Kenya’s Waldorf Experience
In this episode I’m speaking with Kenya Strong all about her experience with Waldorf education including her many years as a Waldorf teacher.
I’m so grateful to Kenya for agreeing to share her story and experience with me in this episode. As is the case with the other episodes in this series, it may feel uncomfortable and even triggering to hear the experiences of those who’ve been marginalized. I think the best way to listen in to Kenya’s story is with an open mind and an open heart. Kenya will be sharing her experience and the way she feels Waldorf communities can move towards being more inclusive. If you’re struggling with understanding Kenya’s perspective I encourage you to seek additional resources to further your own understanding of the racism and white supremacy that is so rampant in our society today.
Subscribe to the Waldorfy Podcast
More about Kenya...
With a varied and eclectic background that includes dog groomer, to oil rig roughneck, to private investigator, and financial advisor, Kenya finds her deepest joy in teaching. She carries all of her life experiences into the classroom to help her connect with students. She has a Masters degree in Education and a Waldorf certification. She is also a certified archery trainer, fitness instructor and Access Bars Practitioner. More recently she has taken up the journey as a Life Coach and consultant to support families adjusting to our shifting social paradigm. Kenya’s coaching site is, KenyasCoachingCorner.com where services are especially supportive to people of color and women who are struggling to overcome real or perceived obstacles in career and personal acceptance, satisfaction, and success. Kenya is also a part of the “At the Blackboard: Education in Color” podcast which was started in order to bring forward the voices that have felt silenced throughout the Waldorf community.
With more than twenty years of teaching experience, the last seven years have been in Waldorf schools where she continues to impact the lives of children in virtual and real classrooms. Kenya is currently teaching with the Threefold Village. Threefold Village is a nonprofit that was created to support Los Angeles Waldorf Inspired Homeschoolers. Threefold Village offers a space for sharing, support, learning, love and are committed to cultivating and nurturing an inclusive form of Waldorf pedagogy within the diverse homeschool community of Los Angeles, California. You can check out their website and what they offer at threefoldvillage.com.
Follow Waldorfy on Social Media
Resources:
Kenya's coaching site is Kenyascoachingcorner.com.
In this episode Kenya talks about spiritual gas lighting and spiritual bypassing. Although I don't think it's the best recourse for most things I did take this excerpt from Wikipedia on spiritual bypassing that I thought was helpful.
A spiritual bypass or spiritual bypassing is a "tendency to use spiritual ideas and practices to sidestep or avoid facing unresolved emotional issues, psychological wounds, and unfinished developmental tasks". The term was introduced in the early 1980s by John Welwood, a Buddhist teacher and psychotherapist.
Support Waldorfy on Patreon