Episode 71, ACT 1: Bets Charmelus - Imagination in Action

In Act 1 of this two-episode arc, Courtney engages in a thought-provoking discussion with educator and facilitator Betsaleel (Bets) Charmelus. In their discussion, Bets emphasizes why it’s essential for educators and facilitators to radically change traditional learning spaces. By altering the energy in these environments, we can create room for creative thinking and innovation, ultimately empowering students to think outside the box. Bets also delves into the significance of introducing novelty in a measured, incremental way during facilitation. He highlights how these small shifts can have a profound impact on student engagement and learning outcomes. The episode also explores the creation of spaces in which kids feel safe to take risks, fail, and learn from those failures—spaces that encourage exploration and experimentation as key components of the learning process. A core theme of this episode is the concept of trauma-informed practices in education. Bets challenges the notion of preparing students for a world that isn’t trauma-informed by asking, "Why do we offer trauma-informed strategies if the world doesn’t operate that way?" He responds to his own questions with a compelling idea: the power lies in modeling these practices in facilitation. By openly making mistakes, naming them, and celebrating small and big successes, educators can demonstrate resilience and adaptability. Bets asserts that when we model this work, we don’t just prepare students for the real world—we begin to change it. This episode is a deep dive into how we can equip young people with the tools they need to navigate a non-trauma-informed world and become agents of change in their own right.