In this week’s compelling episode, we speak with Kendra Nalubega-Booker, as she takes us on a transformative journey from Illinois to Africa. Born in Rwanda and raised in Uganda, Kendra faced the impact of colonialism, attending Muslim school, boarding school, day school, and an international school prior to moving to the U.S.. Once in Illinois, her transition included repeating freshman year and navigating English Language Learner (ELL) classes, highlighting the challenges Immigrant families endure while navigating the educational system.

"Bad things happened so that I could be part of the solution."

Kendra's journey unfolds as she shares her challenges in advocating for herself due to her immigrant background. A linguistics major, she researched language assessments in the Black community, recognizing the impact of language in education. Learning what it meant to be Black in the U.S. became a transformative exchange of knowledge for her. Motivated to be part of the solution, Kendra emphasizes the need to change language use in learning, aiming for better opportunities for the next generation. Empathy and understanding form the foundation of her work with students, and she actively advocates for immigrant children and ensuring accessible resources for different immigrant groups. Her book, "Hacking Culturally Inclusive Teaching," explores anti-racist lessons to improve equity in education, delving into intersectionality and prompting critical considerations for educators. Join us in this episode as we highlight Kendra Nalubega-Booker's journey to becoming Dr. Booker.

Rate