Dessa: Deeply Human

by Nick Truxal

• Just as one book is often turned into a miniseries on Netflix or Hulu, we give you this miniseries of articles inspired by Dessa. We hope you find it binge-worthy. 
• Quotes from outside of the Third Eye Education core team were collected via a survey released on Twitter in February of 2021. 

• Also, consider listening to Third Eye Education's podcast with Dessa (releases on March 2, 2021) and Dessa's podcast, Deeply Human (launches on March 8, 2021).

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“Social Emotional Learning,” “Trauma Informed Schools,” and “Mental Health Initiatives” are phrases we’ve heard a lot this year. Not surprising, considering the pandemic, the politics, and the persistence of this year have made these focus areas more important than ever.  

​Whenever I ask an expert on where to begin, the answer is always the same—authentic care and respect:  

• Ask a student where they’ve been when they are gone.  
• Greet students at the door with a genuine inquiry as to how they are doing or what they’ve been up to over the weekend.  
• Give students a voice and then listen.

image from www.dessawander.com

Pre-pandemic, I had the pleasure to attend a concert at my local arts center where Dessa was headlining.  I have been to, and performed in, hundreds upon hundred of concerts.  I have seen acts that lean into the fun, the disinterest, the mystery, the volume, the skill, the passion, and a great deal more.  Yet, I had never seen a performer who leaned into being human—at least not in the ways that matter for social and emotional growth, mental health, or trauma informed education.

​Dessa, however, did.  

To be perfectly honest, long before Dessa even appeared on stage, it was clear that the community she has built thrives on mutual support, respect, and a genuine love for each other and for Dessa herself.  However, once she took the stage, Dessa was acutely aware of her audience in a way that I had never seen before. Aware in the way that as a teacher, I strive to be—aware in the way that as a musician, I’ve avoided.  Why adopt in one environment and reject in another?  I honestly have no idea, and I’ve sought to change.

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She came to the front of the audience at one point, speaking to a young man who was both crying and singing along: Dessa gave him a long and knowing embrace.  She saw a young girl who was unable to fully engage due to her abbreviated height: Dessa motioned to the audience to part, walked through the center of their Red Sea, and pulled the young girl closer to the stage for a better view.

​Humanity should be in all our lives—in everything we do.  We should be seeing the needs of the youth in our classrooms and adjusting practices to make sure they have a clear view.  We should be, if not hugging, extending empathy and compassion.  Of course, as Dessa radiates this goodness, and as she has built a community that does as well, her work is particularly apt for bridging conversations and content that benefit our students.

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Classroom Application Suggestions

• “Use the chorus to "Good Grief" as a discussion prompt for discussion trauma (especially generational trauma)”.   [ Callianne Olson, 9-12 English & Reading Teacher; St. Louis Park, Minnesota ]
  
• ​“[Use Dessa’s work to] connect to children emotionally ...[about] perseverance, family, friends, and inner strength”  [ Misa Gonzales, 6-12 English Language Teacher; Tucson Arizona ]
  
• ​“Use Dessa's neurological inspiration for Chime when discussing psychology and neurology (talking about trauma, how to understand the psychology that causes people to do certain things, and the amount we have yet to learn about neurology)... Show her interviews, the students always find this concept fascinating.”  [ Callianne Olson, 9-12 English & Reading Teacher; St. Louis Park, Minnesota ]

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Dig deeper: read the other articles in the Dessa series.

• Inspiration for Transdisciplinarity Innovation and Application
• A Canvas for Challenging Conversations
• ​Time to Bury the Dead White Male

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On Becoming Deeply Human
with Dessa | 3.2.2021
Dessa speaks with the Third Eye team about curiosity, metacognition, and the pursuit of authentic diversity.

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Nick Truxal is the Teaching & Learning Director for Dover-Eyota Schools and the bass player for a number of Minnesota-based bands.

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