What does it mean to lead?

In 2023 PIE made a commitment to shifting towards a lateral leadership structure. In doing so, we hoped to honor the diverse voices that make up Detroit's educational landscape by having 3 co- executive directors with diverse backgrounds and experiences. Since then Kiarra Ambrose, José Rivas and Cyrah Dardas have been working collaboratively and holding different portions of our programmatic offerings. Throughout their time of holding these roles, they have invested a considerable amount of time working together on our non hierarchical leadership structure as well as investing in the design and implementation of an advisory council. At PIE we feel strongly that the creation of and tending to this type of leadership format is integral in making sure that the work we do is rooted in a diverse and inclusive approach. It gives us a playground to experiment with loving, self-led accountability, equitable distribution of power, and the invitation to be lifelong learners. All these principles are intertwined with every offering we put forth into the larger community, charting a path of repair and reciprocity for the future. 

Within this structure, PIE has been able to maintain a dedication to playful offerings like Community as Medicine, a supper club centered in supporting early career educators in Detroit through mindfully facilitated dinners. We hosted a cohort of art focused Youth for PIE Maker Space at the Love building and explored the intersection of art and tech. We have also begun to flex new muscles as consultants for the Youth Development Resource Center, guiding innovations within Detroit’s after school programs and have reconnected with the Detroit Public School District, helping to shape new social studies curriculum rooted in place and cultural responsiveness.

What does leadership mean to you?

“Most of all, leadership means creating a space where people can be their truest selves, elevate their work, and be creative.”

- Jose Rivas

What are self care practices or rituals that support you as a leader?

Salat (ritual prayer), breathwork, movement and intentionally spending time in nature. I pause for 10 minutes 5 times a day to clear my thoughts and connect with the Divine, which allows me to reset my nervous system and disconnect from the world. Breathwork and movement go hand in hand for me and help me with staying present in my body. Connecting with nature is a must as it allows me to disconnect from the distractions in the world and tap into something greater than myself. 

- Kiarra Ambrose.

Reflecting on our year, 2023!

This year was a time of settling into our new, lateral leadership team made up of Jose Rivas, Kiarra Ambrose, and Cyrah Dardas. We have learned so much about each other, our rhythms and each of our artistic practices that guide so much of our work. Each of us have come to this role with our own life experience grounded in pursuit of humanizing learning in Detroit. We are learning the breadth of our roles as a core team of Executive Directors, developing new programs for learners in Detroit and hosting community offerings. We are deepening our understanding of cooperative leadership, holding of power and expression of liberatory learning. 

PIE held the 3rd installment of Radical wellness this summer, a transformative and healing space for education leaders that supported their development of more human-centered learning spaces and lives. During our 8 months together, we explored questions like: What does radical wellness mean for education spaces? And what can leaders do to support individual and collective healing and wellness?

Leaders walked away with practical resources and strategies that provided guidance both individually and collectively on working towards wholeness. One participant shared that Radical Wellness gave her an opportunity to “Finally think about herself”.  She went on to share that, so many times in service and leadership positions the focus is on outcomes and not on relationships. She explained that her experience in Radical Wellness allowed her to shift her focus to her own wellbeing, which resulted in her being more attune to the wellbeing of those around her. After having attended our fellowship, many of our leaders committed to using what they learned by continuing to develop personal practices of centering and physical movement to connect to self. 

““I will go into my educating spaces more mindful of the human needs of my students (and myself).”
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— - Jim Dwyer

Jose launched PIE Coffee Break a restful time for teachers to be in community and recharge. Hoping to expand on this work teachers will be invited to use these sessions as a time to re-engage with their purpose. These spaces will hold cohort meet-ups once the PIE Institute (Formerly the RIDA Institute) launches in the summer. This summer intensive is meant to engage teachers seeking to humanize their learning space as well as dedicating their purpose for the school year in a cohort of like minded teachers supporting one another. 

This year we had the honor of partnering with teaching artist Maya Davis to host Community As Medicine which  supports Detroit educators of color, through facilitated dinners for educators to connect and build community to process their experiences while collectively cultivating a network of support. The pandemic made clear that educators and youth with strong networks of support were the most resilient and this initiative is a direct response to supporting educators and youth to develop these deep and powerful connections.

To archive the findings of this project,  PIE Published a book documenting Community As Medicine with support from our community partner and dear friends at BULK space and we were even invited to sell our book at the 2023 Detroit Book Fair.

We are thrilled to have deepened in partnership and relationship with many values-aligned artists, educators, youth and non-institutional learning spaces this year and look forward to continuing to build upon the foundations of trust and play that were forged in 2023. Thank you all for your continued support and we look forward to sharing more about our exciting upcoming community offerings in 2024!