Tapping African American Intellectual, Spiritual, and Artistic Voices
Dear Umoja Community,
The semester is ending, but the learning doesn't have to. How do you reach back to move forward? Umoja's practice of "Tapping African American Intellectual, Spiritual and Artistic Voices" calls us to do exactly that.
The semester is ending, but you can continue to learn. June 10–12 at the Sheraton Grand in Sacramento, California, Umoja staff, faculty, instructors, counselors, and administrators will convene at the Summer Learning Institute (SLI). We invite you to engage in professional development, collective reflection, and collaboration to support Black academic success.
Umoja's Practice: Tapping African American Intellectual, Spiritual and Artistic Voices
This practice encourages "reaching back while moving forward." Look at the Sankofa symbol for a visual of this concept; a reminder that we must know our past to build our future. It is one of our eighteen practices guiding teaching, learning, and community leadership.
The SLI will enable you to reflect on the lessons of past leaders from intellectual and spiritual backgrounds to support your current teaching, learning, counseling, and administrative activities on college campuses. To prepare, read about Frederick Douglass, Phyllis Wheatley, Maya Angelou, Cheikh Anta Diop, and bell hooks. Consider their contributions to the African diaspora and attend with deliberate intentions to extend their legacies.
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Remember to pursue meaningful goals. Connect your learning activities to personal and professional interests.
— Dr. VOne of my goals is to write ten books by 2033. To help accomplish this goal, I write every day and read books by successful authors. When possible, I also attend seminars and workshops to improve my skills and learn from other writers.
This process has produced blog posts, articles, chapters, and books.
Why do I write? I write to teach about injustices, promote community solutions, honor Ancestors, inspire healthy habits, practice self-care, and tap creativity. As George Orwell once wrote, most writers write for "sheer egotism, aesthetic enthusiasm, historical impulse, and political purpose."
We write because we think others care about our ideas. Some writers enjoy the creative process, feel compelled to tell stories, and have a need to make political statements. If you want to add writing to your professional responsibilities, read more about this topic in Kavita Das's book Craft and Conscience: How to Write About Social Issues.
Summer Learning Institute — June 10–12, 2025
Sheraton Grand | Sacramento, California
For help clarifying your goals and purpose as a member of the Umoja community, attend the Summer Learning Institute. We have selected dynamic keynote speakers and prepared an agenda full of educational and cultural activities.
Your presence is important at this year's event. Your attendance and mindful participation can unlock doors and windows, providing students with access to markers of cultural and identity success.
The SLI is your opportunity to tap into the "African American Intellectual, Spiritual and Artistic voices" of our past to guide the present. As a campus leader, you establish the baseline and possess the potential to guide yourself and others toward community achievements.
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.
Das, K. (2022). Craft and Conscience: How to Write about Social Issues. Beacon Press.
In solidarity with your success,
Dr. V
Scholar in Residence
Author
Dr. Vernon Lindsay