacher, and it was like Miss Frizzle's class when she was when she taught science at the school we was at. It was like cruising down on Main Street every time we went in her classroom.
SPEAKER_02:Oh wow, oh wow.
SPEAKER_03:All right, so I was saying um for me. Uh let's see. Let me do this. We didn't lost crystal there for a second. Let's do that. All right, for me, I would say, um all right, so I got three quick ones, I think. Mom, if you don't stop, this is what we have to apply.
SPEAKER_09:Stop pushing button. I didn't touch no more buttons, I promise.
SPEAKER_03:Stop pushing buttons, y'all. Y'all have to forgive her. Sometimes she just gets a little too antsy. Um for me, it was I would say um there were three. Uh, one was uh his name was Mr. Um Al Patillo. He was like the model of representation and integrity. Now listen, understand that Mr. Patillo was my fourth grade teacher, the first black male educator I ever encountered.
SPEAKER_09:What school was this at?
SPEAKER_03:This was when I was in elementary school. Oh and he, I mean, he had a very quiet strength. Um, he was patient. Um, he was an example of black manhood and education. I didn't know what that meant. I didn't know what I was like, what is this? But he left a lasting impression on my life. Um, he modeled uh what culturally responsive teaching looked like before that term even existed. You know, showing that showing you that in uh that intellect, that empathy, and and dignity um could coexist in the classroom. And his mentorship was everything to me. He planted a seed of possibility that later grew into my own calling to teach and lead. You know, um, I think in my own words, I would say that and and I pulled this from another resource. You know, you didn't have to wear a cape to be a hero. Okay, he gave me my first glimpse of what a culturally responsive classroom could really feel like because he was really engaged. He also represents legacy and brotherhood. And mind you, he later be I later discovered that we both are members of the same fraternity, Alpha Fowl Fraternity Incorporated. And so that connection deepened our understanding that education, leadership, and service are generational callings. I think the second person is actually my and also another fraternity brother. Um he was my catalyst who kind of pushed me into the calling of why. Now, you know, Dr. Wallace, sometimes he would get on my everlasting nerve. But he was an educator whose classroom, when you first I first went to his classroom as a substitute teacher. Um, I subbed for him one day. He was a math teacher. I had nothing, I know nothing about math, but I subbed for him in the math class. He was teaching you know junior junior high school, and that experience shifted my uh my trajectory. Um, and the one thing that he saw something in me, and I was amazed, you know, he came back and he reaffirmed and he said, Anthony, you're already doing the work, you just haven't claimed the title. You're already doing the work, you just haven't claimed the title. You know, not to say that I had to have a title of teacher, but I was already doing the work, and so that moment stayed with me, and that was a moment of awakening. Um, and he helped me see that I was already walking in my purpose long before I realized it. And the third person I would say is Mr. Fred Thomas, and he was my assistant principal when I again when I was in junior high school, um, he was my bridge to higher education. And Mr. Thomas helped me connect me to my next opportunity again. I tell people all the time I was stuck on stupid and parked on dumb. Um, I was not supposed to go to college, but Red Thomas was like he was a Bethune Cookman alum and he recommended me for college admission, and he became a key figure in helping me to access higher education again because I didn't think I knew anything about that, and so uh through through him, Mr. Thomas helped me symbolize the power of advocacy and the kind of educators who just don't teach but values for students when it matters the most.
SPEAKER_09:That's good. That's pretty good. That's pretty good. So we um had to take a short, short commercial break. And I think we probably need to hear this Inspire Me uh commercial. It's actually one of my favorites. If we play it every show, so um, right after this, I got some more questions with our wonderful guests.
SPEAKER_01:What if your greatest breakthrough was on the other side of your story? Inspire Me Moments, Living Out Loud with No Regrets by Anthony Harris Brown. Isn't just a memoir, it's a mirror, a movement, and a map to becoming who you were meant to be. Through raw honesty, spiritual insight, and empowering reflections. You'll unpack your past, embrace your scars, and live strong. This book is for the dreamers, the educators, the men learning to breathe again, the women reclaiming their work, and the leaders who lead to the party. You'll find real stories of trauma and triumph, tools for healing, and moments that remind you. Inspire people. Live out loud with no regrets at all parts. Get your copy today, everywhere books are sold.
