African-Centered Education Walkathon

The 1,069 mile walk to Washington D.C. (2009)

African Centered Education is a system of sequentially planned educational opportunities for learners of African descent that is based on philosophies and theories centered in the African perception of reality, and delivered through a curriculum that develops the necessary skills to participate as global citizens and advocates for the African descendant community. The distinctive purpose of African Centered Education is to develop self-consciousness, self determination, positive self-concept, a sense of Africa as it applies to the upliftment of the community, and an understanding of Africa as it to applies to personal growth and development. It is the overall goal of African Centered Education to offset the pervasive educational challenges caused by cultural amnesia and self hatred.”

(Alexander 1996, Asante 2001, Goggins 2001, Hilliard, 2003)

· The African centered school experience provides a sense of freedom and confidence.
· The African centered learning experience fosters an intellectual maturity earlier in life than might otherwise have taken place.
· Daily African centered interactions prepare students for global citizenship as they develop the skills to deal with all types of people with a clear awareness of “who I am and where I am from.”
· African centered instructional models develop critical thinking skills and provide the tools for advanced synthesis, and research analysis.
· The intellect and cognitive skills developed from African centered learning experiences translates through all things and throughout life.

Calling the Village to Account….

[masterslider id=1]

Florida’s only African-centered public school Co-founder and current Board Chairman, Amefika D. Geuka, walked from the school in West Palm Beach, FL along with his supporters to Washington, DC to dramatize the urgent need for African-centered education for children of African descent. Geuka and his colleagues have dubbed this venture a “Trek for African-Centered Education,” that was conducted from July 15th through August 13, 2009.

The Route

Florida:
Palm Beach -> Martin -> St. Lucie -> Indian River -> Brevard -> Volusia -> Flagler -> St. John’s -> Duval -> Nassau

Georgia:
Camden -> Glynn -> McIntosh -> Liberty -> Bryan -> Chatham -> Effington

South Carolina:
Jasper -> Colleton -> Dorchester -> Orangeburg -> Clarendon -> Sumter -> Florence -> Dillon

North Carolina:
Robeson -> Cumberland -> Sampson -> Johnston -> Wilson -> Edgecomb -> Halifax -> Northampton

Virginia:
Greensville -> Sussex -> Dinwiddie -> Chesterfield -> Henrico -> Hanover -> Caroline -> Stafford -> Prince William -> Fairfax

Date	Origin	Destination	Miles	Cumulative Miles
July 15, 2009	West Palm Beach	Port St. Lucie, FL	45	45
July 16, 2009	Port St. Lucie, FL	Sebastian, FL	40	85
July 17, 2009	Sebastian Fl	Cocoa, FL	46	131
July 18, 2009	Cocoa, FL	Oak Hill, FL	37	168
July 19, 2009	Oak Hill, FL	Daytona Beach, FL	28	196
July 20, 2009	Daytona Beach , FL	St. Augustine, FL	56	252
July 21, 2009	St. Augustine, FL	Jacksonville, FL	36	288
July 22, 2009	Jacksonville, FL	Kingsland, GA	36	324
July 23, 2009	Kingsland, GA	Brunswick , GA	41	365
July 24, 2009	Brunswick, GA	South Newport , GA	36	401
July 25, 2009	South Newport , GA	Savannah , GA	42	443
July 26, 2009	Savannah , GA	Ridgeland, SC	35	478
July 27 , 2009	Ridgeland, SC	Walterboro, SC	38	516
July 28, 2009	Walterboro, SC	Summerville, SC	31	547
July 29, 2009	Summerville, SC	Greeleyville, SC	48	595
July 30, 2009	Greeleyville, SC	Florence, SC	52	647
July 31, 2009	Florence, SC	Dillon, SC	33	680
August 1, 2009	Dillon, SC	Lumberton, NC	27	707
August 2, 2009	Lumberton, NC	Fayetteville, NC	32	739
August 3, 2009	Fayetteville, NC	Benson, NC	32	771
August 4, 2009	Benson, NC	Wilson, NC	45	816
August 5, 2009	Wilson, NC	Rocky Mount, NC	20	836
August 6, 2009	Rocky Mount, NC	Garysburg, NC	40	876
August 7, 2009	Garysburg, NC	Emporia, VA	18	894
August 8,2009	Emporia, VA	Petersburg, VA	40	934
August 9, 2009	Peters burg VA	Richmond, VA	24	958
August 10, 2009	Richmond, VA	Ladysmith, VA	34	992
August 11, 2009	Ladysmith, VA	Aquia, VA	31	1,023
August 12, 2009	Aquia, VA	Malcolm X Park Washington, DC	46	1,069

Press

—Walking for a Purpose By A.J. Ross (source: WMBF News)
—Videos