Fare Of The Free Child

Join Dr. Sundiata for episode 3 of the Let's GROW Podcast series as he explores "Trust Issues" and the patterns of distrust that are so common in our lives. Why do so many people of African, Asian, & Indigenous descent distrust people of European descent? Why do so many women distrust men? Why do so many adults distrust children? Dr. Sundiata shares his best thinking as to why and also shares a personal story of distrust. Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifestoOur Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@fareofthefreechildThe Village:https://my-reflection-matters.mn.co/

The world loves Black culture, but not Black people, a statement that I feel is ringing true now more than ever. Hey, y’all, it’s Marley (the editor). I often speak about K-Pop and the frustrations of witnessing and constantly having to battle cultural appropriation, so I figured at the Rooted Us Unconference in NYC this year, why not have the conversation again? I hope that this overview paired with my thoughts and tips on how to combat such a subtle kind of racism/microaggression are helpful in getting you thinking about the topic, or taking a deeper dive, because there is no such thing as “enough work” being done around it. “I’m working on a presentation and would like to speak with adults and children who have experienced domestic violence and are now using Self-directed education and/or conscious parenting. Interested parties can email me at fearless@iammelody.co (no “m”). They can remain anonymous.”Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can ke

On July 10 of 2016, following the brutal murders of Philando Castile and Alton Sterling, I decided to publish a podcast about the ways that BIPOC families were handling the dichotomous life of constant fear amid a will to thrive, particularly as we endeavor to raise children who embody their liberation. It’s been three years as of today, and I am so grateful for the loving, vocal community that has formed as a result of me risking expression. So many brave, brilliant, and beautiful people have blessed our ears with their experiences, frustrations, wins, anger, and more. We’ve cried, laughed, envisioned, created, shared, loved, lost, and grown together, and I have no plans of stopping now; you probably don’t either, right? Then let’s keep this thang poppin’ with episode 128 where you’ll meet FOFC’s co-producer, Fatima Mookadam. She is a major part of how you’ve been able to listen and engage with the podcast over the past six months. Fatima is a South Africa based unschooling mama who has been using travel and

Maleka Diggs and Akilah S. Richards  talk about the issues with inequitable SDE spaces in terms of race/culture.They invite you to sign up for the live, virtual training on this topic: https://radicalselfie.teachable.com/p/equityinsdeTaking this training will support your exploration and understanding of:The characteristics of pervasive whiteness and schoolish tactics in intended self-directed environments, including SDE centers, homeschooling and/or unschooling co-ops, and at home How those characteristics inform the content, the structure, the relationships, and often, the lack of success in SDE environments, and ways to work through the issues therein Why BIPOC families can feel particularly isolated inside SDE spaces (and how to proactively address that) What equity can look like in SDE spaces, and how to start creating those realities How to proactively address issues of inequitable beliefs and practices with parents who want to be part of an SDE community, but don’t seem to have done the work to be part

In episode 126 we’re sharing snippets from some of the conversations from Rooted Us NYC, a free unconference focusing on the practical application of anti-oppressive community building. You’ll hear from attendees who were wondering about things like parent education (deschooling), social justice as part of Self-Directed Education, how to raise free people when we (adults) don’t feel free, cooperative economics, and more. Listen in to hear sessions that were each facilitated by Akilah (Raising Free People Workshop), Dr. Sundiata (Cooperative Economics), and Maleka Diggs (Strewing: Confronting Your Fears).#BIPOCinSDESupport the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifestoO

What can a home environment look like when the adults practice raising free people? This is the question of longtime member of the FOFC community, Chemay Morales-James. She founded the organization My Reflection Matters, a movement to provide personal and educational resources for young Black and Brown people to think critically about themselves and feel empowered to combat racial injustices wherever they are. She asked Akilah to speak to the home environmental conditions that are likely to nurture and support the development of free people, so Akilah does just that, talking about healthy ways to set boundaries, hold accountability, and otherwise practice emotional security and maturity. #BIPOCinSDE Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusivel

Confident autonomy: this is the thing Kris and Akilah Richards intend to help nurture in their daughters, Marley and Sage-Niambi. There is no one definition of it’ it’s an ability to navigate the world with a strong sense of self, an awareness of the place in the world and their capacity to influence the people and situations within it, and the tools to life well, be good to people, and make a difference in their communities. Is that a tall order? Listen to a couple of excerpts from Akilah’s essays on unschooling and deschooling, and share your own definition of confident autonomy.  #BIPOCinSDEMad Question’ Askin:Is it safe to raise our children to be confident and self-aware, or will that invite more chances for them to be unfairly targeted and harmed by the social or legal arms of a racist dominant structure?Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolis

