Today we’d like to introduce you to Josan Wright Callender
Hi Josan Wright, can you start by introducing yourself? We’d love to learn more about how you got to where you are today?
I’ve often looked at life as a tapestry of possibilities. I grew up in a middle-class neighborhood in Detroit. My friends and I played make-believe games that took us from space travel to the wild West. At the time, I didn’t believe that there were limits to what I could achieve. I still live that way.
I began my professional life as a special education teacher—the career I had been passionate about ever since I was a Future Teacher in the fourth grade. I graduated from both Wayne State University and California State University, Northridge, and hold a master’s degree in education leadership and education administration.
But I noticed by the time I graduated from Wayne State University—1975—perceptions of special education and special education students had evolved greatly. It was the year of Public Law 94:142’s passage; a law requiring that children with disabilities be provided a “free and appropriate public education,” based on the same landmark cases that established the civil rights movement! These children, who had been separated from general education populations, were now to be integrated into the least restrictive programs.
I gained an international perspective of special education programs in 1976. I was a participant in the Bi-Centennial Ambassadors in Education, an educational exchange program involving a select group of educators from Wayne State University and Great Britain to collaborate and gain a better understanding of American and British educational curricula.
This experience fueled my desire to inspire, champion, and motivate students. I wanted to bring the best educational experience to not only those in traditional classrooms, but to homebound and hospitalized students as well. I have served as a teacher consultant, kindergarten collaborative teacher, classroom teacher of students on the autism spectrum and those with developmental delays, mentor teacher, and instructional facilitator for district interns with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD).
My teaching strategies have involved inclusive models and have motivated administrators and other teachers in addition to children. I became a National Board Certificated Teacher (Exceptional Needs Specialist) in 2001 (renewed in 2011).
In the midst of my education trajectory, I became intrigued by how to motivate students with film. After interning with a local PBS station in Detroit, this passion grew. I became an award-winning writer-producer. A few of my accomplishments as a screenwriter include the scripts for Homebound, for which I was a finalist in the Independent Feature Project/West’s first Writers’ Workshop and the script for Curl Up & Dye, which won the Audience Choice Award in the 168 Film Project. My production credits include ONE DOWN, a co-produced 35mm feature that won the Charleston WorldFest’s Silver Award and placed second in the Lansing Film Festival.
These successes in filmmaking and writing were incorporated into my classroom, and I saw my students’ interests improving with the addition of classroom plays and filmmaking. While teaching a kindergarten class, one student with autism created a short film that won a local award!
As a mentor teacher and instructional facilitator for district interns with the Los Angeles Unified School District (LAUSD), I was able to share what I’ve learned over the past twenty years with those who were just beginning their educational journey.
When I became a program specialist for special education with the LAUSD, I assisted the district in achieving one of my life-long dreams: integration. I was part of a team that successfully assisted disabled students in obtaining a fair, public education when my teammates and I moved classes from special education centers to general education schools on their co-located school sites. The children of both sites were able to become one school; sharing selected classes and enjoying recess and lunch together.
Interestingly enough, it was my many years of teaching and encouraging children that led me to discover my childhood love of filmmaking and writing was equally in reach. Both were acts of courage that were met with levels of success and two pieces of writing that allow me to “give back” and extend my love for writing and teaching to children. First, I developed The Happy Little Garbage Truck, a picture book with an instructional program intended to show children that they can have fun while learning literacy and social skills. Both skills encourage children to succeed in reaching higher levels of achievement and self esteem.
Recently, I’ve been able to release the book of my dreams as a Christian Young Adult author — Making Do: Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression — an homage to my parents.
Alright, so let’s dig a little deeper into the story – has it been an easy path overall and if not, what were the challenges you’ve had to overcome?
OBSTACLES/CHALLENGES
My parents championed our expanding our talents. I remember when I was selected to participate in an art class that was held at the Detroit Institute of Arts, they encouraged me to take it. I had to take two buses (which included a transfer) to get there. At the age of ten, this became my first big adventure in trailblazing – doing the out of the ordinary. They continued building my courage, by urging me to get a college education, purchase my first piece of real estate, go to England with a group of educators (and American Expressed me extra funds when I lost my wallet!) and even attended my first film premier – they were my biggest fans. As a child, they championed all of us to “aim for the stars, even if you hit the stump.” With their “God has a cattle on a thousand hills” faith, they not only encouraged us to exceed our standards, they were our real-life, faith-filled, role models.
