An African-centered Education and Atomic Habit Union
For Umoja Faculty Leaders,
What would happen if African-centered Education and Atomic Habits married? Their child would bear the name African-centered Habits.
At the Foundation, we've read and discussed Drs. Kmt G. Shockley and Kofi Lomotey's edited book, African-centered Education: Theory and Practice. James Clear's book, Atomic Habits: An Easy and Proven Way to Build Good Habits and Break Bad Ones, is also among the titles on Umoja's reading list. When you combine these two resources, your work to support culturally relevant courses, programs, and services can thrive.
The Umoja Community Education Foundation highlights the experiences of the African diaspora through various initiatives on high school and college campuses. African-centered education rests at the core of our operations.
African-Centered Education & Umoja's Core
In chapter six of Shockley and Lomotey's book, Sekou Afrika writes, "The paradigm places African ideals at the center of analysis" (Afrika, 2020, p. 89). From the Adinkra symbols surrounding our materials to the eighteen guiding practices within, Umoja focuses on the Black past, present, and future to shape educational materials and services.
To achieve the UCEF's goal of becoming the "preeminent global organization that elevates students, engages the community, demonstrates operational excellence, enhances communications, and diversifies funding," we must build productive habits. In Atomic Habits, James Clear proposes forming rituals around creative endeavors to support consistency.
Like African-centered education, creativity — and the Ancestors — guides our instructional methods, counseling services, and program deliverables. If our teams engage in Clear's processes involving a "cue, craving, response, and reward" system, we can foster positive habits and increase support for Umoja's scholars.
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Press forward at all times, climbing toward that higher ground of the harmonious society that shapes the laws of man to the laws of God.
— Adam Clayton Powell, Jr.The Umoja Writing Collaborative meets every Tuesday. This internal group of writers, researchers, and curriculum developers begins every session with an Akwaaba welcome/check-in and a writing libation. In honor of Women's History Month, we will call out the names of Phyllis Wheatley, Ida B. Wells-Barnett, bell hooks, and Maya Angelou.
See Umoja's practice, Tapping African American Intellectual Spiritual and Artistic Voices, to understand why we recognize the women mentioned above. Send an email to vlindsay@umojacommunity.org to join Umoja's Writing Collaborative's next session — place "UWC" in the subject line.
See It In Action
Watch this less than 3-minute video of an African-centered habit example that you can duplicate in classes and meetings through a "Umojafied" perspective.
Every moment in life is precious. Think intentionally and deliberately about how you build community and maximize collective learning opportunities. The conditions we have today are not guaranteed tomorrow.
Avoid sitting still when movement is possible. Use kinesthetic learning — touching, moving, doing — to strengthen connection in classrooms and village spaces. Contemplate and prepare your lesson plans. But once the course begins, put the pen down, whisper Namaste, Amen, or Ase, and build relationships among your students.
Enroll in Umoja's Global Institute to explore African-centered education and expand your understanding of Umoja's educational philosophies. Attend the UGI webinar to take the next step.
Follow and connect with us via LinkedIn and Instagram. The Foundation is launching the Umoja Global Institute, a professional learning resource designed to enhance teaching and learning across our network.
In solidarity with your success,
Dr. V
Author
Dr. Vernon Lindsay