Welcome to another episode of Lurie Breaks It Down, a podcast where we dig deeply to connect the dots on the issues that shape our world.

I'm Lurie Daniel Favors, author, activist, attorney, and host of the Lurie Daniel

Favors show on Sirius XM's Urban View, Channel 126.

A few days ago, I had an amazing conversation with the guest you're about to hear from.

Her name is Sharia Smith, and she is the president of a local union that was

directly in the crosshairs of Doge and the current administration's efforts to completely dismantle

the government as we know it, specifically as it pertains to the Department of Education.

Sharia Smith was a civil rights attorney in the Dallas Office of Civil Rights, which is a part of the Department of Education until she was terminated from her role in March of 2025.

And at that time, the entire Dallas Office of Civil Rights, also known as OCR, their entire office was shut down.

Now, there were 12 OCR offices across the country, and after Donald Trump's executive order took place,

only five of them remain open for investigating complaints, for students, for their families,

and for the school districts where they are attending their educational services.

As a former fifth grade teacher and a lawyer for the Department of Education, Sharia, also has

a lot of insight about the role of this agency,

how her members are coping with the loss of jobs and the lack of benefits access,

and frankly, a really muddy picture about what is going to lie ahead of them,

really lacking clear information about their terminations,

and ultimately how this major dismantling of the department is going to

negatively impact the future of education for all of our children and educators. Sharia, it's a

real pleasure to have you here. Welcome to the podcast. And thank you so much for the foundation

you laid with us on the show last week. Of course, my members and I are so excited for this platform.

So thank you, Lori.

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