Parenting For Liberation

In this week’s podcast, Trina talks with Matthew Arlington, who is currently interning with Parenting for Liberation through his program at California State University Fullerton. Matthew is a father who was formerly incarcerated during the early stages of fatherhood. This episode focuses on the hardships associated with parenting while incarcerated and methods to overcome those barriers. Trina also explores how Matthew has adjusted to parenting after prison and his parenting methods. Lastly, Matthew and Trina reflect on parenting strategies for raising our children with a liberated mind set. Key Points Approximately, 10 million children nationwide have a parent who has been incarcerated The importance of communicating with your child while incarcerated “Get on the bus” is a California based program that was developed by the Center of Restorative Justice Works, which transports families to and from prisons for visitations on Mother’s and Father’s Day. The importance of and open communication with your childre

In this episode, Parenting for Liberation spoke with Melissa Franklin and Brandi Sims of First 5 LA, a public agency focused on the safe and healthy development of young children. They both joined to talk about a current epidemic of Black mothers who are largely exposed to racial bias from health care professionals during childbirth. The episode delves deeper into issues of Black maternal and infant health, with each of the Black women sharing their own personal experience with maternal health ranging from miscarriage to preterm birth and how our own traumatic experience fueled our collective passions to make a change in society related to issues of maternal health.  Key topics in this episode include:  How racial disparities are directly correlated to maternal mortality rates as the CDC reports that black women are 3.3 times were likely than white women to suffer a pregnancy-related death.  How common notions regarding factors such as age, income, and education being related to Black mother

This special episode features a live conversation hosted by Parenting for Liberation with Dani McClain (author of We Live for the We: The Political Power of Black Motherhood) and adrienne maree brown (author of Pleasure Activism: The Politics of Feeling Good). In this conversation, Dani and adrienne highlight the joys and pleasures of parenting and caregiving as Black mothers, aunties, and doulas.

In this episode with Natalie Pipkin, founder of Black World Schoolers, she told the stories behind the research data that shows that African Americans are increasingly pulling their Black children out of schools and deciding to homeschool for a variety of reasons. Natalie shares her own personal experience with racism as a school age child, and how when her own children began experiencing it--she went into protection and fear-based parenting mode. Natalie and her husband decided it was time to stop fighting for their children to be accepted in “in the classroom but left out of the curriculum” and after fours years at a private classical education institution, Natalie decided to shift to what she calls Black World Schooling. “We believe centering the wisdom, truth, experiences, achievements, and beauty of Africans and those throughout the African Diaspora can have a unbelievably powerful impact on black children around the globe. We invite you to join us on this journey of self love, cultural appreciation,

At PACT camp, I presented a workshop on white privilege for adoptive parents of black children.  I was invited to speak at PACT family camp by Malaika Parker, an African American adoptive parent, who works to support the adoptive parents of color who are connected with PACT Adopt. While I was excited to support the nearly 150 Black children who attend the camp, when I found out that 75% of the parents who come to Pact Family Camp have adopted transracially--meaning the parents are white, I was uneasy about it. I had read the many articles on the disproportionate number of Black children fosterees and adoptees, and also about the challenges/problems of Black children being adopted by white folks (article links below); however, I decided to show up for Black children. In a commitment to their liberation, I worked with 125 white adoptive parents on how to risk their white privilege and challenge white supremacy, for all children of color. www.thenation.com/article/were-whi…t-a-black-child/ www.yesmagazine.o

In honor of Mama’s Day and to raise awareness of the Mama’s Day Bailout initiative, Parenting for Liberation spoke with Tiara Moore and mother of 5, an activist, and mama who was bailed out by the Black Mama Day Bailout initiative. In our conversation, Tiara reflects on her experience with the criminal INjustice system, how she was arrested for defending herself, the fear tactics used and unlawful means of detainment that lead to so many Black folks taking plea deals, how Black Mama Bail Out came to her rescue, and how she used her experiences to help formerly incarcerated folks connect to resources and opportunities. Visit www.NationalBailout.com to donate to help #FreeBlackMamas like Tiara Moore for Mother's Day and beyond!

