HOUSE OF UMOJA, INC USHERED IN 56TH ANNIVERSARY ON 21 SEPTEMBER 2024 WITH COLLABORATIVE EVENTS FOCUSING ON LITERACY AND PEACE AND RELEASE OF EDUCATION EDITION OF UMOJA MAGAZINE

5625 W. Master Street

Philadelphia, PA  19139

(215) 473-5893

Facsimile:  (215) 879-5340

Website:  www.houseofumoja.net

E-Mail:  falakafattah@aol.com

 

CONTACT:

Queen Mother Falaka Fattah

Chief Executive Officer and President

House of Umoja, Inc.

(215) 473-5893

E-Mail:  falakafattah@aol.com

 

“Injustice anywhere is a threat to justice everywhere.  We are caught up in an inescapable network of mutuality, tied in  a single garment of destiny.  Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly.”

 

Excerpted From “Letters From Birmingham City Jail”, authored by Nobel Peace Prize Laureate and American Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  and originally published on 19 May 1963

 

          PHILADELPHIA, PA (USA) – 23 September 2024 –   Established in September 1968, four months after the assassination of Nobel Peace Prize Laureate, prolific author, and American Civil Rights Leader Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. which occurred on 4 April 1968,   the House Of Umoja, Inc.  (www.houseofumoja.net)  – for 56 years – has designed and implemented  solutions-based and timeless Global Models for eradicating violence and its causative factors; fostering community development and economic sustainability;  and addressing key challenges that prevent children and youths from reaching their full potential and maturing into adults who are peaceful and productive citizens.  For 56 years, the globally acclaimed institution which is headquartered in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania – the birthplace of the United States of America – has moved Philadelphian to embrace their inescapable network of mutuality and the single garment of destiny they are tied in.  .   

          On Saturday, 21 September 2024, the House Of Umoja, Inc. ushered in its 56^th anniversary through the collaborative hosting of a series of events that focus on literacy and the promotion of peace which occurred from 10:00 A.M. through 4:00 P.M. at 1431 North Frazier Street (Queen Mother Falaka Fattah Way) in collaboration with One Art Community Center (https://oneart.love) and We LOVE Philly (https://welovephilly.org), Coincidentally, the global observance of International Peace Day under the theme “Cultivating A Culture Of Peace” also occurred on Saturday, 21 September 2024. The House Of Umoja, Inc., which has cultivated a culture of peace for 56 years marked the observance of International Peace Day (www.un.org) on Saturday, 21 September 2024 with a peace ceremony in its Peace Garden. Community stakeholders assembled at the Peace Garden for the purpose of writing on paper, an issue or circumstance that created anger, grief, and/or depression in their lives. Each community stakeholder placed the paper that contained their anger, grief, or depression in a hole located in the Peace Garden that was covered with dirt which ultimately resulted in community stakeholders removing the psychological, emotional, and spiritual toxicity caused by anger, grief, and depression which had been an invisible but weighty ball and chain they carried around. The House Of Umoja, Inc.’s observance of International Peace Day which was established by the United Nations (www.un.org) in 1981, culminated in participants engaging in a moment of silence which was dubbed a "Global Moment Of Peace”. The "Global Moment Of Peace" was followed by a procession from 1431 North Frazier (Queen Mother Falaka Fattah Way) to One Art One Community (http://oneart.love) which is located at 1431-39 North 52^nd Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania where We LOVE Philly staged a Community Mental Health And Resources Fair.

