When it comes to prosecuting hate crimes, Colorado didn’t have a great track record until they amended Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes statute.

In this bonus episode of Systemic, we look at how Melissa Hall, a Black parent who was racially abused while volunteering on school premises, tested this new amendment in court.

Host and producer: Jo Erickson 
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams 
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.) 
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;When it comes to prosecuting hate crimes, Colorado didn’t have a great track record until they amended Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes statute.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;In this bonus episode of Systemic, we look at how Melissa Hall, a Black parent who was racially abused while volunteering on school premises, tested this new amendment in court.&lt;/p&gt;

&lt;p&gt;Host and producer: Jo Erickson&lt;br&gt;
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams&lt;br&gt;
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)&lt;br&gt;
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

In this bonus episode, we look at how Melissa Hall tested Colorado's bias-motivated crimes statute in court.


        When it comes to prosecuting hate crimes, Colorado didn’t have a great track record until they amended Colorado’s bias-motivated crimes statute.


In this bonus episode of Systemic, we look at how Melissa Hall, a Black parent who was racially abused while volunteering on school premises, tested this new amendment in court.


Host and producer: Jo Erickson

Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams

Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)

Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón
      

Overcoming Hate

Leaders in Denver Public Schools acknowledge existing inequities in schools and are trying to address them. They recognize the lack of people of color in leadership positions has created policies that led to disparities between white students and students of color. To redress this problem, DPS created a leadership program. But while it solves some problems, it may create new ones. In this episode we follow educator Paulina Lerma as she attempts to break the glass ceiling to become a Latina principal. 
 
Host and producer: Jo Erickson 
Editor: Erin Jones 
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams 
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.) 
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón 
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale 
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez 
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;Leaders in Denver Public Schools acknowledge existing inequities in schools and are trying to address them. They recognize the lack of people of color in leadership positions has created policies that led to disparities between white students and students of color. To redress this problem, DPS created a leadership program. But while it solves some problems, it may create new ones. In this episode we follow educator Paulina Lerma as she attempts to break the glass ceiling to become a Latina principal.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Host and producer: Jo Erickson&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Erin Jones&lt;br&gt;
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams&lt;br&gt;
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)&lt;br&gt;
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón&lt;br&gt;
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale&lt;br&gt;
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez&lt;br&gt;
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

We follow educator Paulina Lerma as she attempts to break the glass ceiling to become a Latina principal.


        Leaders in Denver Public Schools acknowledge existing inequities in schools and are trying to address them. They recognize the lack of people of color in leadership positions has created policies that led to disparities between white students and students of color. To redress this problem, DPS created a leadership program. But while it solves some problems, it may create new ones. In this episode we follow educator Paulina Lerma as she attempts to break the glass ceiling to become a Latina principal.


Host and producer: Jo Erickson

Editor: Erin Jones

Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams

Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)

Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón

Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale

Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez

Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.
      

Dreams

The number of Black teachers leaving the profession is rising. Kevin Adams is a social studies teacher working in Denver Public Schools. He’s very popular with students and parents, but struggles with microaggressions from his colleagues. Like many Black teachers, he thinks about quitting education. Why are Black teachers walking away? Kevin and his friend started a podcast to put a spotlight on the hard truths about why teachers of color are leaving the profession. In this episode we follow Kevin Adams as he navigates a stream of microaggressions. 
 
Host and producer: Jo Erickson 
Editor: Erin Jones 
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams 
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.) 
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón 
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale 
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez 
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The number of Black teachers leaving the profession is rising. Kevin Adams is a social studies teacher working in Denver Public Schools. He’s very popular with students and parents, but struggles with microaggressions from his colleagues. Like many Black teachers, he thinks about quitting education. Why are Black teachers walking away? Kevin and his friend started a podcast to put a spotlight on the hard truths about why teachers of color are leaving the profession. In this episode we follow Kevin Adams as he navigates a stream of microaggressions. &lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Host and producer: Jo Erickson&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Erin Jones&lt;br&gt;
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams&lt;br&gt;
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)&lt;br&gt;
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón&lt;br&gt;
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale&lt;br&gt;
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez&lt;br&gt;
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

We follow Denver Public School teacher, Kevin Adams, as he navigates a stream of microaggressions.


        The number of Black teachers leaving the profession is rising. Kevin Adams is a social studies teacher working in Denver Public Schools. He’s very popular with students and parents, but struggles with microaggressions from his colleagues. Like many Black teachers, he thinks about quitting education. Why are Black teachers walking away? Kevin and his friend started a podcast to put a spotlight on the hard truths about why teachers of color are leaving the profession. In this episode we follow Kevin Adams as he navigates a stream of microaggressions.


Host and producer: Jo Erickson

Editor: Erin Jones

Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams

Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)

Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón

Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale

Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez

Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.
      

