Former Charlotte Communities In Schools Leader Molly Shaw Talks Broken Education Systems on Bridge Builder Conversations

Former Charlotte Communities In Schools Leader Molly Shaw Talks Broken Education Systems on Bridge Builder Conversations

Former Charlotte Communities In Schools President and CEO Molly Shaw joins community leader David “Dae-Lee” Arrington for an episode of ‘Bridge Builder Conversations.’ (Photo by Harris Jeter)

Molly Shaw and David "Dae-Lee" Arrington

Former Charlotte Communities In Schools President and CEO Molly Shaw joins community leader David “Dae-Lee” Arrington for an episode of ‘Bridge Builder Conversations.’ (Photo by Harris Jeter)

Molly Shaw and David "Dae-Lee" Arrington

Former Charlotte Communities In Schools President and CEO Molly Shaw joins community leader David “Dae-Lee” Arrington for an episode of ‘Bridge Builder Conversations.’ (Photo by Harris Jeter)

I get why there is mistrust in education systems [because], in a lot of ways, they haven’t worked for every person that’s been through them.”

— Molly Shaw

CHARLOTTE, NC, UNITED STATES, April 21, 2022 /EINPresswire.com/ — In the latest episode of Bridge Builder Conversations now available on YouTube, Molly Shaw, former president and CEO of Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg (CIS-Charlotte), joins Charlotte community leader David “Dae-Lee” Arrington to talk about her experience with segregation at Davidson College, addressing broken education systems and the importance of empowering others as a leader.

“I get why there is mistrust in education systems [because], in a lot of ways, they haven’t worked for every person that’s been through them,” Shaw said.

A native of Durham, North Carolina, and the only child of chemist parents, Shaw talks about her upbringing and the experiences that helped shape her work in education.

“I was getting that lesson [‘everybody needs an education’] reinforced over and over,” she explained. “It wasn’t until I took a class from Bridget Terry Long, who’s an African-American woman, now the dean of the college of education at Harvard.

“She was the one who was saying, ‘We’ve got to interrogate everything we know about our education system.’ That’s when the wheels in my mind started turning.

“[At Harvard I learned] education is not just about helping individuals reach their best and helping serve the community. Education is the tool for access and equity. And if you’re not thinking about education in that way, you’re not doing your job.”

Shaw, who now serves as an advisor in social impact and philanthropy, held her role at CIS-Charlotte for nearly a decade and hoped a minority leader with greater proximity to the communities they served would take over leadership. After Shaw’s departure, the organization named its first Black president and CEO, Men Tchaas Ari.

“Communities in Schools was the most transformative experience of my life,” Shaw told Dae-Lee, describing how as a white woman “privileged in multiple ways,” she quickly realized she was not the “expert” and would need to be open to learning and building new relationships.

“I walked in and you could feel it in the air: The very valid feeling of ‘why is she the person standing in front of us?’”

Since early January, Dae-Lee has used the Bridge Builder Conversations video series to encourage dialogue and action among leaders, no matter their background, to build bridges and form relationships across differences like race and socioeconomic status.

Visit the Bridge Builder Conversations YouTube channel to watch Molly Shaw’s full episode and others.

BRIDGE BUILDER CONVERSATIONS LINEUP

Available to Watch Now

Hugh McColl, former chairman and CEO of Bank of America

Myloan Dinh, multidisciplinary artist and former refugee

Kyle Mosher, multidisciplinary artist featured by Forbes, The New York Times, HBO and others

Maria Howell, accomplished actress and singer

Veronica Calderon, senior vice president of diversity, inclusion & equity at Truliant

March 24, Michael Marsicano, president and CEO of Foundation For The Carolinas

April 7, Dennis Reed, Jr, award-winning songwriter, recording artist and CEO of Inspire the Fire

April 21, Molly Shaw, former president and CEO of Communities In Schools of Charlotte-Mecklenburg

Upcoming

May 5, Harvey B. Gantt, first African American elected as mayor of Charlotte

ABOUT BRIDGE BUILDER CONVERSATIONS

Bridge Builder Conversations is a nine-part, unscripted video series featuring various leaders and artists sharing their personal journey and discussing the opportunities and challenges of building bridges across difference within their industries.

The series debuted Jan. 13 with a meaningful race talk with former Bank of America CEO Hugh McColl. The series, sponsored by Bank of America, HUE HOUSE, Urban Outfitters and Mansion, can be viewed on the Bridge Builder YouTube channel.

Bridge Builder Conversations is a creative resource from Bridge Builder Consulting™, an innovative, relationship-centered consulting agency, engaging organizations and their leaders as they navigate Diversity, Equity and Inclusion (DEI) work. Dae-Lee’s Bridge Builder Motivational Journal is now available, as well as the Bridge Builder Patreon and Bridge Builder Motivations podcast on all podcast platforms including Apple Podcasts and Spotify.

Bridge Builder Conversations release bi-weekly through May 5. Details for the series can be found at WeBridgeBuild.com/BBC.

ABOUT DAVID ‘DAE-LEE’ ARRINGTON

David “Dae-Lee” Arrington is a Norfolk, Va., native who now calls Charlotte, N.C., home. Summarizing his journey “from the corner to the cul-de-sac,” Dae-Lee experienced a 180-degree racial, cultural and socioeconomic shift that changed his life and inspired his work today to bridge divides that keep us from experiencing our collective best.

Dae-Lee is a 40 Under 40 Business Journal Winner, GRAMMY-nominated producer, recording artist, co-owner of Black-owned creative agency HUE HOUSE, founding member of Fair Play Music Equity Initiative and serves on many boards and community organization committees.

Cicely Corry
Bridge Builder Consulting
[email protected]
Visit us on social media:
Facebook
LinkedIn
Other



Article originally published at https://www.einpresswire.com/article/569454500/former-charlotte-communities-in-schools-leader-molly-shaw-talks-broken-education-systems-on-bridge-builder-conversations