Although I was born in Natchez, Mississippi, I consider myself a desert-loving El Pasoan who happens to live in New Jersey. I am an educator, a writer, a poet, a sister, a daughter, and an auntie.
I am a Black feminist who believes Black folks exist beyond the present and the abject past, and I yearn to see more and read more representations of us that reflect that truth. I dabble in photography and use it as a research method; I train teachers and school leaders; I love young people and want to hold the best of the world up for them.
In a professional capacity, I do this through my work at the university and through consulting. I am an Assistant Professor of Urban Education at Rutgers University-Newark. My fundamental belief and philosophy is that education is a human and civil right. I believe that in order to hold the best of the world up for young folks, every one of them must have equal access to a high-quality, life-affirming educational experience. They must have a good teacher who recognizes their humanity and feeds their curiosities. As a founding member of Derute Consulting Cooperative,
I believe that a collective and cooperative-oriented approach to justice work means more minds stretched and more hearts opened. My particular areas of consulting expertise include Black girls and young women, race and representation, culturally-relevant teaching, and participatory youth research.
