Creating "Brave Spaces" for Learning, with Dr. Kewsi Burgess (Hackett Middle School, Albany, NY)

How can literacy learning support civic engagement? How can educators best support the literacy learning of young African-American males? On this episode, Brett speaks with Kewsi Burgess, a veteran middle school teacher in the City School District of Albany. Dr. Burgess recently earned his doctoral degree at the University at Albany, and his dissertation  closely examined how one seasoned African-American educator supported the literacy learning of the black boys in his classroom. In this interview, he explains how literacy learning is intertwined with civic education and how teachers can create a positive classroom culture that encourages broad and meaningful participation. Kewsi also discusses his personal and professional journey and how he is using what he learned in his dissertation study.


Episode Resources

Article about Kewsi Burgess

Video featuring Kewsi Burgess

E. Moje on Adolescent Literacy


ESD Podcast Resources

Brett Levy's Open-Access Research Articles (Free Downloads)

Education for Sustainable Democracy Facebook Page (Please Like!)

YouTube Channel for Education for Sustainable Democracy (Please Subscribe!)

Brett Levy's Twitter Page: Handle @brettlmlevy

Education for Sustainable Democracy Homepage


Related Episodes of ESD

The Civically Engaged Districts Project, with Beth Rubin (Rutgers) and NJ District Administrators (New Brunswick Public Schools)

Helping Youth Become Critical News Consumers, with John Silva and Miriam Romais (News Literacy Project)