Thank you for joining us for another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. In this episode, we discuss the growing impact of classism on educational achievement and opportunity. Socioeconomic status plays an important role in shaping the quality of education students receive, from early childhood through high school graduation.

Dr. Canada references research demonstrating how classism contributes to unequal resource allocation across school systems. Affluent schools often benefit from newer facilities, advanced coursework, updated technology, and enrichment opportunities, while underfunded schools face systemic barriers that limit student opportunity. She also reflects on her personal experience as a young girl transferring to a more affluent school in pursuit of greater educational opportunities, offering insight into how these inequities impact students firsthand.

We discuss how socioeconomic status influences student experiences, reinforce cycles of poverty, and affect mental health and overall well-being. This episode explores solutions, emphasizing the importance of equity, adequate school funding, and policies that address poverty and expand access to opportunity.

Tune in for a conversion about expanding opportunity, promoting educational equity, and breaking systemic barriers in Pre-K through 12th grade education. Remember to subscribe to The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast on the ALIVE Podcast Network app for more episodes!

In this insightful episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast, we are discussing the foundation for learning: reading. Reading is more than a skill. It is essential for understanding the world, understanding ones place within it, and achieving success across all areas of life. We explore the transformative power of literacy and its historical significance for Black communities in both the North and the South.

We reflect on a time before the 1830s when anti-literacy laws made it illegal for enslaved people to read, write, or even possess books. These laws were not accidental. They were designed to control, limit possibility, and preserve systems of enslavement. Literacy was viewed as a direct threat because it had the power to inspire resistance, encourage revolts, and create a path to freedom. This episode highlights key historical moments, including the slave revolt of 1831, which demonstrate why reading and writing were so feared by slaveowners. We examine how access to education has always been tied to power, progress, and the heights one is able to reach in society.

Welcome to another episode of The Silk Stocking Sisters Podcast. Today, we explore education beyond elementary and secondary school as Dr. Canada reflects on the history and lasting influence of Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs). She discusses the vital role HBCUs have played in advancing Black students educational journeys and long-term success, while also shedding light on the important historical reality that limited access to higher education in the North often meant Black students had to travel to the South to pursue a college degree at an HBCU.

Our conversation highlights how HBCUs did not just provide access but set a standard of excellence. We explore why high expectations matter for both students and educators, and how setting the bar high extends beyond the classroom. Learning environments rooted in excellence have a lasting impact, shaping school culture and expanding what students believe is possible for their futures. This episode emphasizes how high expectations can influence long-term success and inspire students, particularly Black students, to envision themselves in higher education and beyond.