EDTalks: Modeling Equity in Education and Mental Health

Join us for two inspiring EDTalks on the importance of incorporating an equity lens in education and mental health work.

Developing an Equity Leadership Identity

Educator and consultant Dr. Lanise Block believes that equitable outcomes can only be achieved when leaders live out an equity-based identity, one that projects true and authentic change. Lanise has created an equity leadership identity progression for leaders which helps guide them along a pathway of self-development and goal setting. In her EDTalk, Lanise will introduce us to this process, as well as her five critical lenses of developing an equity leadership identity.   

Presenter: Dr. Lanise Block is a highly experienced educator who has served as a teacher, program coordinator, content lead for K-12 social studies, technology integration specialist and strategic project administrator. She is currently an adjunct professor at of the University of St. Thomas School of Education, Hamline University’s Center for Excellence in Urban Teaching, Metropolitan State University’s School of Urban Education and Augsburg School of Education. Her research interests include the digital divide, advocacy and inclusion. Dr. Block is also the founder of Sankore Counsulting, which fosters creative leadership in organizations and builds capacity in equity, diversity and innovation from the classroom to the boardroom. She holds a B.A. from Drake University and master’s and doctorate degrees in education from the University of St. Thomas.

Where is Mental Health in Equity, Diversity and Inclusion Work? 

Physical and emotional trauma can change the actual cell structure in a human body. For many in the BIPOC community, hundreds of years of race-based trauma – passed down for generations and still happening today in 2020 – has had a profound impact on mental health. BIPOC children and families also have far less access to quality mental healthcare, specifically with providers who share their cultural identity. In this EDTalk, mental health professional and Creative Kuponya co-founder Jamil Stramschror-Lott will share his insights on creating community-based, equity-focused and integrated care models.  

Presenter: Jamil Stamschror-Lott is a mental health professional who practices psychotherapy with individuals, hosts community healing sessions, and works with businesses to incorporate mental health, diversity and inclusion through a therapeutic lens. Jamil and his wife Sara co-founded Creative Kuponya, an organization that focuses on out-of-the-box, community-based and creative methodologies to bring about healing for individuals, communities and businesses. Jamil also teaches diversity and equity courses in Augsburg University’s graduate social work program. He has been named a Mentor of the Year by New Lens Urban Mentoring, and received Marquette University’s Young Alumni of the Year award in 2014. He holds a B.A. in sociology from Marquette University and a master’s degree in clinical social work from Augsburg University.