Ep 14 | Policy Isn’t Just for Politicians: Lived Experience Is the Real Credential with TaVia Wooley
In this powerful episode of On the School Bus with Dr. Spates, I sit down with TaVia Wooley, founder and Executive Director of Empower Them Collective, for a masterclass in advocacy, humility, and shared power.
TaVia shares how her lived experience — as a mother, social worker, medical advocate, and community leader — shaped her belief that lived experience is more important than degrees. From navigating systems for her brother on the autism spectrum to advocating after the loss of her son, she transformed personal pain into policy literacy and leadership development for families.
Through the Leadership & Policy Academy for Parents, AIM (African American Infant & Maternal Mortality Prevention Initiative), and the 661 Creators Space, TaVia is building the collective capacity of the Antelope Valley community to engage in and create meaningful policy initiatives.
This episode challenges educators to move beyond “family engagement” and toward shared ownership, humility, and she drops a creative-bomb: compensate parent expertise.
If you believe policy shouldn’t happen to you — this episode is for you.
✨ Episode Takeaways
- Lived experience is more important than degrees.
- Empowerment comes from understanding and addressing root causes.
- Advocacy should be informed by personal experiences.
- Creating safe spaces fosters open dialogue.
- Self-care is essential for effective advocacy.
- Community engagement requires valuing parents' voices.
- Policy should be shaped by those affected by it.
- Podcasting can amplify marginalized voices.
- Building relationships is key to successful advocacy.
- Compensating community members for their expertise is vital.
⏱️ Chapters
- 00:00 Introduction to Tavia Woolley and Empower Them Collective
- 06:02 Lived Experiences and Leadership
- 11:48 Empower Them Collective's Mission and Impact
- 17:20 Advocacy Skills for Parents and Caregivers
- 24:02 Navigating School Systems and Policy Literacy
- 29:59 The Role of Podcasting in Community Engagement
- 35:53 Concrete Actions for Educators to Partner with Families
- 41:25 Self-Care and Personal Reflections
- 47:40 Closing Thoughts and Future Aspirations
🎧 Sound Bites
"We need to ask the right questions."
"We need to shift the narrative."
"More is caught than taught."
🔑 Keywords
Tavia Woolley, Empower Them Collective, lived experience, advocacy, community engagement, education, podcasting, self-care, leadership, policy change
🚌 About the Podcast
So here we are. On the School Bus with Dr. Spates — a vehicle (a metaphorical school bus) for learning, growing, laughing, stretching our thinking, and being inspired together. This podcast is exclusively for two groups of people: the passionate school leaders who show up every day determined to improve student outcomes and transform TK–12 education, and the once-passionate leaders who just need a spark to find their way back.
As the culture says: #WeAreNotForEverybody — and that’s perfectly fine with me.
📬 Connect with Dr. Krishna Darlene Spates
Website: ontheschoolbuswithdrspates.com
Website: KrishnaSpates.com
Email: hello@OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates.com
Instagram • YouTube • TikTok • Facebook: @OnTheSchoolBusWithDrSpates
LinkedIn: Krishna Spates, Ed.D.
📬 Connect with TaVia Wooley
Website: Empower Them Collective
Website: JustTavia.com
Email: tavia@justtavia.com
Podcast Studio: 661 Creators Space
Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace
Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com
📸 Production Studio
Recorded at 661 Creators Space
Website: 661CreatorsSpace.com
Instagram: @661CreatorsSpace
Email: 661creatorsspace@gmail.com
🎼 Music
Theme Song: “Call of Duty” — Mutanix
Instagram: @mutanixs
Email: mutanixmedia@gmail.com
Used with permission.
💛 Support the Work
If this episode inspired you, please like, comment, subscribe, and share with another school leader. Watch the playlist on YouTube while you're multi-tasking: Listen here. Our students, families, and communities are counting on us.
