Fighting for Inclusion in Regressive Times: A Conversation with Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons

"We don’t stop fighting for inclusion just because policies shift—we double down on the classroom, the community, and each other." — Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons

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In this episode of Conscious Pathways, I sit down with Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons—educator, researcher, and DEI advocate—to explore what it means to fight for inclusive, supportive learning environments when educational policies and public narratives are increasingly regressive.

Dr. Lyons shares his personal journey into education, inspired by a college access program that changed his life, and dives deep into what it truly takes to create equitable academic spaces. We talk about supporting Black boys in the classroom, designing DEI-centered interventions, and how educators and parents can take meaningful action—even when the system feels like it’s working against us.

If you’re a teacher, parent, or advocate trying to navigate this moment with purpose and compassion, this conversation will leave you feeling seen, supported, and re-energized.

Dr. Tr’Vel T. Lyons is an adjunct assistant professor and associate researcher at the USC Rossier School of Education. His research focuses on diversity, equity, and inclusion in academic programs, with an emphasis on supporting historically underrepresented students. He holds a Ph.D. in Urban Schooling from UCLA, where his dissertation, Cacti in the Classroom, explored cultivating supportive learning environments for Black boys during their critical ninth-grade year.

In this episode we discuss:

• The impact of transformational college access programs
• Creating inclusive classrooms in the face of policy rollbacks
• Supporting Black boys through intentional, strength-based approaches
• The intersection of race, class, and gender in academic equity
• The emotional toll of advocacy—and how to stay grounded
• Real strategies for parents and educators to resist regressive systems
• Why hope and community are essential in this work

🔗 Links & Resources:

• Learn more about Dr. Lyons’ work at USC’s Center for Education, Identity, and Social Justice
• Follow Conscious Pathways on Instagram: @conscious.pathways
• Subscribe to the Pathways of Promise newsletter for early access and resources: Join Here
• Listen to our episode on Voices of Neurodiversity with Dr. JPB Gerald
• Shop our recommended books on DEI and education through our Bookshop page – support local bookstores and social justice learning!

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