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Bryant Odega, Ed.M.

@bryantodega

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👨🏾‍🏫 Educator
✊🏾 Member Rep (LA) @caworkingfamiliesparty
🗳️ VP @blacklayoungdems
💪🏾 @utlanow
"To educate is the practice of freedom." ― bell hooks

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New School Year.
New Year of Life.
Same Heart. 💯

Always grateful to do the work I love. by @bryantodega

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2 months ago

"The light of love is always in us...waiting for the spark to ignite" — bell hooks, All About Love

This is my mantra as a teacher, organizer, and as a human being trying to move in this world dominated by systems that ceaselessly attempt to rob us of that love, of our light, of our humanity. I find my light reignited each day, by my family, friends, colleagues, community, and my students—all of whom form my beloved community. Love, beyond romance, is one of my favorite subjects to teach, inspired by Ms. Lauryn Hill's 'Miseducation'. It's also the driving force behind all that I do. I think about all those who fought to abolish violent institutions from chattel slavery to Jim and Jane Crow for the sake of their families, neighbors, society. I think about those who marched and faced state sanctioned violence for demanding civil rights and labor rights. Who engaged in collective struggle knowing that victory wasn't guaranteed. I think about the college students who faced militarized violence but nevertheless protested for months to establish Ethnic Studies on their campuses, especially those who knew they weren't going to personally enjoy the results of their struggle, but knew that generations after will be able to. Because of them, I am.

That type of love, that pushes us to engage in social change making, not knowing what the outcome will be. That type of love that pushes us to fight for others, including those we don't or will ever know. That type of love that reminds us that we are worthy of dignity, of care, of all that is promised by love.

Because we are.

Also sharing some thoughts on love by some of my favorite artists/thinkers.

#Love #bellhooks #Tupac #2pac #LaurynHill by @bryantodega

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2 years ago

"The honor, I assure you, was Harvard's."
— W.E.B. Du Bois
Pan-Africanist, Educator, Civil Rights Activist, Scholar.

Within me, I carry the inherited dreams, resistance, oral histories, and lessons of the Edos—the community cultural wealth (Yosso) passed down to me by my family from our ancestors. I carry the cultural wealth passed to me from the students and school communities I've had the honor to work with, the community of organizers and activists in Los Angeles, and my community in the Harbor Area. Because of them, I am.

Education as the practice of freedom (Freire, hooks) teaches us that anyone is capable of learning. I'd add that we are also capable of learning from anyone both in the classroom and outside. When we learn from each other and apply what we've learned to action, anything is possible. Community and communal education shows us this and I've learned so much and am eager to learn so much more throughout my journey.

There is no force that can gift us, what we already have. Nor can any force take what is inherently ours. Rooted in our history and possibility, we are unshakable...we are unstoppable.

"No weghe uloko egbere e ro weghe / he who shakes the iroko tree shakes himself"
— Edo Proverb 🇳🇬

📸: @teachleadlaunch

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@hgsebsu @naijanation @harvardblackadvancement @blackeducatorsconnect

#Harvard #HGSE #Graduate #Education #Edo #Nigeria taken in Harvard Graduate School of Education by @bryantodega

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2 years ago

Glad to join SEIU Local 99 in canvassing for Randy Villegas for Congress and Yes on Prop 3! It was a beautiful and joyful day ✊🏾💜♥️

As workers who serve students and families, we know the consequences of a broken system that doesn't serve our communities. However, we also know change is possible when we fight for it.

Dr. Randy Villegas has been fighting for working families from the classroom to the community. He understands the struggles that working class people face and is committed to making government work for us, not billionaires. That's why he rejects corporate money and is running on progressive policies like Medicare for All.

Prop 3 will protect essential funding for our public schools and will make that funding permanent for generations to come.

Let's fight for working families, protect our public schools, and make change happen.

@seiulocal99 @seiuca @villegasforcongress ✊🏾💜♥️ taken in Bakersfield, California by @bryantodega

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4 days ago

it’s happy hour time again, this time hosted with @southbayforward ! Meet nice folks who are passionate about housing, transit, and progressive change in the South Bay! Hear some updates about the chapter and build community!
@smogcitybeer by @bryantodega

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11 days ago

Power in Our Hands, Hope in Our Future ✊🏾☀️

A city that works for working people and not the billionaires is possible, but only if we fight for it. We got some fighters willing to throw down to make LA more affordable to live in and accountable to the people.