SPEAKER_09:So, yes, that is our own Mr. Um Anthony Harris Brown. Can't say H because you know, if you look it up by the H, you're not gonna find it on Amazon. So Anthony Harris Brown would inspire me. And you know, those are really good nuggets that has actually helped me as well. So kudos, Mr. Brown. So our next question uh for our for our fabulous team that I know um the screen just went black. Sorry guys. Uh, the next question I have for you all, if you could summarize the power of education in one word, I know the power of education in one word. Um what would that word be? And this if you like me, because I know Adia probably got the same, like if not more years, like I'm at 25 years this year, and some of the stuff that I probably could like turn a blind eye to or just let it roll off the back of my shoulders. Now it's like, no, I'm not. Like before we went on, I was like, y'all, I don't even do coaching, I don't do anything. Like 429 in 59 seconds, I'm out the door. But you know, I guess the one one word that sum up for me, I guess it would be um empowered, because I think throughout my career, and even you know, when I don't do things that are um in the educational aspect, I still feel like I have to empower everybody around me or make them feel empowered or give them a voice. And I always go for the underdog too. So that's my work.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, come on, empower. And listen, real quick before before anybody else responds, real quick. For those of you just not watching us, again, you are watching, you know, um, a better chance for you's futures. We're talking about education matters, and we're also here talking about voices of education. You actually have an opportunity to meet the authors of this brand new book that just released recently, and uh, join us in the chat. You can see the conversation if you want to, and you can if you want to add value in the chat, whether you're watching us right now on LinkedIn, YouTube, Facebook, what is that one word? Um, it that can describe the power of education, you know. But anyway, I digress. I had to do a quick little promo.
SPEAKER_09:They gave us stone wall again. I'll go. I'll go. And I'm gonna say knowing, knowledge. That's my that's my one word for uh education, knowing and knowledge.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, okay, okay.
SPEAKER_09:How do you choose that word though? I chose that word because you know, I don't, I'm not trying to make this a Bible study, but my people are destroyed for lack of knowledge. And so I was speaking with someone today, actually, and they were asking about you know things that's going on in government, things that's going on in our country today and other countries, and and I began to trace steps of the past uh today. Come on, she's minister, don't play, she'd be not I'm not gonna give you a history lesson or a Bible study lesson, but but you could, but you could it's a daily gospel network, it's not like you be out of the right, but as a as a historian, a lot of the the things that have happened in the past lines up with the prophecy that is to be fulfilled in the Bible, and so knowledge is very important because just having a conversation about something that's going on right now, you get a lot out of that and of the a better understanding of why things are happening today, okay, okay, okay, preacher.
SPEAKER_03:Come on, knowledge is power.
SPEAKER_09:We got look, you know, the tiny on the praise team, so it really could have church.
SPEAKER_07:Yeah, come on, come on now. We can have church, we can have church now.
SPEAKER_09:Just say it, like it would not be out of the way. Don't do it, don't do it, you know. Glory to God. All glory to God.
SPEAKER_07:Yes, I'll go next. I'll go next. Um, I would say options, I would say possibilities. Because um, there are just so many, you know, there's so many different things that you can do once you do have that knowledge, right? Um, you have choices, you have you have ways of uh you don't you're not stuck doing just one particular thing. Um, one of the main things that I think that students should get out of a good education is the ability to think critically. And that that critical thinking skill allows you to think outside of the box, allows you to go down so many different paths. We don't we don't have to just do one thing. So I love that education brings possibilities.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, so wait, so let me go back real quick. So Monique said what was Monique's word.
SPEAKER_09:I don't know what I said.
SPEAKER_03:Oh Jesus, somebody go here, empower that empower possibilities and knowledge, knowledge, okay.
SPEAKER_10:Somebody so I'm gonna go next.
SPEAKER_08:I'm gonna go next, and I'm gonna say transformative. Um being able to be that change maker in the lives of the students that we come across.
SPEAKER_09:Okay, that's good.
SPEAKER_02:That was oh boy, that's powerful, that's powerful.
SPEAKER_09:I was gonna say power, but Monique said in power because Piggy drunking off of um Miss Lewis, knowledge is power. So that was that was a word that I would I would say power. Okay, okay. Look at y'all coming up with these these uh magnificent things. Anthony, did you give a word?
