Radical Educator Feature: Bie Aweh

We are so excited to feature our Radical Educator and Community Influencer, Bie Aweh! Check out Bie's interview below and get inspired by her daily work to transform her community and inspire others to do the same!

Bie is the creator of #30NOTUNDER30KILLINIT. Bie’s passion for helping people of underrepresented groups achieve their goal stems from her belief that as technology continues to consume our global economy, it is crucial that underrepresented minorities (URM) have a role in the creation of technologies and not simply consuming them.. Bie holds a Master of Education in Social Justice Education from University of Massachusetts. She received her undergraduate degree from University of New Hampshire, where she majored in Political Science and Women Studies.

Where are you from?

Boston, Massachusetts

What are three things you’re passionate about or gifted at?

-Building and maintaining generational wealth for black communities

-Making an equitable world

-Helping people plug into the their passions and connect back to their humanity

What leadership role/teaching/activism do you have/do in your community? Why? How did you get into this work?

Community happens both in person and online for me, in both of these places my role is to be a disrupter. Disrupting conventional notions of what success and beauty looks like for a historically underserved community. For low income Black communities which is where I was born and raised, success (however defined) feels so distant, while also being bombarded with eurocentric ideas of what beauty is can be overwhelming, so I feel like it is my duty to offer an alternative to that.

What do you hope your community will be transformed by in your work/leadership perspective?

My hope when engaging with my community members is that they are able to envision a better world for themselves; they know that the reality they are experiencing is not their final destination. And most importantly they cultivate a strong sense of self love and worth.

What inspires you to continue this work?

I'm inspired by creating a world where my nieces and nephews are able to be their liberated selves, plug into their full potential without second guessing. I am inspired by creating a world like #Wakanda where Black women are leading and Black men disrupt toxic masculinity. I am inspired by a world where women are paid equally to their male peers.

What is the biggest thing you've learned about yourself doing this work?

I've learned that learning never stops, particularly as it relates to my journey of self love. I have internalized so many of the negative messages and am continually working to unlearn to truly get to a place of radical self love. I've also learned that there is power is not always being "strong" in fact embracing vulnerability is a true form of strength.

What advice do you have for folks who want to transform their workspaces and build awareness of colonial and systemically oppressive thought patterns and practices?

Focus on your area of influence, change can sometimes feel overwhelming because it can feel bigger than you. I invite people to think about the areas of their life/work life that they have power and focus on making change there.

Where can we see more of your work and support you?

@allhailqueenbie (twitter and instagram) Bie Aweh on Linkedin