“Even with all of society’s mess and polarization- sitting under Austin’s teaching always leaves me feeling clearer, more inspired and feeling a deeper connection to humanity. She is brilliant, brave, and deeply human.”
Core Values:
We must be honest about how we got here, the people, policies, and assumptions that have shaped the world we share. But that naming is not punishment nor cynicism. That naming leads us back to hope. Hope that we could make different choices in the future.
❋ Information and embodiment❋ No AI and all of my humanity Despite the increasing availability and normalization of AI, it still has no place in the building of curriculum or the execution of that curriculum. When you hire Austin, you just get Austin.
❋ Accountability and hope Theory for racial justice has been developed over generations, and is far from monolithic. Therefore it becomes important to not only present information, but to be aware of how that information has landed in the lives of actual people.
❋ The classroom is no place for shame Many people are afraid of being shamed for not knowing, but the classroom is the primary place for asking questions without ridicule, disinterest or meanness in response.
❋ Clarity and disruptionMuch of society’s systems and structures we consider to be natural- the way it’s always been. But with clarity and a recognition of how our systems came to be, we also give ourselves an opportunity to disrupt them by imagining a new way of being.
❋ Learning and unlearning Both the act of teaching and learning is shared in all directions in a classroom. The teacher is always learning and unlearning from students and alongside her students.
Austin Channing Brown brings clarity to the systems we have all been taught not to question, and disrupts the narratives that keep those systems intact. Through engaging stories, she offers space for learning and unlearning, clarity and disruption, accountability and joy.
All you have to do is share the theme that would be most beneficial to your students- she’ll do the rest. Creating a curriculum that is challenging, rigorous but also interactive and compelling, your students will never be the same. Her approach is memorable because it’s embodied- bringing theory out of the clouds to walk among us.
If you have a need for a racial justice educator in your classroom, retreat, residency or fellowship, contact Austin today.
Solidarity, Criminal Justice, Allyship, Education, Black Feminism, Race and Faith, Black History,
Solidarity, Criminal Justice, Allyship, Education, Black Feminism, Race and Faith, Black History,
Class Topics
History of Housing Segregation and Our Collective Future
Troubling the Narrative of the Civil Rights Movement
The Criminalization of Blackness / The Criminal (In)justice System
Frameworks for Freedom Work and Why It Matters
There are numerous topics Austin can weave together to create an engaging and meaningful curriculum for your students. With both a masters in social justice and honorary doctorate bestowed in recognition of her work, Austin would make a fantastic addition to your teaching staff. Topics Austin would be thrilled to share with your community include but are not limited to:
Race, Rage and Social Change / Understanding the Race Riots of the 1960s
Race, Faith, and the Black Church
