Liberated Minds Black Homeschool & Education Expo 2017

Yours Truly, Queen Taese, and Dr. Camara

This year I was honored at the Liberated Minds Black Homeschool & Education Expo along with Dr. Samori Camara, founder of Kamali Academy, for my service to the homeschool community. I don't talk about this much in my blog, but I am the Co-Founder of the Sankofa Homeschool Community & Collective, a support system for homeschoolers of the African Diaspora.  It was such a humbling experience to be recognized for serving and sharing what is near and dear to my heart ~ helping parents be the best educators they can be! Being surrounded by people at Liberated Minds who are living their dreams and serving their people at the same time is a true honor.

Queen Taese, Founder of Liberated Minds, being honored by the Sister Circle.

I want to also recognize the warrior sister who founded the Liberated Minds Expo.  A mother of multiples and soon to be a grandmother, Queen Taese could have put her sole focus on her own family and kept busy enough.  Instead, she decided that home educators and the African-centered school community needed a conference.  A place where we would all come together to share resources and grow and develop as African-centered educators.  I am so grateful for her vision and more grateful for her mobilizing efforts to bring Liberated Minds to fruition.  This year I committed myself to helping to assist with this conference and to encouraging more to attend.

Sankofa Homeschool Community Mamas

 My attendance at the conference was made possible by my beloved Sankofa Homeschool Community.  My flight,  accommodations and ground transportation were literally a community effort.  I am so thankful and so very grateful.  When you share lodging and meals you get the opportunity to really get to know one another.  We had so much fun during and after the workshops.  We have already committed to not only returning to Liberated Minds in 2018, but also traveling as sister/mother/home educators on a regular basis. More importantly, we want to support Queen Taese in growing this conference.  Atlanta may seem like a long 10-12 drive from DC, but when I think of the miles my ancestor Araminta (Harriet Tubman) traveled on foot, who am I to complain about traveling in an air conditioned car or airplane.

Photo credit: Kyna Clemons

The Liberated Minds Vendors

Never before have African people of the Diaspora had so many African-centered resources available to teach our children.  It was pure joy visiting each vendor and hearing their stories.  I have featured a few of them below.  Enjoy!

History-Based STEM

Photo credit: Ausar Maat

Kokumo is the brainchild of my Sankofa Homeschool Communty sister.  Bridget O., is an accomplished design engineer whose specialty for the past 16 years has been sustainability in the built environment and urban design.  She is so talented, stylish and beautiful.  Her Afro gives me life!  Kokumo is a history-based STEM curriculum. When I saw the Kokumo lesson on Thomas Sankara, the first President of Burkino Faso, I was reminded of  a class that Baba Obi Egbuna, Jr., taught at our homeschool collective.  He asked the students what they wanted to be when they grew up and listed their answers on the board ~ doctor, lawyer, nurse, writer.  Under those titles he wrote the names of African leaders who worked in those fields, emphasizing to the children how your work must always uplift your people.  I can't think of a better concept to weave into a curriculum, STEM and our history.  Pure Genius! I am looking forward to doing a comprehensive review of Kokumo and supporting my sister friend.

Trading Cards

These trading cards caught my eye when I saw a little boy playing with them.  My oldest was into Pokemon and Yugio many years ago.  Now my youngest can be into Sword of the Spirit, a trading card game whose aim is to elevate to the highest moral level.  Though Bible scriptures and strategy are used to defeat opponents of ill will, the spiritual message is universal to all faith traditions.

This video explains more about the founder and how the game works:



I am putting it out in the universe that next year I'd like to see trading card games featuring Adinkra symbols, the Orishas and Kemetic Gods and principles.  Card games are a brilliant way to deposit spiritual lessons in the hearts of our children.

Living Books

LionHeart is obsessed with the Afro Comb and loves to stick one in his Afro when he rocks it.  Secrets of the Afro Comb jumped into my hand when I was visiting  The Listening Tree table, an African-centered book seller based out of Decatur, Georgia.

At the Listening Tree table I picked up a copy of a book series written by the Nigerian writer, O.T. Begho.  You can learn more about him by clicking here.  LionHeart loves a good series and one of the main characters of the book is named after his Pan-African History teacher.

In addition to selling amazing books, The Listening Tree, also offers a subscription book club for youth.  For $25 a month your reader will receive a new book each month, a newsletter, quarterly fun activities and other club membership benefits package, such as book markers, posters and more.  We plan to give membership a try as a part of LionHeart's reading requirements for homeschooling.

Spirit led me directly to this book after leaving the workshop given by Baba Wekesa on Countering the Injected Racial Scripts in our thinking and how it impacts the way we teach our children.  One of the concepts he discussed was the "Super Hero Trap."  In essence, he encouraged us to find people in your family and community who are ordinary people, doing extraordinary things.  When I stopped by this table and read this story, I thought perfect! Here's an ordinary man who wakes up and decides he is going to walk 1,800 miles to raise awareness about homelessness.  Here's an ordinary man doing something undeniably extraordinary!

There will be many lessons that come from this book.  Learn more about the author and download lesson plans by clicking here.

African Centered Curriculum Publishers

Kujichagulia Press

Kujichagulia Press is a family-owned publisher of African-centered curriculum with a host of titles focusing on everything from telling time with Benjamin Banneker to counting in Kiswahili.

