Recently a powerful group of parents, young adults, teachers and school officials created Friends of LE (FOLE). The group’s single goal is to raise funds for summer programming, provide support with outreach and leverage the power of the LE community to deliver quality programming. FOLE’s strong community ties and professional affiliations will be an important driving force and asset in strengthening and expanding our work. We estimate that our community over the past 20 years is approximately 30,000 strong! Stretching from Cape Coast Ghana to San Diego, CA we are comprised of youth, parents, program officers, volunteers, employees, consultants, board members, and donors. Click here if you have been a member of the LE community and forward this message to others you might know as well. Join our list so that we can count on you! Also, the new LE App for Iphone and Android coming soon!

Source: Oakland Local

“Oakland Freedom School, how do you feel?” “Fantastic! Terrific! Great! All. Day.Long. Ugh ugh ugh uggghh!”. So began the call-and-response at Oakland Freedom School’s 2011 graduation held on August 5 at the House of Music in downtown Oakland.

“It’s the reee-miiiix!” yells Adrianne Gillyard, program director of “OFS.” Students and teachers repeat the response, but this time enter into a sustained, Master P-type “ugh”as some dipped to the ground and others leaned back like Neo from the Matrix. Seconds later, they pop back up and the chorus ends with a grand Oakland punctuationmark: “You feel me?”

This chant, along with about a half a dozen others, were the bookends each day atthe five-week long summer literacy program organized by Leadership Excellence, an Oakland based non-profit organization dedicated to educating African American youthtowards personal and community transformation. OFS operated in two sites this summer for six weeks: Ile Omode in East Oakland, and Mt. Zion Missionary Baptist Church in West Oakland.

Students learned many things about African and African American history, ranging from the Classical African Civilizations of Kemet (Ancient Egypt), Songhai and Mali,to the Black Arts Movement and Harlem Renaissance. Students also volunteered at local Black owned businesses, like Marcus Books. The African-centered program is designedto encourage youth to read during the summer while building self-esteem and a strong cultural identity.
And the youth were quite excited to share what they’d learned.

The graduation ceremony began with libation lead by OFS teacher Duane Deterville. Libation is a ritual honoring God and ancestors by pouring water onto a plant whilespeaking the names of those ancestors. In addition to the immediate ancestors of those present, the names of Freedom Fighters like Harriet Tubman, Ida B. Wells, Marcus Garvey and Malcolm X were said. Others remembered Oscar Grant.

Next, classroom presentations were made. Children showcased militant yet incredibly cute formations, using “Liberation” and “Revolution” opposed to the directions of leftand right. One spirited group, led by OFS teacher Randa Powell, would quickly “Bust aMove.” The students would break out into dance, then immediately returning to the basic standing formation of “Freedom One,” simultaneously showcasing their creativity and discipline. The groups’ “Strike a Pose” was also a crowd favorite.

Next, the Black Panther class marched forward wearing all black chanting, “The Revolution has Come! (OKAY!) Shine your light like the sun! (OKAY!)” After showing off their formations, the class educated the crowd about the Party. Elijah Payne, sonof Oakland educators Macheo and Kafi Payne, stood proudly an OFS t-shirt and blackberet, representing the late Dr. Huey P. Newton. OFS student Delaney Mapp, daughter of OutdoorAfro.com founder Rue Mapp, represented Elaine Brown, former chair woman of the Party, while Kadar Howard portrayed exiled Panther Assata Shakur. The Black Panther class was led by Daniel Muhammad and Sirius El (Thorton White, III).

OFS teacher and actress/poet Tiara Phalon’s class transformed into the “Anansi Players.”The class, named after the spider from West African folklore, performed a dramatic interpretation of trickster Anansi while Phalon read the tale. The program ended with a Harambee circle similar to closing ceremonies at Kwanzaa celebration. “Harambee” is Swahili for “pulling together.”

“The children were really excited and it was a good time for all the children, teachers, parents and the community,” Gillyard said.

“It was a great graduation,” said OFS parent Jazz Hudson, whose son Nassor was one of the Anansi Players. “The program has definitely made my son more excited about reading.”

Vision:

We want Black America to thrive! We envision creating thriving community life where each adult, youth and child will flourish. Our vision is to create pathways to well being for Black America in order to live vibrant and engaged lives.

Mission:
Our mission is to create pathways to well-being for African American youth and
their communities. Through retreats, residential camps, seminars, and trainings we
create opportunities for African American youth, families and communities to sustain
meaningful well-being.

Theory of Change:
We believe that healing and well-being are key prerequisites for social change. Well-
being can be achieved in African American communities when individuals, and
institutions are provided practical, affordable and accessible healing and wellness
techniques and experiences.

Focus on Results:
Documenting our practices provides an opportunity for us to deepen our understanding of how healing, well-being contributes to social justice. Our emphasis on results is not simply to evaluate the extent to which our specific goals have been met. We are deeply curious about what we do, and why we do it, and therefore we are serious about producing the results necessary to create well-being and social justice. This means that our work must build from quality evidenced based research, as well as push the boundaries of innovative practice. Together these approaches require us to take the risks necessary to generate new ideas, practices and theories about individual and community change.

We Who Believe in Freedom Must Also Rest

December 2-4, 2011
Westerbeck Ranch
Sonoma, California

Cost: $45, covers two nights lodging and meals.
Organizers: Dr. Shawn Ginwright, Nedra Ginwright, and Dushaw Hocket

Space is limited. To register click here.

Dream, Hope and Imagine….
Our current political, and economic condition requires a new way to organize. The Black Space retreat is an opportunity for African American activists and community leaders to re-imagine, revive and reconnect. We believe in social change from the inside out. This simply means working on self-transformation, healing, and hopefulness in order to create more joy and well-being in our lives.

The Black Space retreat is an opportunity for you to learn:

• How to rest and not feel guilty
• Self care techniques
• How to use your imagination for social justice
• Reconnect with what matters most to you
• Learn how to bring joy, and hopefulness in to organizing
• How play can help with problem solving

The Black Space retreat is a collaboration between the Institute for Radical Healing and SPACES (Safe Places for the Advancement of Community and Equity). The Institute for Radical Healing is a newly formed Oakland based consortium of community-based organizations working on transformative social change for African American communities.  Our partnership brings years of organizing experience as well as years of experience working on healing for social change in African American communities. Other sponsors and support include: Leadership Excellence, Bay Area Black United Fund, and Hidden Leaf Foundation.

Click to Download Black Space Retreat PDF

Contact Leadership Excellence for more information: 510-604-4594