Today we’d like to introduce you to Brandy Casséus.
Hi Brandy, thanks for joining us today. We’d love for you to start by introducing yourself.
I got my start in education over 10 years ago when I started a job as a Teaching Assistant in a Geometry classroom. It was a challenging experience that showed me how passionate I am about helping OUR kids thrive and create lives that truly make them happy. I have experience coordinating educational programs in middle and high schools, managing after-school programming and summer camps, hiring and training staff to work with youth, working as a behavior specialist, and in the classroom teaching social-emotional learning K-8. In my current role at the Memphis Music Initiative (MMI), I design and lead the programming we offer to young, creative Memphians.
I’m sure it wasn’t obstacle-free, but would you say the journey has been fairly smooth so far?
The biggest challenge in my career has been navigating bias attached with being a young, creative, black professional in a world that prioritizes white professionalism. The exact things that make me effective as an educator in primarily black spaces (my style, personality, and world view) are often seen as signs of immaturity or inexperience. I’m thankful to have charted my own path based on the fact that the numbers (and the youth) don’t lie.
Appreciate you sharing that. What else should we know about what you do?
Outside of my work in creative youth development, I am also a music artist who performs under the name artbully. I think my experiences as an artist have put me in a great position to serve the youth at MMI because I don’t just teach, I do. I feel really blessed that I’m able to combine my passion as an educator with my passion for music. You can listen to my latest album, “How to Shine in the Rain” on all streaming platforms.
Are there any apps, books, podcasts, blogs or other resources you think our readers should check out?
Music is everything to me, so I’ll share a few albums;
Black Radio – Robert Glasper Experiment
Alligator Bites Never Heal – Doechii
Balance – Children of Zeus
MUTT – Leon Thomas
Think Tank – Tank and the Bangas
Bar Mediterraneo – Nu Genea
FORWARD – Jordan Ward
Contact Info:
- Website: https://memphismusicinitiative.org
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/mmusinitiative?igsh=ZGFseHNrdWd6czlh
- Youtube: https://youtube.com/@memphismusicinitiative6653?si=HiYclrHfbCE47Avg
