SUMMARY In this episode of Oxygen for Educators, Claudia Vega, former Dallas principal and founder of Whose Books and ARCO, walks us through building a true reading culture in Oak Cliff. She connects book deserts to historic redlining, then shows what access, representation, and a welcoming space can unlock for families. We talk gatekeeping, community surveys, and curation that lets people feel seen. The takeaway for educators is simple and doable, notice what fuels you, what drains you, and make small, steady edits to protect your humanity while you serve. Along the way, Claudia offers a model for campus leaders too, treat your classroom or school as a community hub, not just a compliance machine. ARCO has already gifted 5,000+ books and hosted 170+ low-cost events. This is equity, practiced daily. Lukas Nelson - 'Turn Off The News' (Acoustic) : https://youtu.be/emLQac9ff1s?si=nrX_tPlI-wYlEkD6 CHAPTERS 00:00 The Hero Complex in Education 02:42 Claudia Vega's Journey from Educator to Entrepreneur 05:15 Building a Reading Culture in Communities 08:35 The Importance of Access to Books 11:36 Creating a Community Space for Literature 14:15 Addressing Historical Inequities in Access to Literature 17:28 The Role of Nonprofits in Promoting Literacy 20:17 Transforming Relationships with Reading 23:33 The Emotional Impact of Representation in Literature 26:21 Navigating Challenges in the Book Industry 29:19 Finding Purpose Beyond Traditional Roles 32:14 The Power of Community in Education 35:11 Hope and Resilience in the Face of Adversity 38:18 Creating Space for Self-Care in Education 41:14 The Impact of Small Actions on Community Change 44:18 Advice for Educators Facing Burnout 47:19 The Balance Between Personal and Professional Identity 50:11 The Journey of Self-Discovery and Reflection 53:05 The Importance of Listening to Inner Voices 56:06 Celebrating Community Achievements 58:55 The Future of Literacy and Community Engagement     ************************************************************************************************ Oxygen for Educators is proudly sponsored by Tacky Box. Follow on Apple: https://podcasts.apple.com/gb/podcast/oxygen-for-educators/id1775510846  Follow on Spotify: https://open.spotify.com/show/2i21QueuqVqmEPmI7gzFfQ?si=1bef3354bff2402c  Follow on Audible: https://www.audible.co.uk/podcast/Oxygen-for-Educators/B0DKL68DLX?source_code=ASSGB149080119000H&share_location=pdp  Subscribe on YouTube: https://youtube.com/playlist?list=PLEdbuPy-L7p4RZKZ_VWKCXwK_j8vbjZF2&si=7SHeSWZRllrseygs  Website: https://www.tackybox.com/podcast  Thank you to our sponsor, Tacky Box! Website: https://tackybox.com/  Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/tacky_box/  Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheTackyBox/  X: https://x.com/thetackybox  Pinterest: https://www.pinterest.com/thetackybox/

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