THE BBHMC MODEL: Cultivating a Black Liberatory-Based Collective with a Pan-Africanists at the wheel

Pan-Africanists and Racial Justice Strategist Cathleen Antoine-Abiala and ANYANWU have designed an explorative practice which curates a container for Black Folx to hold one another. This is a space for realization and generative healing through collective connection. Beyond Black History Month Collective Model (BBHMC) has been curated for Black People to have independent self reflective and restorative engagement for visioning freedom and acting on what our healing has taught us. This container is an honest response to the Black perspective needing opportunity to seek out answers to the question “how can I make a better space for myself, community and the black youth I serve?”  Through this model’s use of media, art, literature, collective consciousness and practices of deepening engagement we generate indigenous teachings of love, respect, courage, honesty, wisdom, humility and truth.  These steps in collective development are precursors to having collective action among different intersectional identities, experiences and needs. 

One of the most essential belief systems at this time for us as Black People is to have a relationship with the authoritative narratives that belong to us and the freedom we contain within ourselves. In Toni Morrison's novel Beloved, she wrote, “Freeing yourself was one thing, claiming ownership of that freed self was another.”  In this work folks experience the BBHMC Model, a developmental practice grounded in Black History as an act of resistance. Through engagement with this model, Black People will have an opportunity to imagine what it means to cultivate a Black experience based on liberatory impact and through cooperative freedom practices.



2023 SERIES

Beyond Black History Month Collective begins February 28th 6:00pm-7:30pm, A SPACE FOR BLACK EDUCATORS, ORGANIZERS & ACTIVISTS:

We want you to  “Remember those moments that meant something, when you've experienced Black folx with one another, connecting and learning, creating relationship? It isn't nostalgic. We will create that space together."


THIS IS AN OFFERING FOR YOU *There is no charge for this journey.

Beyond Black History Month Collective is a shared space much like the stoop, your barbershop and beauty salon, your kitchen table or even that moment with an elder as a youth.

This Collective has been experienced as a shared space much like the stoop, your barbershop and beauty salon, your kitchen table or even that moment with an elder that loved on you as a youth. Together folx allow ‘real talk' about how we shape shift and evolve in the work we do. From the Black perspective folx create space to seek out answers to the question : “how can I make a better space for myself and the youth I serve?” In this series we've found answers in the heart of our own healing and grounding.

Our Collective shares:
Monthly 2.5hour Virtual Zoom sessions for dialogue, reading and engagement with multi-media sources to explore our history, collective wisdom and draw insights to confront our current challenges, need for generative healing experiences and ways of being that empower.
Monthly 1.5hour Follow-up Zoom sessions for our thought-partnering circle to be facilitated by collective members to offer a responsive space for deeper dives into points of connection and exploring critical conflicts in promoting and sustaining racial and social justice.

Curated by Racial Justice Strategists and Coaches, ANYANWU and CATHLEEN ANTOINE-ABIALA RE-Center Race & Equity in Education,  

We started this journey March 22, 2022. In this ongoing virtual series, we desired to reach beyond our grasp. We couldn't have anticipated the challenges and grieving, we couldn't imagine the accomplishments and moments of healing.

2023 BBHMC SERIES DATES:

Session 1: Feb 28- 6:00pm-7:30pm

Session 2: Mar. 14 5:30pm-8:00pm

Session 3: Mar. 28 6:00pm-7:30pm

Session 4: April 18 5:30pm-8:00pm

Session 5: May 2 6:00pm-7:30pm

Session 6: May 16 5:30pm-8:00pm

Session 7: May 30 5:30pm-8:00pm

Session 8: June 15 6:00pm-7:30pm


BBHMC CURATORS

We are ANYANWU and Cathleen Antoine-Abiala, Racial Justice Strategist. Together we bring over thirty years of experience and wisdom in education, social justice and activism work and restorative practice. We remain committed to the work of racial and social justice knowing we are moving in our purpose and in the lineage of our beloved ancestors of this work.

In the Historical Context of Consciousness and Reverence we offer this collective practice to honor that our voices are the authoritative text our lives continue to thrive on!


What you can expect from The Collective:

  • Cross Generational

    A space for students & adults

  • Intention

    An intentional space for Black EDUCATORS, ORGANIZERS, ACTIVISTS & STUDENTS

  • Collective Wisdom

    Monthly 3-hour sessions for dialogue, reading and engaging with multi-media to explore our history and collective wisdom and draw insights from it to confront our current challenges in education

  • Responsive Space

    Follow-up sessions (1.5h, also monthly) for our thought-partnering circle to be facilitated by collective members to offer a responsive space for deeper dives into points of connection and exploring critical conflicts in promoting and sustaining racial and social justice.

  • Action

    November 2022 we will be inviting participating youth and educators to convene jointly in our culminating event highlighting youth-centered and youth-led activism and problem solving.

  • *Gentle Reminder

    We understand life may not permit you to attend all sessions but we hope you make best efforts. Where you cannot attend, you will be missed.

