Initially moved to offer the group for free, Sims was urged by fellow women of color educators to charge for the emotional labor and knowledge she was providing for the group. Now, anyone can join the practice group, which she’s dubbed Outer Work, on a sliding scale commitment that ranges from $4.99 to $49 every month, depending on what is affordable for each member (If you are Black, membership to join the group is free). Each weekday, Sims adds resources and articles, talking points, journal prompts and more to the group, so members can work through the material at their own pace, and talk with the rest of the community about each topic.

As an educator, one of Sims’ primary goals has always been finding ways to make learning a joyful experience. Growing up biracial in the predominantly white and affluent city of Pasadena, she attended elite schools like Flintridge Prep in La Cañada — and despite being one of the only Black students at her school — found a home and self-worth in the educational system.

“My early education is the foundation of who I am in terms of being an educator and being really interested in learning as a tool,” she said. “But I also grew up being one of very few students of color at my school — specifically one of few black students there. And I definitely assimilated very much into white culture when I was young.”

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