Each week, the White Privilege Conference and the Matrix Center for the Advancement of Social Equity and Inclusion, housed at the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs (UCCS), hosts a half hour radio show called Intersections Radio that features an interview with a different author, scholar, and/or speaker.
On the September 6, 2011, the show featured the inspiring and thought-provoking, Jamie Utt, who is one of the most dynamic new voices for a better world. His workshops and presentations combine his personal experience with societal analysis to offer audiences constructive ways to approach difficult topics like prejudice, bigotry, and hate. However, what sets Jamie apart from other presenters is his ability to actively build a relationship with each, and every audience, large or small, through his reflective stories and unique perspective. His high-impact presentations are sure to bring the audience to their feet and keep them thinking critically about how to work for positive change.
Born and raised in Western Colorado, Jamie Utt has had a commitment to truth seeking and justice from an early age. He earned his BA in Peace and Global Studies from Earlham College where he dedicated his studies to conflict resolution and Middle Eastern Peace Studies. His studies led him to travel the fragile Middle East as an advocate for justice and change. Jamie knows firsthand that education is truly the 0key civil rights issue of the 21st century. He spent years teaching social studies on Chicago’s west side, helping empower young people to unleash their brilliance on the world that often overlooks them.
Jamie teaches that this nation's knowledge-based economy demands that we provide young people from all backgrounds and circumstances with the education and skills necessary to become groundbreaking advocates for change. If we fail to help all young people develop their brilliance, the United States runs the risk of creating an even larger gap between the rich and the poor, which in turn threatens every effort toward justice in this country.
Intersections Radio is hosted by Dr. Eddie Moore Jr., founder of the White Privilege Conference (WPC), which is held annually in cities across the United States; and Daryl Miller, who works with the WPC and other programs of the Matrix Center. The WPC is an award-winning national diversity conference that serves as a yearly opportunity to examine and explore difficult issues related to white privilege, white supremacy, and oppression, and works to dismantle systems of power, prejudice, and inequality. College students from around the country participate in the conference for academic credit.
Comments
This is great. His talks can
This is great. His talks can teach people about all the difficulties around us and help bring them to a better understanding of race relations. This can help end cruel comments, bias and racism. He can teach the youth and college age students about understanding these issues and how to deal with them. he also is teaching them to teach others about it. it can help spread these ideas and understandings, and in turn, maybe prevent them from occurring or stop them. This is a motivational and inspiring way to stop these issues from continuing on in our society.
Good Stuff
I whole heartedly agree with what Jamie Utt is doing. I believe that in order to start a change it first begins with education…not just for yourself but also to spread what you have gained knowledge to others. The younger generations of today are the future of tomorrow and it is crucial that we feed into them positive and life altering values. Any chance that I have to be a positive influence on those that are younger than me; I don’t take it lightly because, to my knowledge, I may be the only source of positivity in that child’s life. The concept of being a positive role model is so much more than just speaking words of wisdom, because (as the simple phrase goes) “actions speak louder than words.” It is important that we, who want to change the world we live in for the better, cannot start strictly from speaking words, but those words require corresponding actions as well. Jamie is just another example of what can become of spreading positive messages with a little hard work can develop into. His work has affected so many young kids and he has contributed to making great things happen in the corrupt society we all are a part of.
In Addition
In addition, I would like to see the education I learned in my first Ethnic Studies class, my freshman year of college, to be presented at an earlier age. The kind of education I received in that class was and is still a crucial part of my life. If we are able to teach our kids lessons on race and are able to set good examples for them, I believe the world will continue to progress to a positive future.
I completely agree with your
I completely agree with your point. I also took a Gender and Ethnic Studies class during my freshman year, and although it presented information that I was aware of, it forced me to consider it from a new perspective and opened my eyes about race relations and interactions between genders. I believe that everyone should have to take at least one of these classes, preferably earlier than college, in order to gain a social consciousness about these issues since most people have no understanding of the matrix of dominance and oppression. Social change and equality would undoubtedly be a more widespread movement if people were more educated about its importance.
