Our Approach
At its core, we really want to create an environment where every child really is fully seen, deeply heard, and truly loved.
We want children that encounter our Center to have a rich educational experience that honors who they are right now, while creating an environment that guides them to who they will be tomorrow.
This is our Approach:
Continental & Diasporic African Connections: Our Center has feet in multiple places. We are physically rooted in our Greater Houston community - ecstatic and excited to learn from the unparalleled array of people and places in our community; and we create strong connections with continental & diasporic African cultures. Through areas like design inspiration, artistic expression (literary, visual, and performing arts), food, etc. we celebrate the beauty, genius, intricacy and nuance of traditional & contemporary African cultures on the continent and in the Diaspora.
Creators & Makers, not just Consumers: We believe in the intellectual and practical joys of learning to make things with our hands. The confidence that comes with the rhythms of creating something new, or the satisfaction of repurposing something old - making it over and creating something even more beautiful in its stead. We believe that learning to be creators & makers is a skill that will serve for a lifetime, and one that is sorely needed if we are to learn to be stewards of our environment, our finances, and our hearts.
Experiential & Hands-on Learning: We believe that learning happens best through real-world experiences and a multi-sensorial approach. We craft lessons that invite opportunities for creating & making; and where relevant, direct engagement with experts, people, and places. We don’t just lecture - we do!
Nature & Environmental Education: Nothing quite invites wonder, curiosity, joy, and deep reflection like nature. As humans, we are nature; and at our Center, we believe that remembering our connection with nature is an essential part of being human. We will take as many opportunities as we can to connect to our natural environment: reveling in it, exploring it, and stewarding it.
Heart-Centered: We believe in treating children with respect, in honoring their voices, in nurturing their hearts, in protecting their spirits. It is what guides every decision we make. We don’t expect to be perfect, but we do strive to engage with each child with intentionality, care, compassion, and love.
