Social work, identity, Ubuntu, community, and cultural transition anchor this conversation with Shayla S. Dube, an Africentric and decolonial educator whose work embodies collective responsibility and relational practice. Alicia and Ace explore the tensions between assimilation and belonging, the power of Ubuntu-centered care, and the ongoing work of reclaiming cultural foundations in a world shaped by colonialism and accelerating technology.

Shayla reflects on her journey from Zimbabwe to Canada and the costs of assimilation; the role of community participation in becoming more fully human; and the need for social work education that centers relational learning, cultural humility, and ancestral knowledge. The discussion moves through identity reauthoring, the ethics of AI, and the work of re-centering African and Indigenous wisdoms in practice. This episode speaks to anyone committed to liberation, grounded pedagogy, and community-made identity.

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Website: RevolutionarySocialWork.com

Chapters:

00:00 Intro / Theme Song

01:38 Introduction and Identity Exploration

07:14 The Importance of Community and Participation

13:04 Cultural Transition: From Zimbabwe to Canada

18:52 Assimilation and Identity Loss

24:04 Reclaiming the Village in Modern Society

29:46 Teaching and Learning in a Community Context

35:06 Navigating Parenting in a New Cultural Environment

38:14 Helping Others Discover Their Identity

46:40 Understanding Human Experience Beyond Pathology

47:44 Cultural Identity and Ancestry Exploration

48:55 Creating and Reauthoring Culture

50:41 The Role of Culture in Human Behavior

52:42 Connecting with Cultural Foundations

54:20 Navigating Cultural Disconnection

57:04 The Dynamic Nature of Culture

58:46 Technology, AI, and Social Skills

01:04:10 Ethics of AI in Social Work

01:07:54 Re-centering Indigenous and African Wisdom in Social Work

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