That is why my biggest obstacle happened in 2005 and 2006, the years when I lost my parents. I was grief stricken to lose both within two years. Their presence as my best friends and fans (I would always use my vacation time to “go home” to spend time with them) left an enormous void in my life. Believe: Tuskegee Strong! series, Making Do Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression, Volume 1, is my homage to my parents, Joseph and Mattie Wright.
My journey in writing this historical drama began over forty years ago. It was prompted by the stories they told us about how they braved living in the South during the challenging Jim Crow period. It was their faith in God, that they not only professed but lived, that allowed them to become a resilient and confident couple able to conquer fear and triumph over life’s uncertainties!
When the novel was completed, I began another project – an audiobook of their story! It, too, has had it’s challenges, but the good that could come from this — that many more children with reading disabilities and special needs would be able to enjoy this novel if it were available as an audiobook – overrode the possible obstacles that doing this would present.
As we ran into obstacles due to time, availability of talent and changes in our staff, the funds to complete the audiobook eroded. The one opportunity that made itself available to me was – doing a KICKSTARTER!
The goal is to make it an impressive theatrical production — much like the old radio dramas of the 1940s! This format brings characters to life. Sparing no expense, the only person reasonably qualified to take on this masterpiece (with the vocal talent and the necessary Southern flair) is the internationally known storyteller, Phyllis Kelly, a dear friend of mine!
We not only became a successful, fully-funded project, we are now in the process of completing Making Do: Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression, Vol. 1 – THE AUDIOBOOK, which is slated to be available on our matjointl website before Christmas!
As you know, we’re big fans of you and your work. For our readers who might not be as familiar what can you tell them about what you do?
In the midst of my education trajectory, I became intrigued by how to motivate students with film. After interning with a local PBS station in Detroit, this passion grew. When a friend and I decided to produce our own 35mm independent feature, ONE DOWN, I became an award-winning producer. ONE DOWN, our co-produced 35mm feature won the Charleston WorldFest’s Silver Award and placed second in the Lansing Film Festival! This film spurred my desire to write (as I wrote several scenes in the movie – although uncredited). Since that time, a few of my accomplishments as a screenwriter include the scripts for Homebound, for which I was a finalist in the Independent Feature Project/West’s first Writers’ Workshop, Golden Axe, that I co-wrote with my nephew Jocklen Powell McMeans, placed 20 out of 1500 entries in the Disney Fellowship Program, and the script for Curl Up & Dye, which won the Audience Choice Award in the 168 Film Project.
These successes in filmmaking and writing spilled over to and were incorporated into my teaching craft. I saw my students’ interests in learning improve with the addition of classroom plays and filmmaking. While teaching a kindergarten class, one student with autism created a short film that won a local award! That was one of my most memorable moments – seeing the recognition on his face of what he had been able to achieve in that project and his bowing before a huge audience that included his very excited parents!
These achievements prodded me on to seek other artistic pursuits, namely as a children’s and young adult author.
Can you talk to us a bit about the role of luck?
I love history because from it, one can learn from the experiences of many wise people. On luck, I remember this quote from Roman philosopher Seneca: “Luck is what happens when preparation meets opportunity.” But on that vein, my favorite is from Thomas Edison: “Opportunity is often missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work.”
My parents reminded us that “you make your own luck,” but always included the caveat that with God, “all things are possible.” This was a call for prayer, especially when forging an uncharted path. These thought processes have become my foundation and made an enormous difference in my life and career.
Pricing:
- The Happy Little Garbage Truck (Autographed Hardcover) $15.00
- Believe: Tuskegee Strong! Making Do: Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression, Vol. 1 (Autographed) $19.00
- Believe: Tuskegee Strong! Making Do: Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression, Vol. 1 Student Writing Journal $15.00
- Believe: Tuskegee Strong! Making Do: Growing Up Colored in the Jim Crow South During the Great Depression, Vol. 1 Audiobook (Coming Soon)
Contact Info:
- Website: https://www.matjointl.com
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thehappylittlegarbagetruck/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100053458402977
- Twitter: https://x.com/DjosieB
- Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@DjosieB1
Image Credits
Frank Espinoza
Emily Miller
