Book excerpt: Learn how to create identity affirming classroom environments that honor the humanity of students. Although schools have potential to be spaces of inquiry and joy, they can also be the source of trauma and pain when educational equity is not a foundational element. With a race-conscious lens, Dr. Erica Buchanan-Rivera explains how to actively listen to the voices of students and act in response to their needs in order to truly activate equity and make conditions conducive for learning. She also offers insights on how we need to do anti-bias and antiracist work in efforts to create affirming, brave spaces. Throughout the book, you’ll find features such as Mirror Work and Collective Work to help you bring the ideas to your own practice and discuss them with others. You’ll also find excerpts from students' voices to hear the why behind affirming spaces through their perspectives. With the powerful ideas in this book, you’ll be able to create the kinds of classroom environments that students deserve.