Tipping Point

The dramatic exit of the superintendent and changes to school equity policies is cause for concern for Naomi Lopez, a speech therapist in Colorado Springs School District 11. Lopez works with children in special education who require services from the equity department. Without the equity leadership team overseeing the work, she fears her students will miss vital resources that assist in their academic goals. Naomi’s problems grew when two board members expressed transphobic messages on social media, and she feared for the safety of her gender fluid child. We follow Naomi Lopez as she tries to steer the board toward equity policies while addressing her concerns that her gender-fluid child is a target because of the school board's anti-LGBTQ comments. 
 
Host and producer: Jo Erickson 
Editor: Erin Jones 
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams 
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.) 
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón 
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale 
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez 
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;The dramatic exit of the superintendent and changes to school equity policies is cause for concern for Naomi Lopez, a speech therapist in Colorado Springs School District 11. Lopez works with children in special education who require services from the equity department. Without the equity leadership team overseeing the work, she fears her students will miss vital resources that assist in their academic goals. Naomi’s problems grew when two board members expressed transphobic messages on social media, and she feared for the safety of her gender fluid child. We follow Naomi Lopez as she tries to steer the board toward equity policies while addressing her concerns that her gender-fluid child is a target because of the school board's anti-LGBTQ comments.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Host and producer: Jo Erickson&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Erin Jones&lt;br&gt;
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams&lt;br&gt;
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)&lt;br&gt;
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón&lt;br&gt;
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale&lt;br&gt;
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez&lt;br&gt;
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

We follow Naomi Lopez as she tries to steer her local school board toward equity policies while addressing her concerns that her gender-fluid child is a target because of some board members' anti-LGBTQ comments.


        The dramatic exit of the superintendent and changes to school equity policies is cause for concern for Naomi Lopez, a speech therapist in Colorado Springs School District 11. Lopez works with children in special education who require services from the equity department. Without the equity leadership team overseeing the work, she fears her students will miss vital resources that assist in their academic goals. Naomi’s problems grew when two board members expressed transphobic messages on social media, and she feared for the safety of her gender fluid child. We follow Naomi Lopez as she tries to steer the board toward equity policies while addressing her concerns that her gender-fluid child is a target because of the school board's anti-LGBTQ comments.


Host and producer: Jo Erickson

Editor: Erin Jones

Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams

Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)

Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón

Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale

Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez

Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.
      

Safe Space

Racial tension has been building in Colorado Springs School District 11 for some time. School volunteer Melissa Hall was racially abused by a white parent in the school parking lot. But tension escalated when the superintendent abruptly resigned and a school board member made racial comments toward Black men who attended a school board meeting. In this episode we follow Melissa Hall, a Black parent, as she feels the full impact of withholding equity policies as a school volunteer and a mother of four kids. 
 
Host and producer: Jo Erickson 
Editor: Erin Jones 
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams 
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.) 
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón 
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale 
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez 
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.

<description>
 &lt;p&gt;Racial tension has been building in Colorado Springs School District 11 for some time. School volunteer Melissa Hall was racially abused by a white parent in the school parking lot. But tension escalated when the superintendent abruptly resigned and a school board member made racial comments toward Black men who attended a school board meeting. In this episode we follow Melissa Hall, a Black parent, as she feels the full impact of withholding equity policies as a school volunteer and a mother of four kids.&lt;br&gt;
&lt;br&gt;
Host and producer: Jo Erickson&lt;br&gt;
Editor: Erin Jones&lt;br&gt;
Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams&lt;br&gt;
Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)&lt;br&gt;
Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón&lt;br&gt;
Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale&lt;br&gt;
Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez&lt;br&gt;
Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.&lt;/p&gt;
 </description>

We follow Melissa Hall, a Black parent, as she feels the full impact of withholding equity policies as a school volunteer and a mother of four kids.


        Racial tension has been building in Colorado Springs School District 11 for some time. School volunteer Melissa Hall was racially abused by a white parent in the school parking lot. But tension escalated when the superintendent abruptly resigned and a school board member made racial comments toward Black men who attended a school board meeting. In this episode we follow Melissa Hall, a Black parent, as she feels the full impact of withholding equity policies as a school volunteer and a mother of four kids.


Host and producer: Jo Erickson

Editor: Erin Jones

Producers: Rebekah Romberg, Kibwe Cooper, Emily Williams

Theme music by Daniel Mescher. (Additional music via Universal Production Music.)

Art: Maria Juliana Pinzón

Executive producers: Brad Turner, Kevin Dale

Additional editorial support: Jenny Brundin, Rachel Estabrook, Sherkiya Wedgeworth-Hollowell, Luis Antonio Perez

Thanks also to Jodi Gersh, Clara Shelton, Mia Rincón, Arielle Wilson, Hart van Denburg.
      

No Equity, No Voice

Systemic is an award-winning podcast that uses audio diaries and interviews to document the lives of people working to create change.

In Season 2, the show follows a diverse group of educators, students and parents during a school year in which debates around race and equity in public education reached a fever pitch.

Season 1, produced in the wake of George Floyd's death and the ensuing protests, follows Black Americans working to reform policing from inside and outside the system.

Systemic

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