      For over five (5) decades, the House Of Umoja, Inc. has designed and implemented timeless Global Models for eradicating violence, fostering community development, creating economic sustainability, and addressing many of the key challenges that prevent boys and adolescent males from reaching their full potential and maturing into productive and successful adults.  The globally acclaimed institution’s successful track record of positively transforming the lives of approximately 3,000 male adolescents and  reducing gang violence which spans five (5) decades, has prompted American universities and institutions to seek the House of Umoja, Inc.’s expertise.   The Office of Juvenile Justice and Prevention and the Center for Disease Control were among the institutions that sought the House of Umoja, Inc.’s expertise on gang violence reduction, youth programming, and community organizing. Former United States Presidents The Honorable James Earl Carter, Jr. and the late Honorable Ronald Wilson Reagan recognized the House of Umoja, Inc. for its pioneering work that has been documented in published articles such as “A Summons To Life,” by Robert Woodson of the American Enterprise Institute (www.aei.org)  in 1981 and “The Violent Juvenile Offender,” by Paul DeMuro and Richard Allison of the National Council On Crime and Delinquency (www.nccdglobal.org), in 1984.

         An overview of how the House Of Umoja, Inc.’s 56^th year of cultivating a culture of peace and moving Philadelphians to embrace their inescapable network of mutuality and the single garment of destiny they are tied in, follows.

UMOJA Magazine Released By House Of Umoja, Inc. On 21 September 2024

        In conjunction with its 56^th anniversary, the House of Umoja, Inc. will release  the Education Edition of UMOJA Magazine (https://www.umojamagazine.com/about/)  on 21 September 2024 that  touts the globally recognized institution’s “Reading Is Resistance” Initiative which it launched in February 2024 in response to the rising incidents of  “book bans” occurring in public libraries and school libraries across the United States.   “Book bans” have resulted in the removal of literature penned by African American authors along with literature penned by authors that explore gender issues  from the shelves of public libraries and school libraries throughout the United States.  Legislative push back on the national “book banning” trend  has been mounted in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania by Pennsylvania State Senator The Honorable Amanda Cappelletti of Montgomery, Pennsylvania.  Senator Cappelletti’s efforts to stem the tide of “book banning” is chronicled in an article entitled, “Montgomery County State Senator Wants PA To Prevent Schools, Libraries From Banning Books” (https://www. cbsnews.com/philadelphia/news/bill-prevent-book-bans-school-libraries-pennsylvania).    Articles and their authors appearing in the  profound Education Edition of UMOJA Magazine scheduled for release on 21 September 2024, that explain why “Reading Is Resistance”, and explore functional literacy, the dismantling of the public education system in the United States and what can be done about it;  and the struggles encountered by United States citizens of African descent in their professional and personal lives, include:

·         “Slave Literacy Is The Real Target Of Our Reading Resistance” – Author: Mr. Mark Hampton

·         “How To Revive Our Imperiled Education System” – Author:  Dr. Stephen Jones

·         “Black Male Family Preservation” – Authors:  Messrs. Keith Mungin and Maleek Phillips

·         “In Search Of Academic Athletics” – Author:  Rashid Atkins Bey

·         “There’s A Thing Called Water” – Author:  KD Morris

·         “Reading Is Resistance:  From Violence To Violin” – Author:  Mr. Jack Drummond

·         “Functional Literacy Matters” – Author:  Mr. Cleous Young

·         “It Happened Here (Ode To Kalief”) – Author:  Mr. Osayimwese Nadir Karume

·         1“Knowledge Is Power – Author:  Pursuing Recovery Physical Fitness Through Academic Athletics” – Author;  Mr. Keith Blackwell

·         “No Such Thing” – Author:   Mr. Omar Tyree

February 2024 Launch Of “Reading Is Resistance” Initiative

       “Reading Is Resistance” is the brainchild of Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, the Chief Executive Officer and President of the House Of Umoja, Inc. which has a 56 year successful track record of mentoring and positively transforming the trajectory of the lives of over approximately 3,000 adolescent males in the City Of Philadelphia.  The launch of “Reading Is Resistance” which is responsive to “book bans” occurring throughout the United States that targets, among others, literature penned by United States citizens of African descent, took the form of a  panel discussion.  The panel discussion was convened by the House Of Umoja, Inc. in partnership with The City Root,(www.thecityroot.com) , an online publication founded by Mr. Kevon Chevalier, on 24 February 2024 in observance of Black History Month at the Ultra Silk Gallery (www.ultrasilkgallery.com) located at 3808 Lancaster Avenue in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.    The roundtable panel discussion which was entitled, “Books vs. Bullets;  1968 To Present” was moderated by Ms. Jacqueline Taylor-Adams, Chief Executive Officer of Master Griot Publishing (https://www.mastergriotpublishing.com) and Program Director for the House Of Umoja, Inc.’s UMOJA Youth Peace Corps which operates under the  umbrella of the House Of Umoja, Inc.’s Fattah Peace Academy (www.houseofumoja.net).  Panelists on the roundtable discussion include

