Blazhia Parkerdanam

Blazhia decided to become a teacher because she never felt visible as a black student in mainstream classes. She did not see herself reflected in her secondary and post-secondary school teachers. Blazhia thinks there are chasms between race and class that infiltrate academic institutions; without proper representation and understanding, this chasm can harm children of color at alarming rates. Her direct action as a black woman in the educational sphere could reduce these chasms by challenging viewpoints and providing more inclusive spaces with various degrees of cultural capital for her students.

Blazhia desires to promote a respected, equitable, and inclusive (as best as possible) learning environment for students. The goal is to create “Citizen Scholars” who represent the innovative qualities of thought, compassion, and action. As we become more aware of the world of ideas that encompasses us all, our ability to engage in the discourse of the world will expand. This necessary transformation will result in our emergence as impactful members of society.