SPEAKER_03:I was gonna trace to say transformation as well, but okay, but so I had to go I had to think on it real quick. So let me so okay, so I heard the empower, power, uh, transformation, knowledge. Uh, I mean, it just okay. So I guess I would go with um um education at it um at its best is um liberation, it frees people, it does, it frees you from the limitations, from the fear, from the ignorance, from the system that in some places and cases was never designed for us to win. And I'm talking about us. Go ahead, preach. Um, I'm just saying liberation, it's a word that that that that that oh god come on. It speaks to both the per the personal, yeah, and the collective power of learning to know yourself, to love yourself, to claim your voice, and to shape your future, yeah, it's gonna take you to the next level.
SPEAKER_09:That's good, and it and it does honestly. I I can agree with every last word that each of you all have said, um, and then I'm reflecting back in how it applies to like things that are going on now in education. And I know before I know I joke a lot and I play a lot, but in all seriousness, there is no way um with the things that are going on now. So I commend people like you know, Miss Lewis, that is still teaching um history and social studies because I know I would be in trouble every day. Um, and I think the only person on here who has probably witnessed my classroom and the most unique things that I did in the classroom uh would be Miss James, and she probably tell you, like, we did both. If I was gonna talk about um your version of history, I was gonna include mine too. If I was going to give a poem that you wanted me to learn, you know, because that's what your curriculum says, I was gonna give one of mine too.
SPEAKER_03:So you're gonna hear the whole story. You ain't gonna give we gonna give you the whole story that part, so you can make an informed decision.
SPEAKER_09:We don't need to tell you half of the story, and that and that's why I'm like, Oh, I just can't be in the classroom. I know I couldn't because I would get in trouble, because that's just what that was me. Um, I was militant then, I'm militant now, but I'm just using it in a different way.
SPEAKER_02:Wow, that makes sense.
SPEAKER_09:Okay, so um, before we wrap it up here, um, I really, really, really want um for our final moments, probably gotta take the commercial because I want them to think. But um, after this commercial, we're gonna come back and our final moment, each of our authors, which I'm so proud of, he whether they're newly published, started published, or found a hitting voice within themselves. Like, I'm so proud of each and every one of you all because I know y'all was like, we're not gonna get this done. This is what Monique got us doing here. But I read each of you all's chapters and I had learned some new facts about some of y'all. And you know, but what I want you to do in your final uh moment is I want you to talk about yourself as an educator, um, and some of the words that we use while we were describing our voice in education all applied to me. Um, I had to go through a transfer transformative thing within myself in order to become Dr. Monique Robinson. Um, and it's it's funny, I'm trying not to cry because I'm not a crier.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, yeah, it'll make you feel better.
SPEAKER_09:Uh but if you knew my story in education and from a humble beginning of a child who was not supposed to graduate, was not supposed to do many things, and you look at the story and the things that God has allowed me to accomplish now. And you know, if you read the dedication of the book, um, the dedication I wrote like 10 times over and over again. Um, and the time you mentioned it, your parents are your first teachers. My parents are educators. My parents have been um they're retired educators, and everybody who meets my parents call them their parents too. So uh in that dedication, I literally cried my eyes out because I thought about the humble beginning as a child that had to sit in the IEP meeting and tell the teachers, I'm not dumb. I just don't want to learn in your class. Or as a child in you know high school that sat there when the proficiency test went out and sat there, you know, with my mom and the counselor, like she ain't trying to go to college, where's she gonna go? Not with these grades. And then when you look back at all you've been through, and you're able to just say, Look, God, I have a voice, and that's how we came up with the title of the book, Voices of Education. I have a voice, I'm gonna tell my story so that it'll open doors for other people to understand that we are black, we are educated, and we have a voice. So after this commercial, it's tag my team hit, and um, I probably cry and come back smiling.
SPEAKER_06:Are you interested in attending an historically black college or university? Hello, my name is Robert Mason. I'm president and founder of the Common Black College Application. Our application allows students to apply to over 50 historically black colleges and universities at the same time for only$20. HBCU graduates have been some of the most renowned individuals in their respective fields disability. In addition to that, our faculty and staff are truly committed to your success, and they have a vested interest in seeing that. That coupled with the academic rigor and the fact that you're staff lifelong exercises are just some of the many benefits of your attendance and historically black college. So if you're interested in completing the Common Black College app, visit our website, CommonBlack College App.com to apply that. Thank you and get educated.
