Rock the Schools with Citizen Stewart

Rock The Schools host Chris Stewart engages Arne Duncan, former Secretary of the U.S. Department of Education, in a conversation about the importance of valuing every child and seeing all children as assets.

“Hungry Children Can’t Focus” ~ Pee Wee Dread New Orleans native Peewee Dread (born Darius Collins) has been singing since childhood. Growing up in a city full of distinct musical traditions Peewee developed his own style incorporating his Creole-Caribbean style into Reggae and Hip Hop. “I sing for the love of the music,” says Peewee. He moved to Minnesota to attend college at Macalester. He’s been part of the music scene ever since. He’s performed all over the United States with many artists including Yellowman, Eek-a-Mouse, Jimmy Cliff, Third World, AfroMan, Justin Hinds, Culture, DMX, De La Soul, Black Eyed Peas, Lupe Fiasco, Das Efx, MatisYahu, Chris Berry, Toots & The Maytals, The Meditations, Sister Carol, Vanilla Ice and many more. Peewee’s band Dread I Dread has twice been honored as the Minnesota Reggae Artists of the Year. Peewee is Chair of 40 out of Poverty. "The initiative to help our disadvantaged communities connect with business and help foster these relationships for better communities".

Discussion centered about the human right to a good education for all and what needs to be reformed to make sure every student is getting a great education.

Growing up as an only child in Richmond, Virginia, Kemba Smith Pradia graduated high school and continued her education at prestigious Hampton University. What happened to Kemba in her new campus environment was a nightmare. In an attempt to “fit in,” Kemba associated with the wrong crowd and became involved with a drug dealer. He was a major figure in a crack cocaine ring and drew Kemba right in the middle of his life with physical, mental and emotional abuse disguised as “love.” After enduring this turbulent four-year relationship in 1994, Kemba was sentenced to 24.5 years and served 6.5 years in federal prison. Fortunately, she regained her freedom after President Clinton granted her clemency in December 2000. Her case drew support from across the nation and the world to reverse a disturbing trend in the rise of lengthy sentences for first time non-violent drug offenders. Her story has been featured on CNN, Nightline, Court TV, The Early Morning Show, Judge Hatchett, and a host of other television program

Chris Stewart with special guest Christopher Eide discussing the challenge of organizing reform minded teachers within unions that seek to marginalize their voice" with Christopher Ride, Executive Director of Teachers United in Washington State.

Black Lives Matter, Time Person of the Year 2015 Runner-Up is described as a new civil rights movement that is turning a protest cry into a political force. Hear what Dr. Nekima Levy-Pounds and Black Lives Matter Clergy and Supporters say about the movement on the ground in Minneapolis.

Chris Stewart unpacks truth with Tim Wise on a discussion about deep rooted, systemic issues in public education that negatively impacts the education of African American youth and what needs to be done urgently to fix it.

RTS Meet the St. Paul School Board Candidates presents a final chance to hear from the St. Paul school board candidates who will be representing students and families of St. Paul in tomorrow’s election. All candidates were invited today. Hear from Greg Copeland, Linda Freeman, Keith Hardy and Scott Raskiewicz. Chris challenges the candidates to discuss what is working in the education system that is failing communities of color in Minnesota.

This week, Chris Stewart talks to Ericka Huggins about her life as an educator, member of the Los Angeles chapter of the Black Panther Party, the Criminal Justice system and the Black Lives Matter movement. In 1963, during the height of the civil rights movement, Ericka began her political activism after attending the march in Washington, D.C. Chris a.k.a Citizen Stewart, digs deep for answers about how to model the academic success of the Oakland Community School started by the Black Panther Party achieved.

Chris Stewart and Dr. Charles Morgan, CEO of Union Gospel Mission will dig deep into the family's root cause of homelessness and its connection to education. Dora Jones, Founder of Mentoring Young Adults, will join the conversation to shine light on an education system that has failed MYA's youth and families that she serves in Saint Paul, MN and why she is on a mission to disrupt poverty.

RTS with Citizen Stewart talks one on one with civic rights activist, DeRay McKesson. In a short time DeRay Mckesson has become known for a new brand of civil rights advocacy, based largely on digital activism. Along with other activists he has raised consciousness about police killings of unarmed black people in communities across the country. While most of his followers know him for that work, fewer know the deep understanding his time in public education gave him for how human capital and classroom practices impact students, especially those in poor communities. He joins our show to talk about the importance of understanding school systems if we want to achieve educational justice.

Meet the producer, Rebeka Ndosi, who worked on TPT's Believe in Black Youth campaign. Black Brilliance, the documentary first aired Sunday, September 27 on TPT, featured 5 Minnesota High School seniors who demonstrate black excellence while overcoming stereotypes and defying the belief gap, to soar to success. "Black Brilliance" and the "Believe in Black Youth Campaign" is produced by Twin Cities Public Television and part of American Graduate: Let's Make it Happen - a national initiative in which local communities identify solutions to the challenges facing K-12 education in America

Rock the Schools with Citizen Stewart talks #BlackLivesMatter from Washington, DC with special guest Chauntyll Allen of Black Lives Matter, St. Paul, MN, after attending sessions at the Congressional Black Caucus Annual Legislative Conference 2015.

A special episode from Washington D.C. What happens when you take parents to our nation's capitol to discuss education reform. Chris debriefs with three #NOLA parents after attending education sessions at the Congressional Black Caucus Foundation Annual Legislative Conference 2015

The Politics of Education with special guests JACKIE TURNER, Chief Communications Officer St. Paul Public Schools, LATASHA GANDY, Students for Education Reform and MICHAEL SPANGENBERG, Education Activist and Writer promoting power to parents and students.

There is no more central figure in the educational life of children than their classroom teachers. Yet, the most important rules governing how teachers arrive to classrooms, how they stay there, and what is expected of them are tied up in labor politics that impact almost every aspect of teaching. In a previous show we discussed the mysterious and depressing way in which teacher contracts are negotiated. What takes place in the negotiating room likely would shock many Americans. But, even more damning is the way in which teacher union supporters act politically against advocates of school reform. We will discuss the real consequences of being an activist for changes to the way schools hire, train, and retain teachers.

"The Politics of Integration" is a powerful exchange between law school professors Nekima Levy- Pounds, Professor of Law at University of St. Thomas and Myron Orfield, Professor of Law at University of MN. Dr. Levy-Pounds challenges Dr. Orfield's research as it relates to racial and economic equity for communities of color.

Chris Stewart and special guest educator, Charles Cole "Breaking Down The Oakland Public School Industrial Complex". Charles' passion comes from his own experiences growing up without proper support. His life's goal is to better the communities he grew up in through his work.

Chris Stewart and special guest, 2016 Puget Sound ESD Teacher of the Year Nate Bowling, discuss why education is failing our youth. Nate teaches AP Government, Politics and Human Geography at Lincoln High School in Tacoma, WA. From an educators perspective, he sees a new group of people that have fire in their bellies and that believe all students have a right to the best education available.

If you listen to national anti-reform activists you might assume that all education workers that came to rebuild public education in New Orleans were opportunistic carpet baggers seizing on a profitable opportunity. That is an unfortunate narrative that insults the hard work done by earnest people who came to New Orleans like many Americans, to help. Pete Cook is one of those people. He moved to New Orleans in 2002 (before the devastation of Katrina) to teach at John McDonough High School when it was deeply troubled. We talk to him about the educational triage work he did with other education workers after Katrina. Pete in addition to teaching in New Orleans before Katrina, he also worked for KIPP New Orleans, the Recovery School District, and Mass Insight.