Today we’d like to introduce you to Roberto and Lorena German.
Hi Roberto and Lorena, so excited to have you on the platform. So before we get into questions about your work-life, maybe you can bring our readers up to speed on your story and how you got to where you are today?
Our story is grounded in the rich tapestry of immigration and the challenges and triumphs of growing up in Lawrence, Massachusetts. We emerged from the fusion of our own educational struggles, our determination to create a more equitable learning environment, and our aspiration to extend our impact beyond the classroom. As facilitators, trainers, and content creators, our mission is to amplify the toolkit of educators, equipping them to foster a positive and inclusive classroom culture that not only empowers students but also creates a transformative ripple effect.
Having encountered both adversity and inspiration in our educational journeys, we recognize the profound impact that teachers can have on shaping a student’s trajectory. By channeling our own experiences, both the challenging and uplifting, we are committed to supporting educators in transcending their own limitations and surpassing the educational paradigms that shaped us.
At Multicultural Classroom, we work with students, teachers, schools, nonprofits, and other organizations/companies. We help participants understand the intersection of race, bias, education, and society. In our work, we want to reach as many as possible to see their impact and maximize their work toward social justice.
We all face challenges, but looking back would you describe it as a relatively smooth road?
Engaging audiences, whether through in-person training, virtual training or via social media is can be challenging. There are people all over the spectrum, and for many people, it can be difficult to acknowledge and ultimately confront their respective biases. Yet, we all have biases that we need to work against. As a result, this keeps us motivated to pressing forward even when we receive resistance, including hate mail, false media narratives, and social media trolls that have little to no desire to even consider the critical conversations we believe all citizens of this country should engage in.
Great, so let’s talk business. Can you tell our readers more about what you do and what you think sets you apart from others?
Multicultural Classroom is from the marginalized communities of which we speak, and we believe that healing the national divide is essential to reaching our vision of an equitable society. We’ve resided in low-income and marginalized communities, and we are passionate Black warriors for truth.
We have taught in and serviced marginalized communities, and so we have experience and passion for the power of the solution we propose. One of us is an immigrant, and the other is a child of immigrants. Both of us are bilingual, with Spanish being our first language, and while we are proud and see these deepest parts of our identity as enriching, we know that society doesn’t always see it that way.
We are a hands-on, results-driven company trusted by schools and organizations to offer anti-racist and anti-biased research-based strategies. By speaking the truth through our work, we take pride in having built a reputation for quality and dependable service.
We are proud of the content we create (books, curriculum. podcast) and its ongoing impact. Additionally, through our speaking engagements and our consulting services, we’ve been able to establish and sustain amazing partnerships with schools, nonprofits, for-profits, and individuals. This is particularly important for us because we value the notion of community.
Alright, so to wrap up, is there anything else you’d like to share with us?
Lorena is a two-time nationally awarded Dominican American educator focused on anti-racist and anti-bias education. She’s been featured in the New York Times, NPR, PBS, Rethinking Schools, EdWeek, Learning for Justice Magazine, and more. She published The Anti-Racist Teacher: Reading Instruction Workbook and Textured Teaching: A Framework for Culturally Sustaining Practices about curriculum & lesson development focused on social justice. She’s a co-founder of #DisruptTexts and Multicultural Classroom. Lorena is also the Chair of NCTE’s Committee Against Racism and Bias in the Teaching of English.
Roberto is a Dominican-American author, poet, and spoken word artist. He is the creator and host of the Our Classroom podcast, in which he explores educational journeys, unpacks books, speaks with authors, and thinks about how all of this is connected to education. A graduate of Merrimack College and Boston College, he’s been an educator and school leader for over 15 years. His writing has been featured in Raising Antiracist Children: A Practical Parenting Guide (Hawthorne 2022), Speaking for Ourselves Anthology (2019), Edutopia, and more. His first poetry book Blue Ink Tears (2023), focuses on identity, love, relationships, and more. His work is characterized by a passion for supporting young people, prioritizing justice, and a dedication to excellence. Currently, he’s the Executive Director of Multicultural Classroom.
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.
multiculturalclassroom.com/ - Instagram: https://www.
instagram.com/ multiculturalclassroom/ - Facebook: https://www.
facebook.com/ multiculturalclassrm - Linkedin: https://www.
linkedin.com/company/ multicultural-classroom - Youtube: https://www.youtube.
com/channel/ UCI32UVV3dKjMRkM8dsDi3zA