What does respect look like for Black folks when it comes to raising free people? Tebogo asked this question, and it took Kris and Akilah back to a recent experience with their daughters and disrespect. We’ll also hear from Maleka Diggs, Philly-based unschooling mama and equity organizer, on the perception of respect among communities, cultures, and intended safe spaces. This ended up being a Parenting Patois episode, because our topic is about respect, and the conversation led us to recognizing the value of shared meaning--co-created language and definitions--among children and adults. In this episode, Kris and Akilah dive into the particulars of emotions, boundaries, barriers, and expectations when it comes to identifying, understanding, and managing feelings of disrespect and authentic self-expression when it comes to parents and children, as well as among varying cultures in Self-Directed Education spaces. Mad Question’ Askin:How can we trust that freedom doesn’t mean disrespect?What’s wrong with assuming

Join Dr. Sundiata Soon-Jahta for the second episode of Let’s Grow Podcast Series as he explores the popular greeting in Black culture that uses royal titles as greetings, i.e. What's good, King?" or "Hey, Queen!" In this episode, titled Don't Call Me King, continues his pattern of inviting us to deconstruct and rethink the ways we see power and community. Be sure to reach out to Dr. Sundiata with your perspectives on his topics, because he's all about dialogue and discussion that invites us to grow together wherever we can. Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifestoOur Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@fareofthefreechildT

Intuition is not exclusive to adulthood, and it can play a very helpful role in helping a child develop a healthy sense of bodily autonomy. At any age, we have feelings in our bellies or chests, for example, that are directly triggered by feelings of safety or lack thereof. Help children to name and acknowledge those feelings – and to trust them. How much do you trust yourself? Intuition, while hailed as something to trust in adulthood, is often discarded or even berated in childhood. Listen in as my Mama and my daughter talk about the importance of intuition in their own lives. I hope it sparks a strengthening of your own connection to intuitive knowings that help you thrive.Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-ha

I got an email in response to episode 115 (On White Privilege and Pleasure) that left me disappointed and upset about another experience with white fragility targeted at this podcast. Rather than stewing and ranting with my family (best believe we did it already), I’m using the email I got from a concerned white person about episode 115 as a teachable moment.   It’s my first time having Kris, Marley, and Sage here on FOFC, and I believe this is the perfect topic to hear everyone’s opinion on. By using his emails as an avatar for white fragility and the sugar-coated racism so often felt in even the most “progressive” of SDE spaces, we’ll examine this kind of mentality, its in-depth issues, and how to do better.  Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be availabl

Inspired by her 9-year-old daughter, Leruo and determined not to let her 'shine' be dimmed, this mama decided to find a better way to educate her little light. Her do-better process affected how she worked, how she communicated, how she ended up at #LRC2018. Tebogo Modisane: Unschooler, Freelance Event Producer, Soweto born and raised.  Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifestoOur Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@fareofthefreechildThe Village:https://my-reflection-matters.mn.co/

Join Dr. Sundiata Soon-Jahta for the first episode of Let's Grow Podcast as he explores the Selfish vs. Self-actualized concept. He'll explore concepts we talk about on Fare of the Free Child--agency, consent, and a removal of the power-over dynamic. Dr. Sundiata is inviting you to challenge your idea of being an individual, and shift it to include and embrace symbiotic relationships so that we can support each other's self-actualization. His goal is to inspire you to reject other people's ideas as a result of you pursuit of self-actualization.Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manifestoOur Youtube channelhttps://www.youtube.com/@fareofthe

Gonna hone in on that mothering energy that's swirling around this month--they assigned a Mother's Day, I don't care about any of those days they assign, but I damn sure love to hop onto the waves of any good, gratitude-centered energies, and this is my contribution to that. It's also a great way to ease on into this month's focus, doing better! the Do Better Series. This week I’m reading a Self-Mothering essay to remind you why and how this do-better gotta start with you first. I wrote it in 2016, and published it on everydayfeminism.com a couple months after I published the very first episode of Fare of the Free Child podcast.   Photographer credit - Instagram: @astro.nic.visuals  Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available ex

