Kelly Maxwell reflects on how coming out as a lesbian in the 1990s sparked a deeper examination of her whiteness and a lifelong commitment to understanding her relationship to privilege and oppression. She traces her journey from growing up in an almost exclusively white small town in Ohio to dedicating 17 years to social justice education through intergroup dialogue at The Program on Intergroup Relations at the University of Michigan.
Kelly also shares stories from her family life as part of a multiracial, interracial, two-mom household, and how those dynamics shape her personal and professional values on justice. She speaks candidly about the tensions of institutional “neutrality,” and how she works to align her values with her responsibilities on campus and in her role as Board Chair of the Difficult Dialogues National Resource Center, a nonprofit that supports colleges and universities in using dialogic practice to create transformational change in the pursuit of equity and justice.
You can connect with Kelly on Linkedin.
00:00 Introduction to Intergroup Dialogue
00:45 Personal Transformation Through Dialogue
01:23 Impact on Students and Alumni
02:08 Power Dynamics in Dialogue
03:09 Transition to Administration
04:13 Symbolism and Personal Reminders
05:21 Introduction to Social Justice Origin Stories
06:30 Guest Introduction: Kelly Maxwell
08:09 Kelly's Background and Early Influences
09:53 Discovering Intergroup Dialogue
11:36 Navigating Privilege and Oppression
19:36 Professional Journey and Personal Life
23:52 Adoption and Family Dynamics
26:36 Addressing School Inequities
31:13 The Role of Educators in Social Justice
34:27 Personal Accountability and Family Influence
37:29 Navigating Internalized Oppression and Superiority
42:57 Financial Literacy and Class Awareness
44:00 Impact of Intergroup Dialogue
50:49 Challenges in Higher Education Administration
01:03:14 Reflections on Dialogue and Social Justice
01:10:15 Conclusion and Call to Action
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