We had the good fortune of connecting with Monika Robinson and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Monika, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
I’m a former teacher, and in 2019, I left public school after teaching for 10 years. One of the first things I was required to do at my new job was to participate in antiracism training. That training put into words what I had experienced navigating the world as a Black woman. I realized that most of what I thought was normal was actually white supremacy culture. For instance, I had previously felt the need to change myself when interacting with white people at work (change thowI talk, act, dress, etc). I realized that I had internalized that there was something wrong with being Black. That training session changed me and made me want to pursue a career where I can help people have that same lightbulb moment and help them understand the nuances of racism in America, especially as it relates to the education system. Many people accept things as they are and never take the time to think critically. Police officers and teachers are doing important jobs, yet many of them have never even heard of implicit racial bias. I want to change that.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
As I am working to build my business, I look at other brands and think about what makes them a success. What I’ve learned is that relationships are currency. Building up my network is what is going to take my business to the next level. So I am intentional about meeting people and going to events in my industry. For the longest time, I never told anyone about my business because I didn’t like talking about myself! Now that I have perfected my “elevator pitch,” I am ready to network with anyone! LOL. It’s honestly all about the value that I can bring to someone or to their organization.

Any places to eat or things to do that you can share with our readers? If they have a friend visiting town, what are some spots they could take them to?
I love the outdoors and nature, so I would definitely take them to Katy Trail or Cedar Ridge Preserve to get some sun and exercise. After Katy Trail, it is required to stop at Katy Trail Ice House for beer and cheese fries. I am a lover of history, so I would take my friend to the African American museum and then to the Freedman’s Cemetary near Uptown to visit the gravesites of Black people who lived in the State-Thomas part of Dallas before it was gentrified. No visit would be complete without some Texas bbq from Pecan Lodge or Terry Black BBQ.

Who else deserves some credit and recognition?
My father! He passed away in 2009, and one important memory of him is him talking to me when I was five years old about getting an education. He kept preaching about education, and I didn’t even know what that was, but I remember him talking to me about it. He would also talk about Black history and racism. He was very much into learning more about our African roots. I later became a teacher, and I now talk to people about racism, so it combines the two things that my father always preached to me.

Website: reparationsed.org

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/monika-robinson-m-ed-8315a259/

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