This has been an amazing summer full of love, laughter, and learning. We ended the 2024-2025 school year in true freedom school style. We had SBA to HEKA panels, projects, and protests that reinforced our commitment to telling Our story and making sure that our history and culture are not erased. Our students participated in panels and protests at City Hall and wrote letters to elected officials at the local and state levels. Our senior exhibitions reached new heights of excellence as students researched and defended their scholarship on topics ranging from LGBTQ
IVF rights to abuse and trafficking of immigrants from Africa and the diaspora. We are truly producing a generation of critically conscious scholars and freedom fighters.
This summer has brought opportunities for us to employ our young people as Junior Servant Leaders and run two Freedom Schools – one at Sankofa Freedom Academy and the other at the Ujima Friends Peace Center. In Freedom School, our Junior Servant Leaders read a book entitled Not Paved for Us and had a chance to meet the author, Dr. Camika Royal. Our middle school scholars read Parker’s Inheritance and revisited some of the history of the segregated south. Our younger Freedom School scholars read many books that helped them celebrate themselves, their families, and their communities. As a part of our social action, we showed lots of love to three
bookstores that make sure our story is told: Uncle Bobbe’s, Harriet’s Bookstore and Hakim’s bookstore.
We made several wonderful additions to our staff during the summer, including a new Middle School principal Mama Tennile Bennet (Mama T) and several instructional coaches that will help us improve the quality of instruction and our student outcomes. During our Summer Institute, we witnessed a real unity and commitment from our new cohort of staff members who names themselves, Tuko Pamoja which means “We Are Together.” They have pledged to work together to provide the education and positive experiences that your families and children deserve. Another
summer addition is the expansion of our Student Support Team to include another therapist/counselor, Sis. Schant. Frazier. This addition, along with our Attendance and Family Support Coordinator, Bro. Morris Singleton, should guarantee that your families and your children receive more assistance.
Finally, you are going to love the improvements we have made on our playground and in the activities that we provide so that your children can have fun as they learn. Yes, family! While you have been away from us, we have been getting better and better so that we can have a better, more successful, more productive school year. As Baba Kofi said, “Good, better, best, never let it rest until your good is your better and your better is your best.” Right now, we continue to prepare for your children’s arrival and are doing our best to make sure in this new school year we
bring out the best in your children.
For now, enjoy the stories and pictures from school year 24-25. WE CAN’T WAIT TO SEE YOU AND OUR CHILDREN NEXT WEEK! Amani Upendo Na Nguvu (Peace, Love, and Power)
Dr. Ayesha Imani, CEO
