Creating Your Vision

What is your vision for the campus and/or community?

My vision is to work alongside The Sankofa Saturday School for Children and create several programs that promote cultural and historical awareness in my community, in both children and adults. The school, which was recently brought to Queens, NY had a great start in November 2007 and I hope to add onto the curriculum and eventually hosts several cultural events. As a result of these programs, I hope to encourage mentorship, academics,leadership, and increased community participation.

Assessing Your Campus and Community

What campus/community problem does your blueprint address? What structures, practices and policies institutionalize the problem?

Like many communities, mine is suffering from budget cuts in education and after school programs. Specifically, people of African descent are suffering from lack of "relevant" education. I want to focus on history, culture, and education that relates to me and people that look like me.I want to encourage programs that focus on African history, culture, Fine Arts, achievements, businesses etc.

Structures and practices that institutionalize the problems are lack of diversity in curriculum, lack of cultural awareness (which inhibits cultural pride), lack of funds, lack of participation, and failure of the overall American schooling system. Underlying social, economic, and political roots that counteract my vision is racism/discrimination and internalized oppression.

I want students to challenge themselves creatively and intellectually, and, in the process, to become young leaders in the community.

Cultural events promote public speaking, critical thinking, and leadership in students. I believe that bi-monthly cultural events will increase the enrollment of students in the Saturday School, while simultaneously increasing parent participation in weekly meetings at The Afrikan Poetry Theater.

What communities will you work with?

• Local community

Setting Goals and Deliverables

• Goal 1: Increase of enrollment of students and parents at Saturday program
• Increase attendance at Saturday school to 15-20 students
• Attend 2-3 PTA meetings per month at local schools to highlight program and opportunities for collaboration
• Advertise at local community centers in the neighborhood
• Goal 2: Plan and implement one student-led cultural event this fall
• Get the Board to approve the event
• Reach out to cultural organizations and individuals (including fellows) with experience planning art, music, dance, poetry and other cultural events
• In November, meet with the students to plan the event
• Goal 3: Creation of Sankofa Library (longer-term goal)
• Evaluate status of the creation of the Sankofa Library in early 2009

What is your primary approach? Organizing

Why did you choose this approach?

I chose this approach because it strengthens the community. I believe in grassroot organizations because it is not about the "glitz and glam" of revolution and revolutionary thinking.

Did you have secondary approaches? What are they?

Other approaches I am interested in is Alliance Building and Idea Creation. Organizing will be my dominant approach but I believe it is important to have multiple approaches for different contexts. Some important allies may not be able to make it to important meetings, yet they are still a great asset

What will your tactics and activities be?

My tactic is to work with a reputable institution (The African Poetry Theater) and build on their success in our community. The theater has been around for thirty years and is well known for hosting workshops, open mics, and community meetings. Recently, the theater has brought The Sankofa Saturday School to their lists of programs and I plan to add onto the curriculum.

In order to accomplish my goals, I am building a network of alliances and contacts. I am in contact with the coordinators regularly and am aware of their vision and mission which is similar to mine. I attend meetings regularly in order to know the current affairs of the theater. I attended the first cycle of the Saturday School regularly (I was out of town for the second cycle. In order to attain my goals I am a regular participant of the Saturday School and The Afrikan Poetry Theater

Connecting Back to Vision

How does your strategy contribute to your vision for your campus and/or your community?

If I achieve my expected outcomes and deliverables, it will contribute to my vision by creating a well developed environment where children can learn and have fun simutaneously. It also means increasing parental particpation in issues that affect the community the most. Accomplishing these goals means there will be an alternative route that deviates from the failing educational system and American hegemony. It means that parents and other locals can be more proactive, rather than reactive, to mishaps and failures.

Resources and skills you will need

What skills do you need for this approach?

I hope to improve my public speaking skills and leadership skills.