A Better Vision: Conversation with Citizen Stewart

<p>Chris “Citizen” Stewart is an education activist, writer, speaker, podcaster, and influencer focusing on elevating the policies and practices that show the most promise for ensuring children thrive. He has had the privilege to be the Chief Influencer at <a href='https://brightbeamnetwork.org/'>brightbeam</a>, a digital advocacy team that amplifies grassroots voices through <a href='https://www.edpost.com/'>Ed Post</a> and other digital platforms.</p> <p>He was the founding executive of the <a href='https://aalftc.org/'>African American Leadership Forum</a>, an intergenerational agenda-setting network of Black leaders across several states, which also connected me with accomplished mentors and advisors. Likewise, he has been a <a href='https://www.pahara.org/fellowship'>Pahara Fellow</a> with the Aspen Institute and was the founder of the Wayfinder Foundation.</p> <p>I heard Chris speak for the first time in 2020, follow the 8 Black Hands podcast regularly, and love the way he consistently introduces himself as a father who lives and breathes education policy. Today’s conversation stems from Chris’ blog <a href='https://citizen.substack.com/p/neither-political-party-has-an-education?r=159fi&utm_medium=ios&utm_campaign=post'>Neither political party has an 'education' message worth hearing.</a> </p>