SPEAKER_05:Looking for inspiration, motivation, and the good news of Jesus Christ, look no further. The Daily Gospel Network has what you need. With more than 300 ministries from all over the country broadcasting every week, you're sure to get your dose of spirit-filled encouragement from the great programs on the Daily Gospel Network. Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, Amazon Fire, Apple TV, all mobile devices, and the internet.
SPEAKER_09:Welcome back, and I have been enjoying this hour with the featured authors in our new book, Voices of Education, Inspiring Stories from Teachers, Educators from all faces of this life. And um, if you are watching or catching the replay or catching it on BuzzFeed, which will be on Apple Music, Spotify, any of those other platforms, please drop us a link. And if you are interested in purchasing the book, message us and let us know which author you are supporting, and we will get your book out to you. Now, people who have bought the book during pre-sale, your book should be arriving this week. I do know that somebody on here has a book. I don't know if he's going to share his or not. Um, even I haven't gotten mine yet. You know, maybe I need to go check out the the delivery people. But um definitely, definitely, I do appreciate each and every one of our authors. Um, and drop him a line. I see V Lew has got her. Uh somebody made a comment already for her in the chat.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, yeah, she said somebody's talking about uh vain thomas. He wants to give you a shout out.
SPEAKER_09:Oh my said you better speak. I told you she a preacher, preach, preacher. So I don't know uh who wanna who wanna go first. And you know, as we do our final moments, you know, tell us your story, whether you have a business or whether you, you know, after you, you know, take care of your reasoning on why, you know, tell us what else you have going on because we like to know. See, we gotta call them out. They don't ever want to cooperate, Anthony. I don't know what's wrong with this, these, this group of ladies. And you know what? And and one of them graduated from Virginia Union, so I know she talked, and then other one who went to VU.
SPEAKER_03:Okay, let's go. Because I'm actually going to your campus uh later on this mom.
SPEAKER_09:I'm gonna pop up.
SPEAKER_03:Is that where you are? Are you there in the house? Yes, I'm in which many really the mom.
SPEAKER_02:More confidence, okay. Cool, yes, we can connect. We got the link up and take a photo. I'm coming.
SPEAKER_08:Yes, I don't know if you were invited.
SPEAKER_02:We outside.
SPEAKER_03:I'm sorry, I don't forget about what the question is.
SPEAKER_09:I don't forgot what the question was. You can't act right, they can't act right. The question was telling us about yourself and what programs you have coming up next in this in this realm of writing, like what you got going on.
SPEAKER_03:Oh, this this let me go. I'm gonna let y'all do your thing. I'll be back. I'm gonna go, I'm gonna go. I'm gonna go, I think I have my book in the car. Hold on, I'll be right back.
SPEAKER_08:Okay, so I am currently an eighth grade um um English teacher, and I have a couple books out. So my first one, I have them here with me. It's called If These Bleaches Could Talk. Okay, so this one um it's called Tells From Behind the Bands, If These Bleaches Could Talk. And this one is about um the wife of a football coach um and how you're on that um coaching carousel because you never know, like you know, one day you can have the the job of your dreams, and then you might need moving, okay? Um and then this one is called Mama I Wanna. And then I have a I have another one. It's called Um Everything Has a Purpose. That's also a children's book, but I don't have that one with me. And then I have a STEM business with my twin sister, and it's called Twins and STEM, and we have activity books, and right now I'm working on our subscription box. And then on top of that, I am a volleyball coach, and I am currently working on my national boards, so I'm busy.