·         Mr. Anthony Bannister-Fattah - Community Outreach Director, House Of Umoja, Inc.

·         Ms. Nanyamka Wall – Educator and UMOJA Community Representative

·         Mr. Mark Hampton

·         Dr. Stephen Jones

·         Mr. Cleous Young

·         Mr.  KD Morris

·         Mr. Horace Clouden

2024 National Million Father March Observance On 26 August 2024 In Philadelphia And The “Reading Is Resistance” Initiative

  

          The House Of Umoja, Inc. marked its 17^th consecutive year as the leader and organizer of Philadelphia’s observance of the National Million Father March (www.fathersincorporated.com; www,blackstarproject.com)   which was convened on Monday, 26 August 2024 – the first day of the 2024-2025 academic year for the Philadelphia School District.  Fathers throughout the City of Philadelphia were encouraged  and continue to be encouraged to adopt a proactive role in the education of their child by, among other things:

·         Escorting their child to school on Monday, 26 August 2024 – the first day of the 2024-2025 academic year for the School District of Philadelphia

·         Meeting their child’s teachers and the principal of their child’s school

·         Obtaining a copy of their child’s roster and a copy of the academic calendar of their child’s school

·         Checking their child’s homework every day

·         Reviewing their child’s test scores in English Language Arts, Science, Mathematics, etc.

·         Enhancing their child’s literacy skills level by reading to their child and having their child read to them

          “Reading Is Resistance”, an initiative launched by the House Of Umoja, Inc. in February 2024, is  a component of the 2024 National Million Father March in Philadelphia which focuses on exponentially increasing the proficiency levels of school children in the Philadelphia School District during the 2024-2025 academic year. 

House Of Umoja, Inc. Commences Fifth Cohort Of UMOJA Peace Corps On 3 September 2024

        Launched in April 2022 by the House Of Umoja, Inc,, the UMOJA Youth Peace Corps, UMOJA Intentional Community, and the Fattah Peace Academy are the brainchild of Queen Mother Falaka Fattah, the globally acclaimed institution’s Chief Executive Officer and President. The fifth cohort for the UMOJA Youth Peace Corps (https://www.houseof umoja.net/peacecorps.html) which commenced on 3 September 2024 is a twelve-week “value of human life” program” designed for youths aged 14 through 18,  that is centered around peace, family, community development, culture, and healing.   The UMOJA Intentional Community was spawned by a partnership with SCI Phoenix LIFERS, Inc. (www.lifersincpa.org) – a nationally acclaimed “inside out” Reentry, Criminal Justice Reform and Restorative Justice Think Tank and the House Of Umoja, Inc. Through the UMOJA Intentional Community which operates under the umbrella of the Fattah Peace Academy, the UMOJA Intentional Community leverages the House Of Umoja, Inc.’s 56 years of experience in conflict resolution, gun violence reduction, peace treaties, community-school programming, and Black male, youth and family development. 

       To learn more about the House Of Umoja, Inc.’s legacy; solutions-based Global Models that help eradicate gun violence and its causative factors; foster community development and economic sustainability; promote psychological, emotional, and spiritual healing in traumatized communities; and address key challenges that prevent children and youths from reaching their full potential and maturing into adults who are peaceful and productive citizens, call (215) 473-5893; send an electronic mail communication to:  falakafattah@aol.com; and visit the website of www.houseofumoja.net.

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