From Seattle Times: 

The Salaam Village Program is designed as an after school development program for youth of African descent in the greater Seattle area.We teach the history and culture of the African Diaspora, mentoring, tutoring, collaborative teamwork, community organizing, and all events are designed to help students succeed academically and provide students with knowledge on their cultural surround. The program are as follows: Teaching Inter-cultural Africa, Becoming African American, Representation and Culture, Math, Science, and the African Diaspora.

Field areas represented are cultural and social history, autobiography, popular culture and the arts, math, science, and technology. Ways of instruction include lectures, multi-media presentations, group work, and film viewings. Additional workshops will include study techniques, goal setting, financial management, career choices, and social awareness. Outside of course instruction, students will attend field trips, guest speaker events, and interact with the program’s website.

 As students work toward their education and career goals, they will gain the self-actualization and desire to transfer and use their knowledge constructively throughout their lives. We also hope that through successful completion of the program it might work as a magnet and university outreach program to encourage students to attend college. While the Salaam Village Program focuses on the cultural and social adaptation of their environment. It will primarily help students with reading, writing, and critical thinking; we also hope to pool together a critical mass of peer tutors in the areas of math and science.  

Salaam Village’s mission is to prepare students for full participation in the intellectual, economic and civic life of our society, by ensuring their preparation for and access to further education, the skills and vision to undertake a rewarding career, and the motivation and character needed to engage deeply and productively in community life. We view parents and community members as integral partners in this endeavor. 

1. Gain historical and cultural knowledge of Africana history

2. Increase their reading, comprehension, writing, public speaking, computer, and study techniques

3. Learn to work independently and collaboratively in groups

4. Set career, educational, and financial goals

5. Improve time management and multi-tasking

6. Gain an enhanced sense of themselves as active citizens and community organizers

7.  Gain basic computer skills. Teach students typing, Microsoft software applications, research and surfing the web. Safety and dangers of technology will be part of this program.

To read more of our Seattle- Time article Building Bridges.....

Seattle Columnist Jerry Large

Jerry Large