SPEAKER_09:Yay, I love it. I love that for you. Like, I mean, because part of the part of the goal, honestly, of this this project too is to highlight some of the things that you do, as well as you know, some people see you, oh, that's the teacher, that's all they do is teach. You know, some of the kids even think that too. All you do is you just in the building. I'm like, no, I have a life, don't seem like it, but I do. So, who wanna go next? I'll go. I am an eighth grade US history teacher. Um, and I am also a coach, I coach four sports, uh, girls' basketball, tennis. That's my love, that's my joy right there. Tennis. Um, I coach volleyball and I am a track coach, specifically hurdles and pole ball. Um, I have been procrastinating. Uh, so many people have spoken into my life that I need to write, and it is it is a strong desire of mine. I'm gonna give it with Monique now a little later so that we can go on. She had helped me get this project rolling because I um I don't have a whole bunch of books or anything to show you. This is all I have voices of education, but it's a start, and again, I am very grateful for this start. So I want to get there's there's a title, there's chapters that's burning within me that are already has been a part of my everyday thought process, really, with um with the project that I want to do, and so I need to start. I need to start because I've procrastinated enough. Um, and I have time now, you know. Um, yeah, I coach and I'm teaching, but I also have time to write because I was in school doing my master's, I was doing all of that, coaching and teaching. So now that I'm not doing any of that, just those two things I just graduate, huh? Oh, I was saying yay, graduate. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I graduated last summer. But yes, I'm ready. I'm ready to start writing. Awesome, awesome. Anthony's back, and I believe Crystal is back as well. Um, so I don't know who's going next out of the three of you all.
SPEAKER_07:Sure, I'll go next. Um, I am an academic advisor at a university. Um, I advise for currently, I advise for um business students. And um my heart is is definitely with the the freshmen, the ones that are just coming in. So uh I'm kind of taking on some extra responsibilities just so that I can uh be a part of that uh that experience of new student orientation, um, as well as a staff senator, which which means that I get a chance to impact.
SPEAKER_03:um you know the environment in which we work as higher ed professionals um projects that are coming up this is my this is my first time ever being published you know publishing a book but I have had a songwriting publishing contract at one point and um as of late I think you know just because of doing this and kind of getting back into my life I'm starting to write again so um so I'm writing songs and um you know I don't I don't know what's gonna come of it I don't know if I'm gonna do another album but you know um the likelihood of of at least contributing to a new album is probably pretty pretty good so that's what I'm doing what wait she said she gotta help write music like hold on wait a minute she lead the price thing wait a minute wait uh wait a minute latanya hold on we need to do we need to get an ace election out of you real quick before we leave him out of here hold on oh I think it's Dr.
SPEAKER_09:Crystal Cross's turn excuse me I think we can yeah you have your microphone still on I think we can get an ace election out of you if you can you can hear she said she was a song she said she was a singer she can sing i looking help look look me up from from old school look me up on on iTunes uh oh she told you mr brown she said look me up well all right then all right so when when she's not dropping fries or making some church punch um or and she and when she's this whenever she decides she's gonna come back to the classroom or back to the building one day y'all that's kind of what was going on in crystal's life it is all in god's timing okay because none of this was my plan when you talk about following God's plan for your life and surrendering that's my story so I completely surrendered I was removed from the classroom I didn't leave that choice um but right now I am I just opened um not a second location but just uh a different location so we moved locations from um one place to another and so I'm just kind of focusing on that and I am being um pushed in my back almost uh once or twice a week to write a cookbook so I am working on um getting this cookbook finished so Monique can stop threatening me I don't know y'all make it like a bad person I don't threaten people I just push y'all to do stuff I didn't say it was bad I just said I was being threatened we had some more vegetarian options on the menu that's all I need well you know we got mac and cheese we got yams we got you know greens we have you know veggie with pita we got french fries with cheese you know that's not enough for you I am working she was right around the corner for me so I was in there I'm working on a veggie burger I am okay for you Mr.
