Ollie McClean, far right, shown with some of her students
[Education]
Sankofa International Academy is located in the heart of Bedford Stuyvesant, a community with a bleak educational forecast because students are failing and schools closing.
Yet, in the midst of the educational gloom and doom, Sankofa shines like a beacon on a hill. On the Memorial Day weekend, Sankofa took eight students ranging in ages from 8 to 14, to South Carolina to perform at the opening ceremony of the 27th annual Gullah Festival.
The children were: Jia Stewart, Brianna Brown, Chelsea Thomas, Christian Fletcher, Malik Gibson, Kalif Green, Gene Johnson Jr., and Issa Chambers. They paid tribute to the ancestors at Port Royal and received a warm welcome from Mayor of Port Royal, Samuel Murray, who challenged them to achieve greatness by staying focused on their education; and, they also met Queen Quet of the Gullah/Geechee Nation, who is a native of St. Helena Island.
Students toured the African Village and were warmly greeted by many people from various walks of life. The visit was also covered by the local newspaper, The Beaufort Gazette.
This trip was sponsored through the generosity of members of the United African Movement (UAM), under the leadership of Mrs. Leola Maddox. Sankofa’s Director, Mrs. Ollie McClean called on the community for support after an invitation was received from the Gullah Festival Organizers.
UAM members and other supporters who endorse Sankofa’s holistic approach to an education grounded in cultural history responded. Sankofa represented Brooklyn and the Community well.
To support the school please contact Sankofa International Academy 1670 Fulton St, Brooklyn, NY 11213, or Phone:(347) 365-9989.
