Welcome to Outspoken, powered by Outschool! The hosts of the podcast, Amir Nathoo, CEO of Outschool, and Justin Dent, Executive Director of Outschool.org - Outschool’s independent nonprofit partner, introduce the show, which aims to address educational challenges and promote innovative solutions. Drawing from personal experiences and reflections, they emphasize the importance of fostering a love of learning and providing equitable educational opportunities.

Kaya Henderson, the Executive Vice President and Executive Director of the Center for Rising Generations at the Aspen Institute and the former CEO of Reconstruction, talks about how community partnership and co-creation can drive educational change, empowering young people and giving them leadership opportunities. She explores the challenges and impact of anti-diversity initiatives on educational efforts and the power of supplemental classes centering Black people, their contributions, and history.

Michael Horn, a recognized public speaker and author, delves into the shortcomings of traditional education systems and the potential for reinvention. He discusses personalized learning and the rise of micro-schools and education savings accounts (ESAs) to improve learning environments, while addressing challenges like the public school system's resistance to change and societal expectations and the need for sustainable alternatives in education.

Lakisha Young, founder & CEO at The Oakland REACH, shines a light on the importance of community support, technology paired with human guidance, and actionable strategies for empowering vulnerable populations. Since recording the podcast earlier this year, The Oakland REACH has built and officially launched their newest solution, The REACH Certified Tutoring and Family Success Coaching Pilot (which Lakisha refers to in the episode by a different name). To learn more, visit: https://oaklandreach.org/introducing-the-reach-certified-tutoring-and-family-success-coaching-pilot/.

How do we address systemic challenges in education and create empowering spaces for Black children to thrive? In this episode of the Outspoken podcast, Reverend Janelle Wood, Founder and CEO of Black Mothers Forum, Inc. , discusses her efforts to combat systemic issues affecting Black children through education reform, advocacy, and the establishment of micro-schools to create safe, empowering learning environments. Rev. Janelle Wood is also a wife, mother, and published author of "Anatomy of a Black Mother.”

In this episode of the Outspoken podcast, Rina Madhani, Executive Director and Co-Founder of Start Lighthouse, emphasizes the importance of culturally relevant education, ensuring students see their identities, cultures, and experiences reflected in classrooms, which fosters a sense of belonging and personal growth. Her organization addresses literacy gaps by collaborating with public schools through permanent literacy hubs that provide diverse books, immersive programs, and safe spaces for students and families.

In this episode of the Outspoken podcast, Congressman Jamaal Bowman shares insights from his journey as an educator and legislator, highlighting his commitment to addressing systemic inequities in education and advocating for transformative policy reform. As principal, he collaborated with local organizations to tackle broader challenges facing his students. In Congress, he introduced initiatives like the Green New Deal for Public Schools, which set a new vision for rebuilding infrastructure, expanding STEM education, and creating opportunities in marginalized communities. Now transitioning into work as a private citizen, he plans to continue advancing transformational outcomes in education, healthcare, and community empowerment through collaboration and innovation.

CEO AND CO-FOUNDER

Amir Nathoo is CEO and co-founder of Outschool, an online learning platform that empowers kids ages 3–18 to learn on their own terms. With deep experience in technology and a talent for building strong teams, Amir is passionately committed to transforming how millions of families experience education. Prior to Outschool, Amir worked at Square and previously served as CEO and co-founder of Trigger.io, a development platform for creating native mobile apps. He holds an MEng in Electrical and Information Sciences from The University of Cambridge. Amir lives in San Francisco with his wife Kirsty and their two children.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER

Justin Dent is the founding Executive Director of Outschool.org, the independent nonprofit partner of Outschool. Outschool.org’s mission is to provide learners who experience racial and economic marginalization with opportunity and agency to nurture a lifelong love of learning. Justin was previously the Founder and Executive Director of Ethos, a nonprofit that provided career education to 18,000 low-income, first generation, or minority students annually. An active voice in the dialogue around education equity, Justin's writing has been featured in the Wall Street Journal and he's appeared on Fox Business, CNBC and Cheddar.