In response to the global protest movements sparked by the tragic deaths of George Floyd, Breonna Taylor, Ahmaud Arbery and other victims of state violence, Ryan served as the design lead and host for the Center for Academic Innovation’s rapid response Teach-Out on Police Brutality in America.

The Teach-Out features academics, legislators, activists and community organizations discussing different aspects of state violence in the US, the fight for abolition, defund/invest strategies and the history of police violence in Black communities. This course has helped thousands of people around the world learn about the history of police violence in America, become aware of laws and policies that prevent accountability, understand the demands of protesters, and gain the knowledge and tools to fight for change locally.

In November 2020, the Teach-Out was expanded into a Community Awareness Course, creating a longer learning experience including new content on Militarization and additional readings, videos and resources for of the existing focus areas.

The original Police Brutality in America Teach-Out is available for re-use under a Creative Commons By Attribution license, and can be utilized by educators, organizers and organizations to educate people about the topic.