An interview (recorded live March 14th, 2016) with poet, scholar, and facilitator Wilson Okello. In this interview learn how Wilson uses his experience and perspectives as a spoken word artist to create transformational social justice learning spaces for his students. Wilson also dives into how he weaves hip-hop pedagogy and critical theory into his work as a higher education professional and a social justice educator in this interview with Meg Bolger and Sam Killermann of FacilitatingXYZ.
To check out more information about Wilson read more at his website, hit him up on twitter , or his YouTube channel (including a series of videos on what it means to speak truth to power) here.
Conversation Index
Get to know Wilson, hip-hop pedagogy, and much more
Social justice education vs. socially just facilitation
What things would you encourage new social justice educators to consider
Pivotal points in Wilson’s SJ journey
How do you bring stewardship to teaching/social justice
How do you decide what to share in your poetry
Vulnerability is the KEY to social justice/teaching
Resistance to vulnerability and ensuring it translates into learning
We are all implicated in the experience of sharing –
Giving up (some) agency over what’s learned & inviting people into learning –
Advice for panel moderators to create better & more sj panels –
Rapid Fire Questions
Three words to describe facilitation
What is something that you need to be reminded of as a facilitator?
One ground rule or group norm everyone would have to follow what would it be?
What stresses you out as a facilitator?
What is a piece of advice you would like to give your 5-year-ago-self?
Unique place you’ve facilitated?
What is a not directly facilitation related experience every facilitator should have?
What books do you recommend most to others?
One piece of advice for people who are tuning in
Bonus Content
Two books Wilson recommends – Teaching to Transgress (our review here!) & Pedagogy of the Oppressed
Scholar mentioned — Gloria Ladson-Billings