Very nice work Jaime Utt! I
Very nice work Jaime Utt! I find it heartwarming to hear a good story about building not only race relations but human relations through education. Education is essential to our future as a nation and a globe; teachers can and should bring out the most potential in our youth. I work in education, and the diverse group of students I am privlidged to work with, show how important diversity and tolerance are. Our school has had incredible scores at the state level a few years in a row now, (900 + California State Testing) and I feel it is because of our great staff, involved parents, and the diversity of our student base. I feel this atmosphere creates a tremendous learning environment, one where students feed off of each other and bring out the potential of one another.
Spreading the Knowledge
It is amazing how a small group of people can make such a difference in the world. I think that it is imperative to spread the knowledge that we have gained from such resources to educate other individuals on such issues. Even if we only reach one person in the world, that person in turn may spread their knowledge to another person or a small group. These issues can no longer be ignored by our society because as we have learned the world is not blind to the differences each person possess.
Educating The Youth
I cant agree more with Jamie Utt's belief that providing the children of all backgrounds with knowledge about the troubles of society is the most important thing if your trying to advocate long term change. Children are the future of our country, and by teaching them crucial life lessons and applying them with the skills to make change early on, they will be setting a new standard that will be passed on from generations. Like Jamie said, if we do not teach kids these things the class struggle between rich and poor will become increasingly more separated. We need more speakers like Jamie Utt who can reach out to children and have a long lasting impact through powerful words and presentations. If more speakers could influence children in this way, I believe that we could live in a less violent, prejudiced, and injustice filled world.
A special skill
Honestly I was not even aware there was such a thing as BA in peace and global studies, but I think it is truly amazing that there is. Every week I say over and over again that the first steps towards change is education. It is really noble in my opinion of someone to dedicate their life to spreading education about major life issues, not only that but with the education he is spreading hope. Each group of people that he is able to influence and reach out to then go out spread the word.
The Middle Eastern Perspective
Jamie Utt’s work toward social justice and change, especially concerning the Middle East, is imperative for today’s society. With the “War on Terror” and other negative perceptions associated with the Middle Eastern population, children in the United States are being conditioned to view this group as the “other,” leading to prejudice and discrimination. Racism in America is no longer primarily a white/black issue, but instead extends to other minority groups as well. It is crucial that children in the United States are educated about the Middle East in order to cease the perpetuation of this group of people as religious extremists, misogynists, and terrorists.
Is this a controversial issue
Is this a controversial issue or a copy of Jamie's cover letter??
Education
I agree with Jamie Utt, that education is key to the civil rights issues of the 21st century and key to fighting justice. Education allows for people to gain knowledge and different perspectives for various issues. Also, education is a way for people to overcome stereotypes and prejudices, therefore preventing discrimination. Also, I agree with Jamie Utt if we do not educate people, especially children justice will be extremely hard to reach.
Education
I also feel that education is the key to civil rights. I had no idea that most of these issues even excited to the depth that they do until I attended college. I am not a traditional student, and I have raised four kids, and I tried to instill in them to treat everyone equal. However, I missed the mark on white privilege and how it effects all involved. I have to admit that the diversity, knowledge, and courage of the students I have come in contact with is impressive. College is a place to not only learn academics but diversity and the advantages associated with both.
Dialogue
I think that in order for people to gain the civil rights that everyone deserves, we need to have an open dialogue so we know where both sides are coming from. Nothing will be accomplished unless we work together as one.
Education and the Fight Against Institutional Racism
Access to quality education is without a doubt one of the most influential causes of racial inequalities in America. I think however that just changing the overall quality of and access to education at this point is not nearly enough. There are so many other structural disadvantages in place to keep people of color down in America that I wonder if education is really the key. Instead I see education as more of a very large piece to the puzzle.
I love what he said about education and its connection to helping todays youth become "groundbreaking advocates for change." This concept makes me wonder what would happen if we stopped teaching America's white history in schools and instead started to tell its true multicultural history. I believe the effects could truly change our nation for the best. With so many (white) people in power who were taught and believe in the white American history I wonder what it would take for us to be able to change this curriculum nation wide.