Restoring Culture, Building Futures
Explore the January Nairobi Renaissance Session
January Session: Umoja — Building Unity for Black Student Success
This VIRTUAL session introduces families to the series through the Kwanzaa principle of Umoja (Unity), with a focus on understanding how unity supAccountability Planner, a tool to support reflection and advocacy across key areas of Black student success.
The session concludes with a collective reflection where all participantports Black student success at home, in schools, and in the community.
The session opens with a shared community gathering and creative activity centered on unity, followed by age-specific experiences in breakout rooms:
- Elementary youth engage in a hands-on Unity Bridge STEM activity, exploring teamwork, balance, and support as foundations for strong communities.
- Teens and young adults learn about Black Student Unity, the origins and purpose of BSUs, and opportunities through Black Students of California United.
- Parents and guardians are introduced to the Equity s contribute ideas to a shared community unity board, identifying how they can practice Umoja throughout the year. January serves as both an introduction to the Nairobi Renaissance and a foundation-setting moment for the months ahead.
Day/Date: Saturday, January 31, 2026
Time: 1:00 - 3:00 pm
Hosted on Zoom (Link provided via RSVP)
CLICK IMAGE TO RSVP
Featured Presenters
Martha Hanks
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Keynote Speaker
will be our keynote speaker. She will be sharing some historical information about how the Nairobi schools were developed and how Umoja was used to keep it running smoothly.
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Adults Breakout Session
will lead a session of dialogue and discovery around the 5 areas of Black student success and what parents feel is lacking in their child's education.
In the second session, she will introduce the tool (EAP) that is meant to help parents organize the people and places that will cover the student in the 5 areas.
John Bryant
Dr. D'Andrea Robinson
Sherinda Bryant
Elementary Breakout Session
will be in his ‘lab’ at the Belle Haven Community Center and zoom in with us to do his Unity bridge activity. There will be options for youth to sign into his platform or draw by hand.
He will only do the first session.
Sherinda Bryant
Sherinda Bryant
Sherinda Bryant
Teens Breakout Session
will talk about the origins of Black Student Unions and where they are heading here in CA.
Jahkim Steward
Sherinda Bryant
Stephanie Smith
will give the perspective of being a BSU president at Menlo-Atherton and his idea to build a leadership planning guide that was given to BSCU (Black Students of CA United)- the catalyst for the resources now available.
A BSCU student leader (pending)- will showcase the BSCU resources and talk about student leadership opportunities
Stephanie Smith
Sherinda Bryant
Stephanie Smith
Stephanie Smith
will engage the youth in the second session as they draw themselves as a unity hero and describe their unique powers!
Journey to Knowledge: A Nairobi Renaissance Gallery of Learning
Explore the February Nairobi Renaissance Session
February Session: Kujichagulia — Loving and Naming Ourselves; Shaping Our Future
This month centers on reclaiming the power to name ourselves, define our identities, and imagine the futures we want for our families and community. Through culture, creativity, dialogue, and reflection, participants of all ages explore how self-determination shows up in daily life—and how the names we claim shape the futures we build.
Elementary Experience: Naming Our Power & Imagining Our Future Elementary participants engage in playful, creative activities that help them build confidence, self-awareness, and pride in who they are becoming.
Key Activities Include:
- Power Name Shields – Children design shields featuring a power word, a strength symbol, and something they want to learn or become.
- Future Me Story Cards – Youth draw themselves in the future and complete prompts like: “I will be… because I choose to…”
- Affirmation & Rhythm – Live drumming and a community affirmation circle help students ground themselves and speak their chosen identity aloud.
Focus: Building self-confidence, imagination, and early leadership by helping children see themselves as powerful, capable, and full of possibility.
Teen Experience: Identity Remix & Future Visioning: Teens dive deeper into questions of identity, labels, and self-authorship—challenging how they’ve been named by others and intentionally choosing how they want to show up in the world.
Key Activities Include:
- Identity Remix Workshops – Teens unpack labels placed on them by peers, schools, and society, then remix those narratives into self-chosen identities.
- Future Introductions – Guided prompts support teens in imagining how they introduce themselves in the future: who they are, what they stand for, and what they want to be known for.
- Youth Voice & Expression – Spoken word and creative performance give teens space to publicly claim their names and visions.
Focus: Supporting self-authorship, critical reflection, confidence, and leadership identity during a pivotal stage of development.
Adult Experience: Reclaiming Our Narrative & Building Collective Power Adults engage in reflection, dialogue, and planning that connect personal identity to advocacy, leadership, and community responsibility.
Key Activities Include:
- Reclaiming Our Narrative – Adults reflect on names shaped by family history, struggle, institutions, and workplaces—and intentionally rename themselves for the future they desire.
- Black Student Success Framework – Participants review key areas of student success and explore how self-determination shows up in advocacy and decision-making.
- Community Resource & Asset Mapping – Collective sharing helps families identify strengths, resources, and next steps for supporting youth through an Equity Accountability Plan.
Focus:
Empowering adults to see themselves as builders, advocates, and stewards of a self-determined future for their children and community.
Collective Experience: The Chosen Names Ceremony The session closes with a powerful, intergenerational moment of unity.
Shared Activities Include:
- Identity Mosaic Wall – Participants add their chosen names, symbols, or power words to a shared visual display.
- Community Charge & Commitment – Each person speaks one commitment aloud, beginning with “This month, I choose to…”
- Knowledge Board Continuity – Commitments are recorded and carried forward into March’s theme (Ujima – Collective Work & Responsibility).
Purpose:
To honor who we have been, name who we are becoming, and carry our commitments forward together.
Day/Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026
Time: 12:00 - 3:00 pm
Hosted at The Bloomhouse • 2555 Pulgas Ave • East Palo Alto, CA • 94303
CLICK IMAGE TO RSVP