From Streets to Scholarship: Centering Lived Experience, Justice, and Community in Higher Education

Presenters: Stacey Stevens, Yusef Bunchy Shakur

Session Description:

This session will use the internationally acclaimed documentary Redemption Road: The Story of Dr. Yusef Bunchy Shakur as a springboard to explore how lived experience can be integrated into academic settings to deepen student learning. The film traces Shakur’s transformation from gang member to the first Black and formerly incarcerated Executive Director of the historic Michigan Roundtable for Just Communities. Set in Detroit, Redemption Road offers a counter-narrative to the often-sensationalized portrayals of the city, illuminating the real, raw, and revolutionary experiences of those surviving disinvestment, mass incarceration, and systemic racism. Participants will engage in dialogue on the power of narrative, explore practical tools for creating meaningful community partnerships, and leave with strategies to humanize pedagogy through authentic engagement rooted in justice, healing, and transformation.

Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the value of integrating lived experience and community-rooted expertise into higher education pedagogy to deepen student engagement, critical thinking, and cultural understanding.

2. Explore ethical and practical strategies for faculty, staff, and administrators to build collaborative partnerships with community experts that address systemic issues such as racism, poverty, and health inequity.