Beyond the Science: Empowering Black Men to Reshape ABA
Audio Brief
Show transcript
This episode introduces 'Beyond the Science,' a podcast amplifying diverse voices in Applied Behavior Analysis and exploring the personal, cultural, and systemic aspects often overlooked in technical discussions.
There are four key takeaways. First, diversity is a necessity for culturally competent care. Second, community and mentorship are crucial for underrepresented professionals. Third, discussions must extend beyond technical science to human experience. Fourth, experienced professionals have a duty to mentor and share knowledge.
The podcast emphasizes that diverse practitioners are necessary to effectively serve a growingly diverse client base. Cultural competency ensures ethical and impactful care, moving beyond a one-size-fits-all approach.
Hosts Jeron Trotman, Joseph Adams, and Darius Cooper highlight the power of community, mentorship, and brotherhood. As Black men in a predominantly white, female field, finding relatable support systems has been critical for navigating unique professional challenges and fostering personal growth.
The 'Beyond the Science' mission is to explore personal journeys, cultural nuances, and systemic challenges often overlooked in purely technical discussions. This approach provides a richer, more holistic understanding of the profession.
The hosts advocate for experienced professionals to actively mentor the next generation. They stress the importance of breaking down information 'gatekeeping' to ensure knowledge transfer and support new practitioners in succeeding.
This episode ultimately champions a more inclusive, supportive, and human-centered approach to professional development within Applied Behavior Analysis.
Episode Overview
- This episode introduces the "Beyond the Science" podcast, a platform created to amplify the voices of diverse professionals in Applied Behavior Analysis (ABA).
- The hosts—Jeron Trotman, Joseph Adams, and Darius Cooper—share their unique and unconventional paths into the ABA field as Black men.
- The conversation emphasizes that diversity among practitioners is not just a benefit but a necessity for providing culturally competent care to an increasingly diverse client population.
- A core theme is the power of community, mentorship, and "brotherhood" in navigating the challenges of being underrepresented in a female-dominated field.
- The hosts define their mission to go "beyond the science" by discussing the personal journeys, cultural nuances, and systemic challenges that are often overlooked in technical discussions.
Key Concepts
- Podcast Mission: To amplify diverse voices in ABA and explore the cultural, personal, and professional journeys of practitioners, moving beyond purely technical discussions.
- Diversity as a Necessity: The field requires practitioners with diverse backgrounds, cultures, and experiences to effectively and ethically serve the diverse populations of children and families receiving services.
- The Black Male Experience in ABA: The hosts share their perspectives on navigating a predominantly white, female-dominated field, including the initial shock from colleagues and the challenges of finding relatable mentorship.
- Community and Brotherhood: A central theme is the critical importance of building a supportive network for Black men in the field to share experiences, provide mentorship, and foster professional and personal growth.
- Mentorship and "Gatekeeping": The hosts discuss the transformative impact of finding good mentors and their desire to break down the "gatekeeping" of information to help the next generation of practitioners succeed.
Quotes
- At 0:28 - "A podcast where we amplify the voices of diverse professionals in the field of ABA." - Host Jeron Trotman introduces the central mission of the "Beyond the Science" podcast.
- At 1:45 - "Beyond the Science, because we're not only gonna explore the science; we're gonna go deeper than that." - Jeron Trotman explains the meaning behind the podcast's title, outlining their intent to discuss the broader personal and cultural aspects of the ABA field.
- At 15:40 - "Bringing diverse experiences to the table, bringing diverse perspectives to the table, only are going to help serve the unique population and individuals that we do serve." - This quote summarizes the core argument for why diversity among practitioners is crucial for the field's success.
- At 24:50 - "I really, really want to kill that narrative that we can't work together." - The host expresses his passion for fostering collaboration and mutual support among Black men, pushing back against stereotypes.
- At 27:03 - "This is our duty... The older generation does not impart the knowledge back into the younger generation. They kind of gatekeep." - The host speaks on the responsibility of experienced practitioners to mentor the next generation and the cultural problem of withholding information.
Takeaways
- The ABA field must prioritize increasing diversity among practitioners to ensure culturally competent and effective care for all clients.
- For underrepresented professionals, actively seeking and building a community of peers and mentors with shared experiences is vital for navigating professional challenges and fostering growth.
- Important conversations in any field should extend beyond technical jargon to include the human elements of the profession, such as personal journeys, cultural context, and systemic barriers.
- Experienced professionals have a duty to mentor newcomers and actively share knowledge to prevent "gatekeeping" and support the next generation.
