Village of Wisdom

Join us in welcoming our first cohort of Dreamship Parent Leadership Fellows! The Dreamship Parent Leadership Fellowship brings together 20 Black parent leaders from across six counties in North Carolina. Over the two-year fellowship, fellows get training and support to create learning environments that celebrate and affirm every child. We’ll introduce you to each of our fellows in the coming weeks: https://lnkd.in/eim5pXHq

Join us to see how Village of Wisdom turns community dreams into reality by investing in Black parent wellness and leadership. We'll show you how our parent-centered work is creating better learning spaces for children. You'll hear about our wins, key lessons, and plans to grow this impact. Come learn how Black parent power is changing education.

Our dreams use the power of our radical imagination to shape the future and build new worlds. This power runs deep. And it's not new.   From Fannie Jackson Coppin becoming the first Black principal to Gloria Ladson-Billings's groundbreaking work on culturally relevant pedagogy, our dreams change everything.  Our Dreamship Fellows know this power. As fellow Constance Carter puts it:  “It’s intentional to keep us marching in line, but the moment you take yourself out that line, sit down, and just breathe, the power in breath allows dreams to go wild. And then those dreams can be manifested.” Dreaming is a radical act.  It's saying, "My child deserves a future without limits." It's creating solutions others dismiss. It’s stepping out of line to shape learning spaces as the leaders and experts we are. In our dreams, we find ourselves. And we are all we need.  Given the weather in North Carolina, we've rescheduled our Dream Builders event for October 9th. So there's still time for you to come. Register here: https://bit.ly/3Xl8nsQ

Last weekend, our Dreamship fellows walked Durham's historic Black Wall Street, breathing in the history, innovation, and creativity that thrives there. They're now applying that inspiration to design assessments of our children's learning experiences. This is where soul meets science. Knowledge is powerful when it honors the humanity of children, families, and communities. When the radical imagination of the community merges with rigorous research to create resources rooted in love and wisdom. Because the most powerful solutions come at the intersection of dreaming and designing, remembering and reimagining. We'll share more on Friday, September 27th at noon during our event, "Dream Builders: How Black Parents Shape Ideal Learning." Don't miss it. Register now: https://bit.ly/3Xl8nsQ

Join us Friday, September 27th, 12 EST, for "Dream Builders: How Black Parents Shape Ideal Learning" Join us for a virtual conversation with our executive director, William Jackson, about how investing in Black parent wellness, expertise, and dreams is changing learning for thousands of children. Come see how Village of Wisdom is turning community dreams into reality. Register: https://bit.ly/3Xl8nsQ

At Village of Wisdom, we believe in the power of community expertise. Our Black Genius Framework and Keep Dreaming Toolkit weren't created in isolation. They emerged from the wisdom of Black communities. This multigenerational, multidirectional approach to learning isn't new to our communities. It's how we've always done it. From grassroots initiatives to groundbreaking educational models, we have always been the architects of liberation. Join us for Dream Builders: How Black Parents Shape Ideal Learning with Village of Wisdom on Friday, September 27th, at noon to learn more. We'll share how Village of Wisdom has turned community dreams into reality by investing in Black parent wellness and leadership. RSVP here: https://bit.ly/3Xl8nsQ) #BraidedBlackGenius #CommunityWisdom #VillageOfWisdom

At Village of Wisdom, we’re creating an approach to education rooted in the affirmation of Black genius. Research shows that discrimination and culturally disconnected learning environments significantly drain Black children’s cognitive resources and hinder their academic performance. While their peers can fully focus on learning, Black children must also allocate mental energy to processing discriminatory experiences. But we're changing that narrative. Our Black Genius Framework, co-created with parents, is a standard for culturally affirming learning. A study on 1,000+ learners found that when children experienced greater use of Black Genius factors, they enjoyed: --Improved socio-emotional wellness --Higher academic success and attendance --Lower suspension rates Schools that incorporated the Black Genius Framework into their practices reported a 20% increase in attendance and a 15% decrease in suspensions during the first year. The Black Genius Framework also activates parent leaders like Cassey Mapp-Ahmed, a 2024 Dreamship fellow, who says, “Black genius is very powerful... It's embracing the innovative qualities of who we are as a people.” Ready to hear more about how Black communities are reimagining education? Subscribe to our newsletter to learn more about what our parents are up to. https://bit.ly/3ANHmGA #BraidedBlackGenius #RootedInBlackness #EducationEquity

Black Genius is stepping outside! Our community-dreamed Black Genius pop-up classroom will be at Black August in the Park on Saturday, August 24th! This project exemplifies our commitment to community-driven, culturally affirming learning environments. It's a tangible representation of how we're working to reimagine education by centering Black voices and experiences. Meet us under the main awning. Experience firsthand how we’re turning research into action and creating spaces where Black children thrive. Let's celebrate the genius in our communities and explore liberated dreams of learning together. #CommunityDrivenLearning #BraidedBlackGenius #VillageOfWisdom

Village of Wisdom is proud to unveil our new brand identity—a celebration of our interconnected genius. This redesign goes beyond aesthetics. It's a powerful affirmation that we are all we need. Our new braided design symbolizes the interconnectedness of our communities and the wisdom passed down through generations. It's a testament that our individual genius contributes to a greater, collective narrative of freedom, joy, and power. Over the coming weeks, we'll explore the elements shaping our village and our liberation: - Rooted in Blackness - A Culture of Radical Care - Multigenerational & Multidirectional Learning - Where Soul Meets Science - Dreaming As An Act of Liberation We invite you to join us by: - Signing up for our newsletter for inspiration and practical tips - Share your own Black Genius stories - Download our Keep Dreaming Toolkit for strategies to affirm Black genius (https://bit.ly/3Au02Lr) Our work is designed by and for Black families. We welcome anyone committed to affirming and protecting Black Genius to join us in affirming the inherent brilliance of Black children and communities. Let's braid our wisdom together.

Big changes are coming to Village of Wisdom!!! Let’s just say we got our braids done for the upcoming school year. Just as braids in our community represent resilience, wisdom, and creativity, our upcoming changes reflect the innovative solutions we create when partnering with communities and educators to affirm the genius of Black communities and children. What's coming is inspired by: The resilience of our ancestors The joy in our communities The wisdom of our parents These qualities are what make our village so powerful. We can’t share what we’re up to just yet, but we promise it’s good. So stay tuned.