Start With Radical Love

Dr. Crystal Belle has been an educator for over 16 years and has worked in k-12 schools in Brooklyn, NY as an English Teacher, in higher education at the University of Houston-Downtown and Rutgers University-Newark as a Professor and Director of Education, and in the non-profit sector as a Director of curriculum partnerships at EL Education. Her work is grounded in Critical Race Theory, Social Justice Education, radical love and self-care. Also an entrepreneur, Dr. Belle is the founder and Principal consultant of Self Love Life 101, an online coaching business that supports individuals and organizations to implement radical self-care through Diversity, Equity and Inclusion frameworks in order to achieve their goals. Currently, Dr. Belle is the Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Manager (North America) at Ralph Lauren. Also a poet, Belle is the author of Woman on Fire, a poetry collection that explores Black womanhood through race, class and education. Her writing has been featured in Journal of Black Studies, Journal of Adolescent and Adult Literacy, Education Week, Education Review, The London School of Economics Blog for United States Politics and Policy, Includr, and Medium. Originally from Brooklyn, NY, Dr. Belle is a proud student of NYC public schools from k-12. After earning a Posse scholarship and graduating at the top of her high school class, Dr. Belle went on to complete her undergraduate studies at Middlebury College with a Bachelor's Degree in English Literature (cum laude). She eventually continued her education and earned Master's Degrees in Education from Pace University and Teachers College of Columbia University. Dr. Belle received her doctorate in English Education from Teachers College of Columbia University and received the Teachers College dissertation fellowship to complete her study that focused on Black masculinities in NYC public schools and used portraiture, poetry and Critical Race Theory as a research method. Last but certainly not least, Dr. Belle is a loving mother of 2 children (and one on the way) and loves spending time with her family. She also loves knitting, crocheting, sewing and resting on the couch with her cat. When she is not mothering, loving, writing or working, you can find her on Instagram/Facebook/Twitter: @selflovelife101.

Dedication Acknowledgments About the Author Introduction Chapter 1: What's Love Got to Do with It? Chapter 2: What Exactly is Social Justice Education? Chapter 3: Heart Healing Through Teaching, Leading, and Unlearning Chapter 4: Special Education and Social Justice Chapter 5: From the Mouths of Social Justice Educators Chapter 6: Where Do We Go From Here? References

"I can't believe this is Dr. Belle's first book. The writing is a clear, thoughtful road map to radical love. I found myself becoming more curious and reflective with each turn of the page. I am grateful Dr. Belle wrote this book to move us from the dialogue of social justice and radical love to action." -- Bettina Love, Best-Selling Author and William F. Russell Professor "With pen and note pad by my side, I devoured this masterful work. Crystal Belle is offering us food for thought, challenge to fight, and a pathway forward. Truly a beautiful work." -- Christopher Emdin "Start with Radical Love is a thought-provoking and insightful exploration of the intersection between love, social justice, and education. With a focus on personal growth, practical insights, and the experiences of educators in the field, the book encourages readers to reflect on the role of radical love in education and its connection to creating more just, healing-centered, and equitable learning environments. Belle underscores the importance of love in teaching and the profound impact teachers can have on students' lives when they approach teaching with compassion." -- Yolanda Sealey-Ruiz, Ph.D., Professor & Author