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Sankofa
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Institute for African-American Leadership

MartinWe live almost fifty years after the Civil Rights Movement and, while so many positive things have happened, we as African-Americans still face some daunting challenges:  Hose

  • Mass Incarceration:  We live in the most incarcerated nation in the world and African-American's make up 43% of the prison population but only 12% of the US population.  1 out of every 3 black males born is expected to go to prison.
  • Fatherlessness: 72% of African-American children are born to unwed mothers.
  • Extremely high Abortion Rate:  Black women are 5 times more likely to have an abortion than their white counterparts. That's over 1800 abortions per day in the African-American community.
  • Staggeringly low graduation rates.
  • Eight million below the poverty level and substance abuse. 

Even more so, African-Americans are here for a reason.  We need transformative servant leaders who recognize that we as a people are like Joseph in the Bible.  He was sold, enslaved and imprisoned; yet he proclaimed, “What others meant for bad God meant for good—the saving of many lives!”
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What is the Sankofa Institute for African-American Leadership?

Bird_LogoclearSankofa is the African concept that we must remember our roots as we move forward.  The symbol for Sankofa is a mythical bird in flight. As it soars forward it looks backwards, carrying an egg in its mouth.  For us, at the Sankofa Institute, this symbolizes the need for leaders who can glean from the past and lead us into God’s future.  As we do so we nurture those things from our past that have yet to hatch and bring forth life.  "Sankofa" literally means, "It is not wrong for us to go back and find that which we have forgotten."
clearSankofa Institute is designed to inspire leaders to receive wisdom from God, practice Christianity, understand our calling and cultivate a willingness to sacrifice as people of the cross. 
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clearRobert Gelinas (pastor, author, speaker & Jazz Theologian—B.A. Biblical Studies & M.A. Missiology) will lead students through an in-depth curriculum of reading, prayer and conversation.  At times additional community leaders will assist in teaching and leading.  Also, you will be led into the city on vision trips for the purpose connecting the classroom with the real world.  Much time will be spent developing the skill of reading our city as well as we read our Bibles so that we can sacrifice for the sake our community. Ultimately, the goal is hear the voice of Jesus and respond to his call on our lives. 
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clearSankofa is an eighteen-month program in which you will be mentored, taught and inspired to understand the times and know what to do.  You will read a select number of books slowly and deeply as well as receive a notebook with summaries of key books and concepts that go along with the subject matter so you will have a broad understanding of the issues and schools of thought.
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clearAt the end of the program, we will fly to Ghana where we visit the slave castles and forts where our ancestors were held prior to coming to America.  It is there, that we will ask God to consecrate our lives for his kingdom work.
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Where will we meet?
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MeetingThanks to a generous benefactor who believes in the mission of Sankofa our conversations will take place in the upscale environment of The Pinnacle. Located across the street from City Park and in view of the magnificent Martin Luther King Jr. memorial, this will be Sankofa’s Urban Retreat Center.
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What is the financial commitment?
clearTuition: $1150 total for the 18 month program plus books (approx. $200)
clearTrip to Ghana: Approximately $3500
clear(not all money is due up front)
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What is the time commitment?
clear- One to two Wednesday evenings per month from 6-9pm for 18 months
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When?
clear January-March: Application Season
clear April: Open House & Info. Meeting at Sankofa’s Urban Retreat
clear May: First Flight of Sankofa launches in May
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Pray, Apply & Commit.

clearAre you an African-American follower of Christ? Have you or are you coming into your own as a leader? Do you long to know how your life connects with the story of your people? Are you looking for a safe place to think seriously about the critical issues facing African-Americans? Do you believe that God can redeem our history as a people to display his love to all? Do you desire to be a part of a select group of believers devoted to the study of God’s word, history and listening to the whisper of the Spirit?

If so, then Sankofa is for you!
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CLICK TO APPLY >>>
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Or If You Have Questions First, Please Click Here >>>
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