Edupreneur Spotlight: Nicole Young-Turner

Check out our interview with Nicole Young-Turner, the Founder of Kaleidoscope Village in Atlanta, GA.

How and why did you become an educator? Narrate your path for us.

My path to becoming an educator and advocate is bittersweet and honestly paved by both empowering and oppressive experiences growing up in Atlanta. I am the granddaughter of sharecroppers who became the first in our family to reach the middle class; I am third generation literate and a first generation college student. I am the first person in my family to live as an OUT member of the LGBTQ+ community.

Growing up, it was instilled in me that education meant freedom and opportunities despite the injustices in the world, and I absolutely fell in love with learning! I was a superstar student and, because of a tumultuous home life, school was the only place I felt safe, heard, and nurtured. Until I came out in 10th grade. The memory of being pulled out of my Honors History class by administration, including a counselor, to be told to “keep [my] business to myself...my [lesbian identity] is a distraction to the learning environment” was a dehumanizing blow at age 15. The people that had affirmed me, rewarded my efforts, and inspired me immediately became wardens in a prison. I went to college early the next year, before I was emotionally or academically ready, because I felt invisible and silenced. That was, however, the moment I decided that no matter what leadership road I chose, I would change the world for students like me.

I joined Teach For America in 2011 as a 5th grade educator in Metro Atlanta. I, again, experienced blatant (and legal) discrimination regarding my affectional orientation at my placement school. I was forced to make an impossible choice: erase parts of myself to serve my students or be all of who I am and lose my livelihood and life’s work. Though I was glowing with pride at my students’ tremendous academic and socio-emotional growth, I became painfully aware of the systemic issues perpetuating psychologically and physically unsafe environments for not only students, but educators and families--the entire community.

A fire was reignited within me and after marrying my wife in 2014; I was asked to co-founded the national LGBTQ+ Community Initiative at Teach For America, where I had the honor of developing inclusive curriculum, facilitating diverse community experiences, and integrating sustainable and equitable strategies across the organization. I am so grateful for the progress I’ve been able to see and impact I have been able to make as a OUT DEI leader over the last decade. Now, as the founder of Kaleidoscope Village, I hope to not only elevate the experiences of LGBTQ+ people of color in my hometown, but to provide resources, support, and spaces for all leaders, students, and families to learn, grow, and unite.

What inspired you to start Kaleidoscope Village?

Kaleidoscope Village is more than a venture--the soul of the organization has been inspired by the courage and bravery of all students who face a world that tells them they are not worthy to be seen everyday, the leaders who serve in communities that may not always make space for them, and by the families and allies who stand beside us, reminding us that we are here and we are beautiful and deserving. We all are also compelled to equip our community to actively combat intersectional homophobia, transphobia, and gender discrimination in our classrooms, schools, community service ecosystem to ensure safety, access, and well-being for all.

LGBTQ+ members of our community need affirming spaces and experiences to be themselves and build relationships authentically, and all leaders need the tools and support to build truly inclusive and empowering environments both inside and outside the classroom. Kaleidoscope Village’s mission is to elevate the voices of LGBTQ2sIA+ Black, Indigenous, People of Color, to educate all leaders on building and sustaining equitable and inclusive cultures, and to create empowering spaces and programs for our village to connect and thrive!

What do you envision for KV in five years?

A wise woman (Claudine, Co-Founder of RestoreMore) once told us to dream big--so here goes! In 5 years, every LGBTQ+ person and ally in the Southeast will know Kaleidoscope Village’s name and, more importantly, work in the community. Our big goal, aligned to our elevate and empowerment pillars, is to have a fully funded, thriving community center with long-term programming elevating and serving our students, families, and community partners. We plan to offer educational, enrichment, and leadership development programs as well as wellness services--a full wrap-around recreation/community center focused on the needs of the LGBTQIA2s+ community here in Atlanta. Hopefully, it will be a model that other communities (both urban and rural) throughout the South can replicate.

In addition to the Kaleidoscope Village center(s), Kaleidoscope Village Institute will provide training and professional development, climate assessments and culture consulting, and program/curriculum design services to deepen DEI leadership competencies and support change management implementation. I envision serving as the premiere training and strategic consulting partner for youth-serving organizations and educational institutions committed to creating and sustaining LGBTQ+ equity and inclusiveness as well as promoting allyship.

In 5 years, our vision is that BIPOC LGBTQ+ people are SEEN, INCLUDED, and AFFIRMED for who they are; a true coalition of youth, families, leaders, and institutions that understand the vitality of embracing and uplifting all members of our communities in Atlanta.

If you could wave a magic wand and fix one thing about education immediately what would you fix.

Every student is nurtured and developed in an environment that empowers ALL of who they are (their identities, families, cultures, history, abilities, experiences. interests) and allows them to question, explore, create, and reimagine with a loving village to inspire and support their journey.

What advice would you give to educators who have a passion & talent that could become profitable and want to act on it, but are fearful?

“Woo!! From a Baby Founder, these are the mantras I live by nowadays:

Everything you have learned and experienced brought you here
You were literally Created to Do This.
You Can, You Will, You Must...We are Waiting on You!
Don’t do it alone;
Find and/or Create Your Village!”

How can our followers stay in touch with you?

Restore MoreOctober 30, 2020