I picked up the title Positive Messages to Uplift and Empower Black Children.  One of the concepts explored in the work book says "I am inspired by the contributions and accomplishments of Black people," followed by space for a short essay to allow the child to share what has inspired him.  Another concept I love in the book asks the child to name some organizations that have helped our people and encourages the child to join one.  These are such important messages to impart when our children are young.

Kamali Academy

There's no earthly reason why our children shouldn't learn about their history.  In fact, I believe not teaching a child his heritage is a form of neglect.  Knowing where you came from shapes where you are going.  Thankfully, Dr. Samori Camara, founder of Kamali Academy,  is making it easy providing a plethora of African-centered and visually appealing curriculum from math to grammar.  We have Volume 1 and couldn't resist picking up Volume 2 of 50 Afrikans You Must Know!  

Black Business

Another highlight was a Skype session with Mikaila Ulmer, the 11-year-old Lemonade millionaire. In addition to be an amazing business person, her spirit is in the right place.  When asked for advice for young people who want to start a business she said, "If you want to start a business, do something you love, something you are passionate about, or find a problem you want to solve. You can be sweet and profitable.  Doing good in the world helps your business."  Words of wisdom!

I had to bring this bottle home for LionHeart's desk.  I hope it will serve as inspiration that you are never to young to start a business and be successful.

I also picked up a copy of the documentary Black Friday, by Ric Mathis.  The film is narrated by 10-year-old entrepreneur Kennedy Stewart, pictured here.  The film was a part of the Black Business Network portion of the conference.  Dynamic co-founders of Tag Team Marketing, Delxino and Deborah Wilson de Briano, gave a powerful and motivational talk on the importance of buying Black and how to start and be successful entrepreneurs during the Buy Black Movement Presentation.

One of the things I love most about attending Liberated Minds is having the opportunity to meet authors like Jhavaun Green.

He wrote Skateboard Quincy & the Half-Pipe Repair Shop, which is  about a brown boy like LionHeart who loves to ride skateboards and start a business.  Like his father, LionHeart has an entrepreneurial spirit and I want to encourage it.

Black Comics

Steve Paul Creations

I had to give a shout out to Black comic illustrator and writer Steven Miner.  In addition to his own work, he is also featured on the website Peepgamecomix, a repository for independent Black Comic writers.  So cool!

Teen Life Skills

The title is misleading.  Getting High is about ascending to your highest self.  While the message in 7 Habits for Highly Effective Teens is universal, this teen handbook is specifically for "melanated teens."  Topics include eating clean, the role of detoxing and my favorite, the teen thinker's Hip Hop playlist.  Appropriate for ages 13 and up, I'm looking forward to my teen digging into this one.  Getting High is available on Amazon and you can learn more about the author here and in her blog Black Homeschool Mom.

Mind Body Connection

The mind-body connection was not ignored at Liberated Minds.  I stopped by the booth of Yennenga Adanya, an educational consultant and author of  Rear Them Well: Practical Tools for Raising a Genius.  We chatted for a while and once I was certain she understood my learner, she identified some healing crystals for my sons.  Black Obsidian and Carnelian (focus and attention) for my Right Brain Learner LionHeart and Blue Calcite for KingMan to open up communication.  For more information about her educational services, including reading and math evaluations, as well as creation of Individual Learning Plans, click here.  For more information about her Spiritual Wellness Products, click here.

Online Learning

Fawohodie Sua

Fawohodie Sua was one of the online Afrikan-centered educational co-operatives in attendance at Liberated Minds.  The online class offerings make me feel like I’m in my favorite bakery – so many goodies! There’s the Afrikan Presence in Science Fiction, Literary Analysis, Intro to Wombmanhood and Elements of Herbal Healing.  I am considering Liberation Music for Kingman and Vibrant Vegan Children for LionHeart.  That would take care of our Fine Arts and Health requirements for homeschooling! Be sure to check out their online open house on Sunday, August 6 @ 1pm.

Aya Educational Institute

Choices, choices, choices.  We have so many.  AYA Educational Institute is another outstanding African-centered Online homeschool educational program.  The learning sessions are not recorded.  This is live and interactive learning.  The classes choices ... well, I'm back in the bakery again with the goodies.  There's Comparative Government, Architecture, Black Biology/Chemistry, and my favorite, the Family Lore Project.  Imagine the deep family pride and family connections established when our children have to use their very own family as their primary resource.  Gives me chills.  AYA Educational Institute will be having an online open house on Sundays. Be sure to check out their blog for lots of amazing resources!  Every Sunday at 8 pm., they host an open house for prospective parents to learn more about what they offer.  Visit their Facebook page for more information.

Clothing and Textiles

 Another member of the Sankofa Homeschool Community, Kyna Clemons, displayed her beautiful work at Liberated Minds.  Founder and owner of Gyname Quilt Studio, this textile quilt artist and educator is the proud mama of 7 children and still finds time to develop African-Centered curricula and homeschool!  For more information about her quilts, visit her page on Facebook.

Show Your Support!

It has taken me so long to write this wrap-up because I had to process so many great resources.  I was not paid to do this review.  I simply want to spread the word.  Our people are really working hard to provide an alternative to much of the self-esteem destroying, inaccurate, culturally one-sided learning materials our children will encounter from mainstream sources.  I give so much thanks and praise to the hard-working Mamas and Babas, most of whom are holding down two and three jobs, for creating and striving for the collective good.