“A people without knowledge of their past history, origin and culture is like a tree without roots.”
–MARCUS GARVEY
OUR VISION
We teach people empowering histories of people in our country who have created lasting change.
We help groups and individuals see patterns between history and the present so they can make positive change today.
We lead with compassion and work to foster connections in all of our experiences with participants. We believe deeply in the ability of collective capacity for change.
OUR VALUES
Community is essential.
We can’t create change alone. Community is what nourishes and sustains us. Our connections with others empower us, and hold us accountable to each other and ourselves. This shared responsibility is central to our learning process and to our understanding of — and commitment to — building a more just society.
We search for the truth.
We must know our history to understand the path forward. We're committed to uncovering the full truth of our past, revisiting what we may have previously been taught, and staying open to a fuller picture. We're equally committed to searching for truth within ourselves — exploring why we're drawn to this work and what we hope to gain from it.
Equity and justice in practice.
Both our external goals and internal practices are rooted in an equitable approach. We support our participants with the tools and resources they need to stay engaged in their communities for life. We believe meaningful change comes from sustainable, everyday engagement in community life — not a single moment of action.
We believe in the capacity for change.
We're educators first and foremost. We believe our nation can change, and that every individual can grow. We help our participants find the courage to make change to all the spaces they're part of in their lives.
We lead with compassion.
Compassion and love are essential ingredients for lasting change. We know our participants learn better when they feel supported, so our foundation is one of belonging. We strive to create brave spaces for encountering new ideas and sitting with uncomfortable feelings, always underscored with understanding and encouragement.
We bring light to dark history.
The topics we tackle are heavy, but we believe it's still possible to find happiness, light, and hope. We do this work without losing ourselves in it — a human-centered, healing approach helps us hold joy even in sadness. It's an essential practice we aim to pass on to every participant we work with.