Holding a Mirror Up to Ourselves

<p>Sharif El-Mekki is an award-winning educational leader in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Our conversation with him focuses on the importance of all of us holding up a mirror to ourselves to examine our racial and social biases, biases that hold others back. His work is raising vital questions and making valuable and needed contributions to the education of children of color, in particular, to allow them the opportunities they need to live fuller, fairer, freer lives. Sharif’s comments are challenging and motivating. They will cause you to examine your perspectives and beliefs. They will help us all to grow. <br/><br/><b>Show Notes<br/><br/></b>Sharif El-Mekki is the recipient of many education awards:   </p><p>-    several to Mastery Shoemaker, the school he led in Philadelphia, including a bronze medal in the <em>U.S. News &amp; World Report </em>high school rankings, the Schools That Can School award, and two Effective Practice Incentive Community awards (Silver and Gold).</p><ul><li>Mastery Shoemaker ranked as the 7th-best high school for Black student achievement in Top 10 Schools Report Card. </li><li>Sharif himself is the second prize winner of <a href='https://thebestschools.org/'>TheBestSchools.org’s</a> <a href='https://www.masterycharter.org/news/mastery-principal-wins-second-2017-best-education-awards/'>2017 Escalante-Gradillas Prize for Best in Education</a>. </li></ul><p>In 2014, Sharif co-founded <a href='https://www.fellowshipbmec.org/history'>The Black Male Educators for Social Justice Fellowship</a> to inspire new generations of Black men to work for social justice through teaching. During his career, Sharif has served as a <a href='https://www2.ed.gov/programs/principalfellowship/20013fellows/el-mekki.html'>U.S. Department of Education Principal Ambassador Fellow</a> and <a href='http://americaachieves.org/americaachieves-launches-fellowships-to-elevate-outstandingeducators-voicesin-three-states/'>America Achieves Fellow</a>. In addition, he received citations from the Pennsylvania Senate and Ho