An African-centered Education and Atomic Habit Union
What would happen if African-centered Education and Atomic Habits married? Their child would bear the name African-centered Habits. In April’s All Staff Meeting, we discussed 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 among the titles on Umoja’s reading list. When you combine these two resources, our 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. 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 services and products.
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 the Atomic Habits book, 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 achieve our organization’s goals.
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. Watch this less than 3-minute video (coming soon) of an African-centered habit, you can duplicate to begin classes and meetings with an Umoja Twist.
