About the Project
Team
Roland Sintos Coloma
He/Him
Roland is a professor of Teacher Education at Wayne State University and a former high school teacher and community organizer in Los Angeles. His research tackles the intersections of cultural studies, history, and urban and global education. He has received external funding to pursue high-impact school-community engagement and research from government, education, and non-profit agencies. He served as president of the American Educational Studies Association and editor of the Educational Studies journal. He holds a PhD in Cultural Studies in Education and a Minor in African American and African Studies from The Ohio State University.
Aja Denise Reynolds
she/her
Aja is a healer, activist, artist, and educator. She is the legacy of Linda and the late Ralph Reynolds, a testament of her family’s survival and resistance in the US. In the many roles she is positioned in, she is led by a Black feminist spirit of care, collectivism, and courage to confront systems of oppression. Her gifts possess the power to bring people together, and bring light into dark places through laughter. Currently, she is an assistant professor of Teacher Education at Wayne State University. Her classroom is an invitation to grapple with critical theories, deep reflection with ourselves, and brave dialogue. Aja’s research interests are inspired by her ongoing relationships with Black girls to engage theories and practices in geography, youth development, and social movements. Her collaborative engagement with Black girls focuses on creating ‘fugitive’ or freedom spaces through the use of art, activism, and healing.
Aja Denise Reynolds
she/her
Aja is a healer, activist, artist, and educator. She is the legacy of Linda and the late Ralph Reynolds, a testament of her family’s survival and resistance in the US. In the many roles she is positioned in, she is led by a Black feminist spirit of care, collectivism, and courage to confront systems of oppression. Her gifts possess the power to bring people together, and bring light into dark places through laughter. Currently, she is an assistant professor of Teacher Education at Wayne State University. Her classroom is an invitation to grapple with critical theories, deep reflection with ourselves, and brave dialogue. Aja’s research interests are inspired by her ongoing relationships with Black girls to engage theories and practices in geography, youth development, and social movements. Her collaborative engagement with Black girls focuses on creating ‘fugitive’ or freedom spaces through the use of art, activism, and healing.
Christopher B. Crowley
He/Him
Chris is an assistant professor of Teacher Education at Wayne State University. His research is situated within the field of curriculum studies and critically examines issues surrounding the privatization of teacher education. His scholarly interests focus on urban education and are complemented by his more than two decades of experience as an educator. He holds a PhD in Curriculum & Instruction from the University of Wisconsin-Madison.
Sarah Schrag
she/her
Sarah is a Program Assistant in the College of Education’s Office of Research at Wayne State University. Much of her work is done behind the scenes, and includes handling the administrative aspects of the Shifting Urban Narratives project. She has worked on numerous grant projects in the College, and enjoys being an important contributor to meaningful, education-based projects.
Sarah Schrag
she/her
Sarah is a Program Assistant in the College of Education’s Office of Research at Wayne State University. Much of her work is done behind the scenes, and includes handling the administrative aspects of the Shifting Urban Narratives project. She has worked on numerous grant projects in the College, and enjoys being an important contributor to meaningful, education-based projects.
Sherin Shaji
she/her
Sherin recently graduated with a bachelor’s degree in Computer Science at Wayne State University. She currently works full-time as an Implementation Consultant, and assists the “Shifting Urban Narratives” project as a Technician. As a student, she led multiple engineering projects, and served as a board member for the Society of Women Engineers and the Association for Computing Machinery. She also worked as an Instructor and Curriculum Coordinator for WSU Engineering Camp to inspire kids pursue a career in STEM.
Appreciation
We would like to thank our Wayne State University colleagues for their assistance and guidance in various aspects of this project.
- Julie Osburn and Joyce Martin, College of Education Office of Research
- Gayle Foley and Megan Pennefather, Foundation Relations
- Tracy Boyce and Donna Carroll, College of Education Marketing & Communications
- Christine Wedge, Brittani Hobbs, and Hannah Orlicki, Marketing & Communications
- Regina Irby, Sponsored Program Administration
- Jill Wurm, Library System
Creative and Technical Consultants
Eden Sabolboro
She/Her
Eden is a versatile and award-winning video and film producer, editor, and video journalist specializing in capturing authentic, immersive human interest stories especially from underrepresented perspectives. She is co-founder of Reel Clever Films LLC, and has spearheaded numerous broadcast, new media, and digital film and video projects. Her work has received an Emmy Award (Michigan), as well as exhibited and juried in local and international film festivals.
Thaad Sabolboro
He/Him
Thaad is an award-winning cinematographer, videographer, and video editor with over 10 years of providing expertise to some of the world’s top brands and media platforms. A co-founder of Reel Clever Films LLC, he is passionate about storytelling through cinematography, and the little nuances of each frame.
Thaad Sabolboro
He/Him
Thaad is an award-winning cinematographer, videographer, and video editor with over 10 years of providing expertise to some of the world’s top brands and media platforms. A co-founder of Reel Clever Films LLC, he is passionate about storytelling through cinematography, and the little nuances of each frame.
Anita Bates
She/Her
Anita is a 2019 Kresge Arts Detroit Fellow, educator, and noted contemporary artist who has exhibited in several venues nationally and internationally. She was a Fulbright Memorial Fellow in Japanese education, and holds a PhD in Education, an MFA in Painting, and a K-12 teaching certificate from Wayne State University. She received her MA in Studio Art from Eastern Michigan University. She currently serves as Lecturer and Program Coordinator for Visual Art Education and Social Sciences at Wayne State University.
Isaias Herrera Zantua
He/Him
Isaias is a cum laude graduate of BSC Major in Finance in Far Eastern University – Manila (Philippines). He then pursued his ambition of becoming a filmmaker by completing a diploma in filmmaking. Since then, his last three short narrative films have been screened internationally (South Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and France). He is currently working as one of the writers for Emmy-nominee kids series, Super Wings, and a freelance video editor.
Isaias Herrera Zantua
He/Him
Isaias is a cum laude graduate of BSC Major in Finance in Far Eastern University – Manila (Philippines). He then pursued his ambition of becoming a filmmaker by completing a diploma in filmmaking. Since then, his last three short narrative films have been screened internationally (South Korea, Singapore, United Arab Emirates, Germany, and France). He is currently working as one of the writers for Emmy-nominee kids series, Super Wings, and a freelance video editor.
Sponsors
We are tremendously grateful to the Schultz Family Foundation for the generous funding and support of our project.
Support for our “Shifting Urban Narratives” Project comes from the Voices for Economic Opportunity Grand Challenge. Launched in 2019, the Grand Challenge seeks to address the persistent toxic narratives about poverty in the United States by elevating diverse voices and broadening the national conversation about poverty and economic mobility. Key partners on the challenge include the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, James Irvine Foundation, Omidyar Network, Raikes Foundation, Winthrop Rockefeller Foundation, and the Schultz Family Foundation.
As a Grand Challenge grantee, this project also received support from the Voices for Economic Opportunity Incubator, a new model for narrative change and social impact built and led by Purpose.
