Amplifying Diverse Voices in Education Through Publishing, Products, Podcasts & Promotion

Purpose & objective

This session is for Educators of Color who are interested in creating their own platforms to share their voices, knowledge, and expertise. You will learn from experienced panelists and get practical tips on how to get started and be successful.

Identify and develop your unique content niche
Choose the right platform for your content
Produce high-quality content that resonates with your audience

Outline

Panel will share their own unique experiences in creating their own content that is produced, published, and publicized through personal channels as well as partnerships. Moderator will use an interactive tool like Google Slides Q&A or Pear Deck to collect audience questions and responses during the panel discussion. Questions to be asked include:

1. What inspired you to start building your own platform to amplify your voice and perspectives as an Educator of Color?

2. What niche or underserved audience did you identify and aim to reach with your platform?

3. What tips do you have for selecting the right platform format (blog, podcast, etc.) based on your strengths and goals?

4. How did you optimize your platform for maximum visibility and engagement within the educational community?

5. What strategies did you use to generate initial interest and buzz when launching your platform?

6. How do you consistently deliver valuable content and grow your following over time?

7. What are some common challenges Educators of Color face in content creation and promotion? How can these obstacles be overcome?

8. How can your experiences building your own platform be translated to empowering students to create and share content?

9. What existing and emerging edtech tools do you recommend for creating high-quality self-published content?

10. What final advice do you have for audience members interested in building their own platforms to amplify their voices?

Supporting research

Recent scholarship has highlighted systemic barriers faced by Educators of Color in traditional academic publishing venues like journals and books (Brown, 2019; Farinde et al., 2015). Amplifying the voices and perspectives of Educators of Color is critical for advancing equity and social justice in education (Grant et al., 2019). Emerging research explores how digital media and technology can empower marginalized groups, including Educators of Color, to produce and widely share counternarratives and new knowledge.

For example, Garcia (2017) found that Hispanic youth leverage social media for cultural expression and identity development. Other scholars recommend teaching marginalized students, especially those of color, digital media production skills to author and amplify their lived experiences (Kellner & Share, 2019). While less explored, a growing body of work considers how Educators of Color establish online networks, platforms, and counter-spaces to disseminate their scholarship and uplift historically marginalized voices (Hotchkins & Dancy, 2015; Philip et al., 2019).

Relevant perspectives are also offered in memoirs by artists and entrepreneurs of color, such as Jay-Z, 50 Cent, and Questlove, who have constructed creative platforms to elevate their narratives and reach wider audiences. Overall, existing research points to the need for greater support of Educators of Color in sharing their knowledge and voices through both traditional and digital publishing channels. Emerging digital media present new opportunities for Educators of Color to increase the visibility of their scholarship and experiences, potentially transforming educational spaces to be more inclusive and socially just.