This week on Conceptually Speaking, Julie and I chatted with Dr. Tiffany Mitchell Patterson, an assistant professor of secondary social studies in the Department of Curriculum and Instruction/Literacy Studies at West Virginia University. Before entering into higher education Dr. Mitchell Patterson spent a decade teaching students in DC and Virginia about history, social justice, and activism. Her passion and expertise for these concepts is evident throughout our conversation and our dialogue is filled with insight about how to handle difficult, but vital classroom conversations about identity, power, and justice. One of the many things that Julie and I admire about Dr. T-Mitch-P’s work is her commitment to encouraging students and educators alike to engage in meaningful, committed activism—regardless of the topic or context. For anyone looking for ways to instill passion in their students for social justice, this is episode is for you. We hope you enjoy the dialogue and learn as much as we did about how to engage learners in learning that leads to liberation.

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