A fitting close-out to The Pleasure Series, Ivy Felicia talks about body relationships, especially as a Black woman of size and of color. Ivy talks about embracing pleasure and play, as well as finding the confidence to show up as herself, assert her worth, and express her full self. Is this something we get in the way of for young people in bigger bodies? If so, how can we do better? We also touch on doing the work of calling out external biases at home, and not perpetuating oppression and judgement to children. Have those conversations, and reinforce critical thinking, our progress as a society is depending on it/us..Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the details of Personal Manifesto Path (will be available exclusively through our make-it-happen family on Patreon)https://www.rfpunschool.com/p/manif

As you are learning about privilege, is your practice being fortified by listening, engage, and changing? This is the question for white people in Self-Directed Education spaces that employ, offer volunteership, or otherwise work with BIPOC adults. In can feel really good to be informed, educated, “woke” and all, but what is happening in your actual SDE space? What would non-white adults who work with you say about your communication and actions when it comes to equity? We’re not just the visual of diversity, but the practice of equity. This week's episode is reminder (or wake-up call) that equity does not end at diversity. The pleasure you get from looking at the 1, 2, or even 20 BIPOC folks in your space doesn't mean your work is done. It is this little twinge of white savior complex that can easily wrap you up in a cocoon of comfort with earplugs on. Let’s change that. As important as you feel they are, they need to feel it too. Period. Equity (or Allyship) is not just listening. It's practi

"Our dance is so valid. So necessary and urgent."   Listen to this movement maker talk about connecting pleasure to parenting in life-affirming ways. "Mother Mother" and artist through various mediums. Binahkaye “Binah” Joy shares with us in this episode about the process of integrating creative movement into mothering, and the pleasure of dance. She has worked with women’s whose bodies have been sites of repeated violation, and she saw first-hand how a tiny bit of encouragement can help an incarcerated woman, for example, feel freedom, love, and possibility in her body. With a background in community-centered dance, Binah dedicated her time to providing space for those around her to get in touch with the happiness and security moving their bodies can help them across manage life’s ebbs and flows, particularly with navigating the the schoolish, competition-based messages we hear surrounding dance. In addition to being mama to Bloom, Wonder, and Jubilee, Binah is a co-founder of The Family

Why do we push back against children’s pleasure? Because safety, right? Because boundaries, right? Even in the cases where both of those are true, what’s also true in many cases is that we, as adults, resent pleasure. We resent children, in particular, when they engage in pleasure because they haven’t earned that right just yet. It goes even further beyond that, and Thea Monyeé takes us into this mindset, and the root of its imprint, systemic oppression. This is the second episode in The Pleasure Series here on FOFC Podcast, and we’re connecting pleasure and parenting in ways you might have thought of, but didn’t have the space or the company to explore it with. Well, let’s get into it--resentment and pain in parenting, and moving beyond pain over to pleasure.Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps://schoolishness.com/market/rfp-a-practice-deck/Peek at the det

Pleasure is an adult thing. It's not for children to see, experience, or even be curious about. This is a notion that even the most liberated of unschooled parents can find themselves acting upon. As is the case with so much of we've yet to deschool from, we rarely stop and ask, "Is this a me problem?" To start you on that journey, this is the Pleasure series, a collection of discussions about how pleasure affects our lives, and in turn, those of the children around us. With the tools provided, you'll be able to critically examine your preconceived notions of topics that intersect with the idea of pleasure, such as bodily autonomy in children, perseverance, and even rage.   I’ll also talk a bit about Rooted US, the NYC-based unconference I’ll be engaged in this June. Listen in, share, and enjoy!Support the showDig this show? Join our make-it-happen family at patreon.com/akilah to make sure we can keep this thang going strong. Thank you!The Raising Free People Practice Card Deckhttps:/

In this final episode of the Parent Founder series, Nuola speaks about play, color, and self-expression via Jean-Michel Basquiat, also known as Radiant Child, and picking resources based on children's interests. Dr. Sundiata speaks about his journey to forming GROW, including college Aha moments, entrepreneurial trials and errors, and the gratitude he has toward supportive people and his organic learning process. You’ll also hear from Sara, an SDE-minded mama who attendee of the AEROx Virtual Conference. Sara was introduced to AERO and the Alliance for Self-Directed Education by the Fare of the Free Child community, and has been able to extend her knowledge of SDE, and see how it provides children with strength, autonomy, and purpose. We close out with Binah, who, along with her friend Noelle, speak on how being in a homeschooling group for young children who often aren't included in the tween/teen-centric spaces of D.C. has helped them be aware of the work it takes to learn as a family. So much goo