SPEAKER_03:Brown all right so when I get off the plane in May I'm coming over there was it because you in Cibolo we're in shirts now the the food truck is in Cibolo the restaurant is in shirts oh okay okay not far from each other not far like six minutes there we go yes so that's what I'm working on y'all wow all right well listen I can just say real quick it's been a pleasure to be here on this podcast this this screening with all of these wonderful talented amazing beautiful ladies thank you so very much listen there's the book right here Voices of Education the Anthology volume one so I guess because we said volume one I guess that means a volume two is coming of course ah uh talking about again inspiring stories and strategies from classroom innovators again from from all of these educators you heard here on this screen we've been able to share some strategies and some best practices um the people who people who are in our neighborhood our community who helped us help us make a difference um to kind of ground us into who we are today we talk about topics like owning my teaching journey the importance of work life balance come on that's important oh my gosh the teacher who shaped my path uh the rookie mistake and the real lessons I love the fact that Dr. Robins talks about big data that drives us and the lessons the hard way I love the fact you know you know Miss James talk about the legacy emotion in the sister circle there are so many conversation points in here that you can glean from if you are a brand new educator all the way up to that one who's like listen I'm about to go on and fold in the towel and I didn't did my 30 plus years and I want to go back and I want to just kick back and read matter of fact it's October it's national book month so why not curl up with a great book and have a chance and hear some stories from some other educators. So again Amazon right now if you want to go purchase one online you can go to Amazon right now if not Monique is going to make sure she drops the link in the chat so if you want to actually purchase um at a at a at a lower rate and you can actually support any of these amazing writers authors right here on the screen as Monika said earlier also we work here so I just dropped my very first book called inspire me moment living allowed with no report we got to drop Father day so it's all about it's a living memoir yes I tell the thing I tell the throw um about all of the things I'm not gonna do I'm gonna give y'all this one right now because you you wouldn't believe it unless I told you and I showed you the pictures you're talking to a person who has been transformed we're talking about transformation and living out loud and that liberation being free how about I'm gonna give you this one if you have to buy the book to read the whole story I used to be 450 pounds I sit before you now on this virtual screen at 150 pounds come on somebody that's a praise report right there so um memoir of stories reflection on a roadmap for walking in purpose I'm living my best life at 55 so now I get to go out listen I used to tell people all the time I used to get in trouble for talking too much now I get paid to talk I turn my purpose into my passion no I turn my my passion into my purpose and my purpose into my paycheck my next speaking engagement will be in Richmond Virginia I'll be speaking at the national family engagement conference um at the Richmond Marriott Hotel uh at the end of the month so if you just happen to be in town holler at your boy but don't yell for more information about what we do how we do when we do you know hey hit me up at my website at aharrisbrown.com and you can follow along and I would love to bring the brotherhood book tour to your neck of the woods awesome so you have met all of our fabulous authors um and as Anthony said I do have the link yes okay not the round of applause yeah I did I taught kindergarten I remember that round so um if you use this link you actually will be supporting one of our fabulous authors and you know who knows you might want to schedule them to come speak come talk about their chapter or just get to know them I know four of us is actually in San Antonio Anthony usually comes in May you know maybe we might you know do a book thing by then I don't know but anywho we try we will be doing a book signing and you will actually get to meet us during our gala that we have every year in May yeah so I've spoken into it we're gonna have it with our veggie burger I'm messing with it and church funds yes come on okay now that we can do that church funds but we're gonna have that veggie burger we're gonna have it okay all right so thank you guys for tuning in and we probably will replay this a couple times this week so if you didn't get to hear it the first time um drop us some links the next time and support our authors because they worked extremely hard on this project and what we have coming up in a better chance realm we are right now doing a project as we lead to my alma maters homecoming uh look at what Wilberforce did so you will see a lot of our fabulous alums and if you know a fabulous alum that came from the Wilberforce University make sure you you know send me an email so we can shout them out on our page and then we also are gearing up for the holidays we have a toys not toys for ties but toy donation thing that we will be doing with the wonder chamber if you've been it's I know the name is weird but the wonder chamber is actually fun um it's a selfie museum and we're doing it for a good cause we have DJ Big Cat that will be on the ones and twos in one of the rooms at the um wonder chamber but we're collecting toys for a daycare um the Tanya's angels daycare so we are um we are doing that for the holidays so that's what we got going on so it's been real I truly appreciate you for tuning in and my authors we couldn't have done it without you so thank you again uh from the bottom of my heart that's it that's all till next time for inspiration motivation and the good news of Jesus Christ look no further the Daily Gospel Network has what you need with more than 300 ministries from all over the country broadcasting every week you're sure to get your dose of spirit filled encouragement from the great programs on the Daily Gospel Network.
SPEAKER_05:Catch the Daily Gospel Network on Roku, Amazon Fire Apple TV, all level devices and the internet tune in to a better chance for youth television show with Home Tony Robinson on the Daily Gospel Network.
SPEAKER_04:Join us every week is we uplift the youth and help them on the road to the point of work that's the better chance for youth television show with most Tony Robinson or if you're not going to be able to watch it