  • CONNECTION

    "Remember them days when you would experience Black elders and youth with one another, connecting and learning? It’s doesn’t have to be nostalgic. Let’s create that space together." ~Anyanwu & Cathleen

  • VOICE

    This is a space to center cross-generational voices and needs. Centralize Your Voice. In the Historical Context of Consciousness and Reverence we honor that our voices are the authoritative text our lives thrive on.

  • CURATORS

    Formed by Racial Justice Strategists and Coaches, ANYANWU and CATHLEEN ANTOINE-ABIALA, at RE-Center Race & Equity in Education. (BIOS BELOW)

BBHMC’s Kick-off Event February 9 2023 was a special conversation with members of the Beyond Black History Month Collective (BBHMC). It was a intentional space for folks to ground in thinking about the value, importance and/or urgency in having and nurturing a Freedom Practice of your own.

The kick-off discussion was moderated by one of Re-Center’s outstanding racial justice strategists, Nakeeba Wauchope. She led a dialogue with four amazing NYC Black Educators who participated in last year’s BBHMC community. Our panelists shared how they engaged in self inquiry and reflection to go beyond simply surviving in the current climate to understanding their personal relationship to their own needs as a means to thrive and bring more liberatory practices in their daily lives.

BBHMC 2022 Series

Unveiling a Freedom Story: with youth and transformative change

In 2022, participants inspired action with even greater intentionality and meaningful activation of liberatory practices and divine outcomes of possibility in their own stories. Curators and Racial Justice Strategists ANYANWU and CATHLEEN ANTOINE-ABIALA breathe life into the charge, what does our vision look like in practice? Together the collective will ground in their own wisdom guides as we lay a foundation based on Audre Lorde's "I feel, therefore I can be free" from one of her timeless and urgent essays. Together we will connect to what is within us as a restorative practice and support to seeing, being and feeling into what it is we want

Gentle Reminder: We understand life may not permit you to attend all sessions but we hope you make best efforts. Where you cannot attend, you will be missed.


2022 PART ONE INVITATION & WELCOME: 3/22/2022 | 6:30-8:00pm

People of African descent relating on what we owe our young people

JOIN US for the Beyond Black History Month Collective Launch to learn more about the collective and get seated in the intention for this space.

(MARCH - JUNE) In PART ONE, we acknowledge our lived experiences as providing us with a blueprint for understanding, exploration, and critical reflection about the challenges in our school communities.

3/30/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

4/12/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

4/27/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

5/17/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

5/25/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

6/14/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

6/22/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

2022 PART TWO

9/29/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

10/18/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

10/26/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

11/15/2022 | 5:00-8:00pm

11/29/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

11/29/2022 | 6:00-7:30pm

12/06/2022 TUES | 5:00-8:00pm

12/13/2022 TUES | 6:00-7:30pm


  • SESSION REVISIT:

    THE KICK-OFF & Session 1: We started this journey with exploring the deeper intentions behind The BEYOND BLACK HISTORY MONTH COLLECTIVE and began to peel back some layers to unveil the following:

    EXPLORATION:

    • Matrilineal Grounding: We set the foundation for our gathering; affirming that we need to be in community, in conversation together, in intention together.

    • Q: What does it mean to matter - to slow down and feel that we matter

    • Q: Where lives the need to strengthen and position ourselves for the needs of our Black Youth

    • THE VIBRATION OF LEGACY: Having the Energies of Divinity & Truth Telling in our presence and beings

    • CHARGE: Write a love letter to you… What do you need?

    • CHARGE: How can you be unapologetically in service to yourself in the next 48 hrs

  • Septima Poinsette Clark, Legendary Education Justice Activist

    USED MEDIA & RESOURCES:

    VID: Rare Film of Septima P. Clark, Mother of the Movement: This is a very rare film of Mrs. Septima Clark of Charleston SC, who mentored Rosa Parks, educated adults to their voting rights, and is considered by many as the "Mother of the Movement." Filmed in Columbia SC in 1979. She is interviewed by Dr. Grace McFadden of the University of South Carolina

    “I believe unconditionally in the ability of people to respond when they are told the truth. We need to be taught to study rather than believe, to inquire rather than to affirm.” + Septima Poinsette Clark

    ___________________

    EXCERPT From Black Girl Call Home, We host these variables…by Jasmine Mans

    VID: Freedom Fighter Kid: Young one speaks on race, freedom, equality

    VID: Sen. Cory Booker (D-NJ) remarks to Ketanji Brown Jackson

    PDF: Transforming Institutional Values To Values That Serve Our Needs

    EXERPT: Toni Morrison, Beloved "THE CLEARING"

Your Racial Justice Strategists

  • ANYANWU

    Racial Justice Strategist & Coach (Consultant)

    ANYANWU says she is Human first and activist second .. and then with joy shares The JUNGLE raised me, Yeee! She's referencing the village functioning community in Marin City, CA , traditionally a home of Black Liberators in the Bay Area. (READ MORE)

  • Cathleen Antoine Abiala

    Racial Justice Strategist & Coach (Consultant)

    Cathleen Antoine-Abiala (she/her/hers) is an equity coach and independent consultant, leading numerous projects on culturally responsive education and fostering critical consciousness. (READ MORE)