Social Justice Leadership by Allyson Umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n Embracing my Authentic Self to Build a Sense of Belonging en-us 2019-04-04 04:34:32 UTC 2019-05-09 19:11:13 UTC hello@padlet.com My Social Justice Leadership Philosophy a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366004 2019-04-04 04:38:12 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366004 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366082 I believe that social justice leadership is about creating an empowering environment, especially for youth, where they can embrace “markers of difference” in both themselves and others (Dantley & Tillman, 2010, p. 24). I approach this in my everyday life by being unafraid and unapologetic of my authentic self and being transparent about my intersecting identities in order to then build a sense of belonging among youth and parents/family members with whom I work. 

]]> 2019-04-04 04:38:43 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366082 Intersectionality a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366358 2019-04-04 04:40:37 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366358 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366489 Because the theory of “intersectionality” is such an integral part of my social justice leadership philosophy and is often used and seen in social justice contexts, I include this video to give credit where it is due to Kimberlé Crenshaw, who coined the term, and to understand “that multiple forms of inequality or disadvantage sometimes compound themselves and create obstacles” (National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), 2018, 0:11). 

]]> 2019-04-04 04:41:34 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366489 Reclaiming Space and Being a Form of Representation a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366828 2019-04-04 04:44:12 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366828 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366988 When I interviewed for my current job as a college admission counselor for diversity outreach, I was asked the common question, “What is your biggest weakness?” I shared that as a gender nonconforming Filipinx individual, I hold this fear in the back of my mind that prospective students and parents/families would choose not to apply to or attend the institution I work for because of my gender presentation or after sharing parts of my identity. In order to overcome this fear, I remind myself that being my authentic self is in itself a way of “articulat[ing] a counterhegemonic vision or narrative of hope” for students who may share or relate to identities similar to my own (Dantley & Tillman, 2010, p. 24). 

]]> 2019-04-04 04:45:28 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348366988 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367147 As a college admission counselor, I am not only working in a field that is predominantly white and heteronormative, but I am also working on a team that recruits underrepresented students to a predominantly white, heteronormative (and wealthy) institution. I am “interrogat[ing] the policies and procedures that shape schools” by reclaiming space and being a form of representation for underrepresented students while “at the same time perpetu[ating] social inequalities and marginalization” due to the demographic makeup of the institution I work for (Dantley & Tillman, 2010, p. 31). By seeing someone like me in a professional setting, I hope that underrepresented students can also see themselves thriving in different communities after high school, whether they go straight to the work force or attend college.

]]> 2019-04-04 04:46:41 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367147 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367383 These three music artists – Ruby Ibarra, Hayley Kiyoko, and Kehlani – have contributed to my own social justice and identity development by reclaiming space in the music industry and being forms of representation for me. They give me the hope and energy to be my authentic self every day because I see myself represented in their songs and music videos. Ruby Ibarra is a Filipina rapper who intertwines Tagalog words and Philippine history and culture into her lyrics and music videos. Her music is “evidence of moral courage and activism” and challenges the stereotype that Asian women are quiet and docile (Shields, 2010, p. 562). Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani are both music artists who identify as queer, women of color. Both Hayley and Kehlani’s work embody the “deconstruction and reconstruction of the knowledge frameworks that generate inequity” by using female pronouns in their lyrics and featuring women as love interests in their music videos (Shields, 2010, p. 562). 

]]> 2019-04-04 04:48:31 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367383 Ruby Ibarra a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367496 2019-04-04 04:49:20 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367496 Hayley Kiyoko and Kehlani a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367557 2019-04-04 04:49:46 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367557 My Community of Practice a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367982 2019-04-04 04:53:11 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348367982 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368104 Valerie Gregory and Liza Talusan are two social justice warriors who have been truly impactful in helping me develop my social justice leadership philosophy and I am honored to consider them as part of my “community of practice.” They have shown me that my “learning is powerfully affected by those around [me] as well as by contextual influences” (Scanlan & Theoharis, 2015, p. 5). During her acceptance speech for the 2019 John T. Casteen III Diversity-Equity-Inclusion Leadership Award, Valerie explains that for her diversity means “I see you,” equity means “I embrace you,” and inclusion means “I stand next to you.” On the same note, Liza encourages educators to “think about the ways we can disrupt exclusion and actively include others” (National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS), 2018, 6:17). Both of their statements resonate with my belief in creating an empowering environment and building a sense of belonging. 

]]> 2019-04-04 04:53:57 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368104 References a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368202 2019-04-04 04:54:44 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368202 a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368234 Dantley, M, E. & Tillman, L, C. (2010). Social justice and moral transformative leadership. In C. Marshall & M. Oliva (Eds.), Leadership for Social Justice: Making Revolution in Education (2nd ed.) (pp. 19-34). Boston, MA: Allyn and Bacon. 

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). (2018, June 22). Kimberlé Crenshaw: What is Intersectionality? [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ViDtnfQ9FHc

National Association of Independent Schools (NAIS). (2017, March 28). NAIS AC Powered by PechaKucha: Liza Talusan [Video file]. Retrieved from https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tN0Uqs9GYrw

Scanlan, M. & Theoharis, G. (2015). Intersectionality in educational leadership. In G. Theoharis & M. Scanlan (Eds.), Leadership for increasingly diverse Schools (pp.1-10). New York, NY: Routledge.

Shields, C.M. (2010). Transformative leadership: Working for equity in diverse contexts. Educational Administration Quarterly, 46, 558-589.

]]> 2019-04-04 04:55:05 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368234 Liza Talusan a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368328 2019-04-04 04:55:52 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368328 Valerie Gregory a_reece_umali https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368393 2019-04-04 04:56:09 UTC https://padlet.com/a_reece_umali/n34r4rrb950n/wish/348368393