Equity-Centered Virtual Learning Community

A Space for Us: Black Male Educational Leaders in Community

A facilitated virtual learning community for Black male educational leaders to connect, reflect, and grow together through shared inquiry, relationship-building, and responsive dialogue.

Affinity spaces cultivate a level of inclusiveness that helps us become better overall. As we navigate and battle the social challenges of life, it is pivotal that we have spaces where we can be seen, heard, supported, and empowered to grow.

There is power in creating spaces where people can build, heal, learn, and create together. When we come together collectively, we become stronger individually and better equipped to impact the world around us.
- Corey Hardima
Affinity space is like oxygen for me as a Black man in a white mainstream facing institution such as school building, or anything close. In affinity space, I have the comfort and support to speak in an authentic voice and listen with familial care. I can both heal and be healed. I can expect honest discourse, and can feel comfortable knowing that the critical feedback that I receive is based on merit, and not predatory and or nefarious attempts to sabotage and discredit me. Affinity space is necessary for survival in hostile working environments… And for Black men, every working environment that is not an affinity space is a hostile working environment.
- Danny Wilcox

A 10-month, monthly 2-hour virtual learning community with shared rituals, inquiry, and responsive themes for Black male educational leaders.

Equity-Centered Virtual Learning Community

A Space for Us: Black Male Educational Leaders in Community

A facilitated virtual learning community for Black male educational leaders to connect, reflect, and grow together through shared inquiry, relationship-building, and responsive dialogue.

Affinity spaces cultivate a level of inclusiveness that helps us become better overall. As we navigate and battle the social challenges of life, it is pivotal that we have spaces where we can be seen, heard, supported, and empowered to grow.

There is power in creating spaces where people can build, heal, learn, and create together. When we come together collectively, we become stronger individually and better equipped to impact the world around us.
- Corey Hardima
Affinity space is like oxygen for me as a Black man in a white mainstream facing institution such as school building, or anything close. In affinity space, I have the comfort and support to speak in an authentic voice and listen with familial care. I can both heal and be healed. I can expect honest discourse, and can feel comfortable knowing that the critical feedback that I receive is based on merit, and not predatory and or nefarious attempts to sabotage and discredit me. Affinity space is necessary for survival in hostile working environments… And for Black men, every working environment that is not an affinity space is a hostile working environment.
- Danny Wilcox

A 10-month, monthly 2-hour virtual learning community with shared rituals, inquiry, and responsive themes for Black male educational leaders.

What you will experience

Community Connections

Build relationships with other Black male educational leaders.

Shared Inquiry

Explore real questions, dilemmas, and possibilities from your leadership practice.

Responsive Learning

Engage themes that emerge from the needs and experiences of the group.

Individual Commitments

Make meaning from the learning and carry insights back into your leadership context. 

Our Guided Learning Arc

Within iGroups, our work is guided by a shared arc while remaining responsive to the questions, dilemmas, and needs that emerge from our specific group.
Our identity-based Affinity Groups start with this arc, and have the opportunity to develop a more participant responsive scope together.

01

Framework for Transformation & Identity

Launch iGroups, confirm assumptions and norms, and build shared grounding through the Framework for Transformation and I Poems.

02

Changing Our Discourse & D2PQs

Develop shared language and questioning moves that support equity-centered analysis and leadership conversations.

03

Critical Friends Protocol & Critical Race Discussion

Learn and practice the Critical Friends Protocol while strengthening capacity for race-conscious dialogue and feedback.

04

Pre-Conference & Community Voice Through Text-Based Discussion

Use pre-conferencing and student voice evidence to frame dilemmas and engage in structured text-based discussion.

05

Critical Friendship Cycle 1

Apply the cohort rituals and protocol to participant dilemmas/work, ending with process check and individual commitments.

06

Critical Friendship Cycle 2

Continue equity-centered consultation using critical friendship rituals to support follow-through on participants' actions.

07

Critical Friendship Cycle 3

Deepen collaboration and dilemma analysis through another round of critical friendship and commitment-making.

08

Critical Friendship Cycle 4

Strengthen facilitation and participation skills while supporting implementation reflection and next-step planning.

09

World Café Planning & Success Analysis

Design the World Café flow, questions, and roles, and define success indicators for collective reflection.

10

World Café Celebration With Other Groups

Convene across iGroups to share learning, celebrate commitments, surface patterns, and identify next steps beyond the cohort. 

How We’ll Work Together

Small Cohorts

Groups are limited to 11 participants, or divided into smaller groups as needed, to support trust, connection, and meaningful participation.

Critical Friendship

Each participant will have an opportunity to bring at least one dilemma or piece of work for equity-centered critical friendship during the year.

Monthly Rhythm

We’ll meet virtually each month for two contiguous hours, following a consistent rhythm of opening moves, shared learning, collaboration, and closing reflection.Learn the tools used by the world's top professionals.

Reflection & Action

Each gathering closes with a process check and individual commitments, helping participants carry the learning into their leadership practice.Boost your confidence, master the field, become a certified professional.
Meet your instructor
Adelric R. McCain is an educator, coach, and educational leader with more than 25 years of experience working to improve schools and create meaningful opportunities for young people. He holds a bachelor’s degree in History from Morehouse College and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Tufts University. Based in the Chicago area, Adelric has spent his career supporting educators and school leaders to strengthen their practice, build effective teams, and create more equitable systems for students. He is passionate about developing strong relationships, transforming learning environments, and helping educators create joyful and meaningful experiences that allow all young people to grow and succeed.
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