This podcast is a talk that Parenting for Liberation founder, Trina Greene Brown, gave at the National Conference for Children of Incarcerated Parents, hosted by Arizona State University. This Ted-Talk style presentation masterfully weaves personal storytelling of a child of a formerly incarcerated parent, who now gives back to incarcerated parents by facilitating liberated parent workshops with moms in prison. Trina Greene Brown, a Black feminist activist personally impacted by the prison industrial complex, is a powerhouse speaker who will make connections between the intersections of mass incarceration, racism, and parenting. She will share her innovative liberated parenting workshop series with incarcerated women on “Raising Liberated Children” for mothers who are incarcerated at a California’s women’s prison. Trina will thread stories about her relationship with her incarcerated father with the experiences of parents currently incarcerated, who rather than being afforded rehabilitation, restorative jus

On this podcast we connect with Ida McRae who identifies as a Black Muslim woman and parent on what it means to be Black and Muslim. With the heightened violence against Muslim communities from the New Zealand attack in Christchurch that left over 50 dead and 50 more injured, and with the increased repressive policies such as the Muslim travel ban initiated by the Trump administration. Oftentimes we don't hear the experiences of Black Muslims, so we are honored to talk with Ida who is parenting a powerful Black muslim daughter. Ida is a social worker who strives to support the social and emotional wellbeing of her community and she does a lot of work to destigmatize mental health for communities of color and Muslim families. Some topics we discussed were: --With Black Muslims making up over a quarter of the Muslim community in the US we learn what it’s like to live at the intersections of Black and Muslim identities and the double experiences of anti-blackness and islamophobia. --The role of Black faith

In this podcast, Trina was interviewed by Baby Crazy podcast, where she discussed how can parents raise activist kids? We talked about how to help your kids see the value in activism, how to talk to your kids about social justice, and how to discuss race differences. https://redcupagency.com/portfolio-item/raising-activist-kids-with-trina-greene-brown/ A place the parent can start before they start the conversation with their child is to think for themselves. What do you care about, parent? What is the cause that is true to your heart? - Trina Greene Brown Resources for this Episode Website: www.parentingforliberation.org Podcast related to what we discussed: Colonialism and Other -Isms: https://parentingforliberation.org/2017/11/23/colonialism-other-isms-with-prof-tiffany-lanoix/ Kitchen Convo with Kids about police brutality: https://parentingforliberation.org/2016/07/21/kitchen-convos-with-kids/ Teaching about Black History and Voting Rights: https://parentingforliberation.org/2018/03/01/black-h

This podcast is a great follow up to our last podcast which discussed healing justice, as we talk with Johnae Strong--black mommy of two: 6 yo Akeim and 2 yo Jari, educator and organizer dedicated to healing and liberation for all black people--about the Black Joy Experience album that was released by BYP100 in summer 2018. This album features a musical collection dedicated to freedom songs and liberation chants that keeps joy at the center of the fight for Black Liberation. We discuss the origin of Black Youth Project rooted in joy and healing, the Black Joy Experience album, the role of caregivers and children in the movement, and how we must be willing to be transformed in service of the work for the sake of liberation. Johnae is a parent for liberation, involving her children in the fight for liberation such as those held by BYP100. Throughout the podcast you will catch snippets of songs from the affirming “I Love Being Black” to painful “Mama, Mama Can’t You See.” and uplifting “Healing.” Please supp

“Confronting chronic emotional pain in Black life is the terrain of political resistance we must now explore, the new revolutionary frontier—” -bell hooks  On this podcast, we celebrate National Mental Health Awareness Week! In this podcast we talk to Mattice Haynes and discuss our participation and learnings from BEAM’s Black Mental Health and Healing Justice training in Summer 2018 and through storytelling explore the role of healing in Parenting for Liberation. When emotions rise on the call, we lean into them, and practice breathing together. Much gratitude for authentic vulnerability.  We conclude the call with a practice from the BEAM training, a collective mantra, that we co-created about the capacity for Black folks to heal: I have a right to my feelings and emotions Black people have a right to heal We have a right to exist and just be Our families deserve freedom to play, to laugh, and to love We can and we must love and support one another Healing is essential to Black liberation Let’s ge

Interview with Daniel of the D-Report. Title:Parenting for Liberation: Continuing the Conversation Topic: Parenting Segment: D Report Participants: Trina Green Brown, Broadcast Air Date: 06/15/18 Time: 5:15 PM (PST) Station: KUCR 88.3 FM Riverside, CA KUCR station page: http://www.kucr.org Discussion Topics: – How do we take care of our children within the politics of a world that requires us to resist? – What does it mean to parent from a place of fear? – What is post traumatic slave syndrome and how does this trauma affect our parenting? – How does the urgency to protect our children manifest fear? – How do balance imparting preparation of our adult sight to our children without over burdening them? – How do we acknowledge the brilliance of our children? – Why can children imagine that a different world is possible, and adults can’t? – Do we under estimate children’s potential for acceptance of and compassion for others? – Do we see children in a disrespectful way? – How do we have respectful relationship

Mother and Literacy Activist, Dr. Kim Parker shares about hosting a family gathering in Boston for folks raising Black boys entitled "Free, Whole, & Happy Black Boys." We had the pleasure of connecting with Dr. Kim virtually sharing tools and resources. Listen for tips and strategies on how you can build a community of practice in your area.