🗣️ South Central is NOT for sale!

✅ Vote @estuardo4la for LA City Council District 9
✅ Vote @marissaroy_la for LA City Attorney
✅ Vote @yesprop3ca to Protect Our Schools

#SouthCentral #LosAngeles taken in South Central LA by @bryantodega

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12 days ago

Glad to be outside today walking with fellow educators to get the word out on voting Yes on Prop 3.

If Prop 3 doesn’t pass, some of the wealthiest in the state will get a tax cut, jeopardizing billions in education funding for our students we can't afford to lose. 1 in 6 educators across California could be laid off.

For LAUSD, that could mean losing nearly $839 million/year from the budget. Our students deserve to have the essential services and programs they rely on to succeed in school. We can't afford to short change them just so that the rich can get richer.

That is a future we cannot accept.

The future of California’s public schools and health care is on the line. We have the power to protect school funding.

✅ Vote YES on Prop 3 @yesprop3ca
✅ Vote YES on @richardbarrera2026 taken in Lomita, California by @bryantodega

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13 days ago

The future of labor is in the hands of workers, not billionaires! Through solidarity together, we can build a future that we deserve. For our students, for the communities we serve. For public education. For all working families—everyone. All power to the people ✊🏾

Happy Labor Day!

#LaborDay #LosAngeles #Wilmington
#UTLAStrong #UnionStrong taken in Wilmington, Los Angeles by @bryantodega

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25 days ago

First UTLA area meeting of the school year!

I'm excited to do the work of organizing for the resources our students, families and workers deserve. I'm also grateful to be elected to serve once again as a Harbor Area rep to UTLA's Political Action Council of Educators. I'm honored by the trust and support from my fellow union members and excited to help build a system that works for working families, not billionaires!

Starting with the campaign to vote YES on PROP 3 @yesprop3ca and electing @richardbarrera2026, @estuardo4la, and the People's Attorney, @marissaroy_la! ✊🏾

#UTLAStrong #UnionStrong by @bryantodega

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a month ago

Last month, more than 35 BLAYD members came together in person and virtually, for an incredible conversation with former Assemblymember and Pasadena Mayor @chrisholdenla , CEO of LA Fire Justice.

We talked about building an organization rooted in shared values, turning community priorities into policy, coalition building, effective advocacy, and developing BLAYD’s organizational platform.

Members then stayed for OVER AN HOUR to work in breakout groups, research key issues, and identify the priorities that matter most to young Black Angelenos.

We now have our priorities across eight pillars and every level of government as we prepare for the 2026 midterms and 2028 election.

Join us Monday as we take the next step and delve deeper into developing our federal platform draft with CA Deputy Attorney Marissa Roy @marissaroy_la ✊🏾

Follow along and check out our latest post to see our priorities and what we’re building together.

#BLAYD #BlackDemocrats #CommunityPower #Organizing #Policy #Advocacy #2026Midterms #2028Election taken in Pasadena, California by @bryantodega

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a month ago

Join us Sunday, August 30th where we’ll share what Working Families Party is doing across the state and hear from endorsed candidate Faizah Malik about her campaign in Los Angeles. She will share the challenges she faced running as a progressive in the Westside and what lessons we can learn here in the South Bay from her primary race.

RSVP at link in bio!

This is an opportunity for us to discuss as a community the issues that are keeping us up at night and how we can organize together to make real change. taken in Torrance Airport by @bryantodega

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2 months ago

It was great seeing @marissaroy_la come through to #Wilmington and #HarborCity. Our communities matter and it was great hearing her engage with local residents here. A special highlight is seeing former students engage in the civic process as well.

I support Marissa because Marissa supports our students and workers. As a leader committed to juvenile justice, Marissa will be a key ally for educators in ending the school-to-prison pipeline and creating a system that is invested in care and restorative justice for our youth. As a fighter for workers, she will oppose efforts to automate jobs, sue corporations for committing wage theft and other labor violations, and protect renter's rights.

It's time we have a City Attorney that works for the people, not billionaires!

🗳️ Vote Marissa Roy for LA City Attorney.

#MarissaRoy
#ILWU #UTLA by @bryantodega

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2 months ago