Episode 22: Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones
Today, our guest is Dr. Cierra Kaler-Jones. Cierra Kaler-Jones, Ph.D. (she/her) is a social justice educator, researcher, and artist based in Washington, DC. As a community-based researcher, Dr. Kaler-Jones’s research broadly focuses on how to create and sustain educational spaces rooted in joy and love, while refuting control and management tactics in schools that deny young people opportunities for creativity and critical consciousness-building. Her heart’s work includes running a program that uses art and education to fuel social change through the co-creation of healing-centered spaces for and with Black girls and TGNC (transgender, non-conforming) young people.
Over the past ten years, Cierra has learned alongside preschoolers, K-12 students, college students, and adults. With her roots in dance and arts education, Cierra has also taught classes on U.S. history, public policy, and social change & leadership. She was the Assistant Director of a youth dance company for two years. She is now a member of a professional dance company.
In her current role, Cierra is the Director of Storytelling for Communities for Just Schools Fund, a donor collaborative that resources education justice organizing across North America. Listen Now.
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Links Mentioned In This Episode:
Dr. Cierra Kaler Jones (Website)
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