Parenting for Liberation co-facilitated a Raising Liberated Children workshop series with mothers who are incarcerated at a California women's prison. This episode is dedicated to all the powerful workshop participants and their children. Listen to founder, Trina Greene Brown, and Cecilia Cabarello of Chicana Motherwork share how the workshop came together, why they picked mothering, healing, and intergenerational trauma as the workshop themes, how the workshops unfolded, the successes and challenges, the power of storytelling and communal healing, and what's next for more workshops with parents who are incarcerated as well as the wider community.

A discussion on being a liberated parent when talking with kids about sexuality, with Ignacio and Amanda Rivera, a parent-child duo who created the groundbreaking, heartfelt and witty online talk show, Pure Love. During our conversation, Ignacio and Amanda, offer practical ideas for how to have conversations with your children about sex(uality). Pure Love has been airing on different media hosts each month since March 15, 2017. You can find the video episodes of this session on Youtube (https://youtu.be/obQHh1XqB4Q). For more info visit the Pure Love website: https://www.igrivera.com/pure-love.html. ​

As we close out Black History Month, our founder, Trina Greene Brown, visited a local elementary school to do a read-along. After reading nearly 15 books with her son, who gave his reviews, she finally decided on “Lillian’s Right to Vote.” Lillian’s Right to Vote deals with the difficult topic of institutionalized racism in America. Using flashback memories, the book is a “split screen” that positions the current uphill battles to the voting booth side by side with the historical uphill struggle for racial justice in America.After engaging the students in a small discussion on the importance of voting, Trina facilitated a quick voting exercise to operationalize the concept of voting. This was a powerful way to engage the young people in Black History while looking forward to build a powerful Black Future, wherein young people wield their power at the polls for good.

According to Essence Magazine's "Black Girls Draw" series, "One of the greatest revolutionary acts as a Black person in America is Black motherhood." In our interview with illustrator, Jena Holliday, we discuss her artwork that represents the power of Black motherhood. In our discussion, Jena shares why she wanted to focus on Black motherhood, the importance of representation in art, and how being a mother inspired her own creativity. Jena also unveils an artist reflection of Parenting for Liberation's founder, Trina Greene Brown, being featured for her #100DaysofMotherhoodSOF To learn more about Jena's artwork, visit her design studio at www.spoonfuloffaith.com

We are so happy to talk to Jamia Wilson, author of "Young, Gifted & Black," a newly published Black children's literature book. In this interview we dig into this incredible book that highlights 52 Black heroes across the diaspora. In the welcome letter the book is described as a love letter to our ancestors and the next generation of Black changemakers. We discuss the importance of representation in children's literature, how this book is an homage to Nina Simone, and how it can be used all year long and in schools. This Black History month and all year long, read Young, Gifted & Black with your children to share a more expansive representation of Blackness with this beautiful book illustrated by Andrea Pippins. Buy Black! visit a Black online bookstore: http://www.huemanbookstore.com

We had the beautiful opportunity to speak with Malesha Taylor, a classically trained opera singer, and mother of three residing in San Diego, a suburban community in Southern California about how to build a community and instill cultural pride in her children. During our discussion, Malesha reflected on the trauma of her own childhood, growing up in California suburbs as "the only Black kid"  and she made a commitment to build community for her Black children. She shares types on how to manifest and build community in spaces that feel isolating, through the use of arts and culture. With a commitment to never "be the only" Malesha advocates for centering Black voices and other marginalized communities in the arts, through her organization, Muse Salon and  through her work as a vanguard Black opera singer.  Links to Malesha's written and creative arts are available at How I Round, Arts in A Changing America, and Mater Mea. For more information, visit www.musesalon.org or contact her at malesha@musesalon.org.

On the heels of Thanksgiving (aka Thanks-taking), we had the pleasure of catching up with long time friend, Professor TIffany Lanoix to break down how to talk to Black children about colonialism and other -isms as they intersect and impact the parenting for Black children. In this podcast Professor Tiffany shares the regular and ongoing practices she engages in to discuss potentially heavy theoretical topics of colonialism, racism, classism, sexism, heterosexism, sex, and more in ways that are age-appropriate and allow the young person to lead and guide the conversation. Beyond sharing her own best practices, she also shares some resources for folks to access.