Speaker Spotlight: Chloe Valdary Unpacks The Theory of Enchantment at This Year’s Discovering the Child Conference

For organizations that want to create a diverse and inclusive culture, The Theory of Enchantment offers an entirely different kind of antiracism training — and it’s rooted in love. The Prepared Montessorian has invited Chloe Valdary, the founder of The Theory of Enchantment, to discuss how this innovative antiracism framework came to be and whether it’s still relevant today (spoiler alert: it is!). 

Just one of many compelling conversations happening this year at the Discovering the Child conference, Valdary’s full interview with Matt Bateman will air on June 26, 2021 at 6 p.m. EST. Check out Valdary and Bateman's introduction on YouTube.

The Theory of Enchantment is an antiracism and resilience training program which is rooted in compassion (rather than anything destructive like guilt or blame). It takes a deep-dive into the forces that drive human beings toward progress, the role of humanity in the formation of identity, and the philosophy of criticism.

The ultimate aim of the course is help participants learn to see the world through a wider lens as they become more aware of the richness of their own complexity — and by extension, the complexity of others. This, Valdary argues, is what breaks down barriers and helps people resolve conflict in a kind, respectful way.

The Theory of Enchantment has three guiding principles:

1. Treat people like human beings, not political abstractions.

2. Criticize to uplift and empower, never to tear down, never to destroy.

3. Root everything you do in love and compassion.

• How The Theory of Enchantment came to be

• Why we gravitate towards pop culture brands like Nike and Disney 

• How the answer to antiracism is love

• The parallels between compassionate antiracism and Montessori pedagogy

• Why the motives behind criticism matter

Chloe Valdary is a 27-year-old African American entrepreneur who runs The Theory of Enchantment from Downtown Brooklyn. She served as a Robert L. Bartley Fellow and Tikvah Fellow at the Wall Street Journal, and also wrote for the New York Times and the Atlantic before focusing her attention on the construction of a theoretical framework that teaches people how to love. Her thesis eventually went on to form the basis of The Theory of Enchantment, and inspires many of the program's themes.

Valdary has lectured at universities across America, as well as in South Africa, The Netherlands, Germany, and Israel. Her clients include TikTok, WeWork and the Federal Aviation Administration. Valdary's work has been covered in Psychology Today Magazine and the Atlantic. You can also watch Valdary's TedTalk, How love can help repair social inequality.

Valdary’s interview session at the Discovering the Child conference takes place on June 26, 2021 at 6 p.m. EST.