Generational Work: Stefan Lallinger on Integration

Generational Work: Stefan Lallinger on Integration

Author: Andrew Lefkowits, Val Brown, Courtney Mykytyn October 20, 2021 Duration: 58:33
In 1954, Louis Redding (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Louis_L._Redding), Delaware’s first Black attorney, joined the legal team at the NAACP to argue the Brown v Board case. Having agued two of the lower court cases that were incorporated into the Brown case, he was a key member of the team, along with Thurgood Marshall, who won perhaps the mostly widely known and celebrated court case ever. Sixty years later, his grandson, Stefan Lallinger (https://tcf.org/experts/stefan-lallinger/), found himself teaching at school in New Orleans with over 90% students of color. This segregation wasn’t caused by explicit, legal requirements for segregated schools, and yet it still happened. Lallinger’s curiosity led him to get a doctorate and eventually to leading The Bridges Collaborative (https://tcf.org/bridges-collaborative/), a hub for school and housing practitioners to work together to advance the cause of integration. Lallinger joins us to discuss his family legacy, how it shapes his current work, and what legacy he hopes to leave for his kids. LINKS: Lallinger on the importance of the Bridges Collaborative work (https://tcf.org/content/commentary/why-the-bridges-collaborative-is-so-important-to-me/) Martin Luther King, Jr on the difference between desegregation and integration (http://www.faculty.umb.edu/lawrence_blum/courses/318_11/readings/king_ethical_demands.pdf) A Vox explainer highlighting the work of Tomàs Monarrez and the Urban Institute on school boundaries (https://www.vox.com/2018/1/8/16822374/school-segregation-gerrymander-map) The Bridges Collaborative (https://tcf.org/bridges-collaborative/) IntegrateNYC, the 5 Rs of Real Integration (https://integratenyc.org/mission) The National Coalition of School Diversity (https://www.school-diversity.org/) Maya Angelou Still I Rise (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/46446/still-i-rise) Langston Hughes Mother to Son (https://www.poetryfoundation.org/poems/47559/mother-to-son) Dr. Vanessa Siddle Walker – The Lost Education of Horace Tate (https://bookshop.org/a/18658/9781620976029) Dr. Siddle Walker on our podcast (https://integratedschools.org/podcast/ncsd/) MLK – Where Do We Go From Here (https://bookshop.org/books/where-do-we-go-from-here-chaos-or-community-9780807000762/9780807000670) MLK – A Testament of Hope (https://bookshop.org/books/a-testament-of-hope-the-essential-writings-and-speeches/9780060646912) W.E.B. DuBois on the fear of integrating Black students into hostile spaces (http://nationalhumanitiescenter.org/tserve/freedom/1917beyond/essays/does-the-negro-need-seperate-schools.pdf) Use these links or start at our Bookshop.org storefront (https://bookshop.org/shop/IntegratedSchools) to support local bookstores, and send a portion of the proceeds back to us. Join our Patreon (http://patreon.com/integratedschools) to support this work, and connect with us and other listeners to discuss these issues even further. Let us know what you think of this episode, suggest future topics, or share your story with us – @integratedschls (https://twitter.com/integratedschls) on twitter, IntegratedSchools (http://facebook.com/integratedschools) on Facebook, or email us podcast@integratedschools.org. We are a proud member of The Connectd Podcast Network. (http://connectdpodcasts.com/) The Integrated Schools Podcast was created by Courtney Mykytyn and Andrew Lefkowits. This episode was produced by Andrew Lefkowits and Val Brown. It was edited, and mixed by Andrew Lefkowits. Music by Kevin Casey. Advertising Inquiries: https://redcircle.com/brands Privacy & Opt-Out: https://redcircle.com/privacy

It’s easy to talk about school integration in the abstract, but what does it actually look like on the ground for families navigating these choices every day? The Integrated Schools Podcast moves beyond theory into the messy, personal realities of race, parenting, and educational equity. Hosted by Andrew Lefkowits, a White dad from Denver, and Val Brown, a Black mom from North Carolina, along with co-author Courtney Mykytyn, this podcast centers conversations that deliberately sit with discomfort and complexity. Each episode brings in voices from across the spectrum-parents making tough school decisions, educators in the trenches, researchers, and community organizers-to explore why our schools remain so segregated and what it truly means to work toward integration. You’ll hear candid stories about navigating predominantly white spaces, confronting personal bias, and the small, daily actions that either challenge or uphold systemic inequities. This isn’t a podcast offering easy answers; instead, it provides a necessary space to listen, reflect, and engage with the nuanced layers of a deeply entrenched issue. The dialogue here is built on the belief that honest, sometimes difficult talk is a prerequisite for meaningful change, both in our schools and in ourselves.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

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