2019 Universal Pre-Kindergarten School Year Ends!!

    On the Summer Solstice, Friday, June 21st 2019, my Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program concluded our school year with a beautiful Graduation Celebration for our parents and guardians. It is always bittersweet for me and I would like to THANK my Executive Director Patricia L. Barone, Director Tomorrow Allen-Collins and all of the Doris W. Jones Family Resource Center Staff for their support in helping make this school year a success! On one hand I look forward to seeing my students grow into their purpose. On the other hand I know that it will be rare that my students will meet another black male teacher in their educational career. However, I am thankful to be entrusted with this opportunity to help set our youth on a trajectory of purpose. 

     Throughout my work in early childhood development one of the most important lessons I’ve learned is meeting youth where they are, striving to understand as opposed to expecting being understood. My teaching styles begins with doing accurate need assessments of my students in order to help me meet their requirements. Because my students come from diverse cultural backgrounds and socioeconomic circumstances, there is not a “one size fits all” methodology that supports their social emotional development and/or provides them with positive guidance. This is something that many teachers, and their core curriculum standards, often overlook and in overlooking the uniqueness of our youth some of them end up falling through educational system cracks.

       In my preschool class I promote intrapersonal development by exploring and teaching my students about what “Self” is through activities and challenging ideas that limit or stereotype one’s identity and ability. There are many components to what makes us who we are and it is important for our children to learn this early. In a social sense, I challenge the word “can’t” and show them ways that they can through the use of scaffolding; the support needed to help students achieve their learning goals. Helping my students recognize that they are infinite potential is vital to developing their sense of awareness, pride and self-confidence to authentically express themselves. It is also an investment in their sense of Antifragility; which enables them to absorb and redistribute the energy from attacks on their identity like Black Panther's bulletproof suit. Effective intrapersonal development sets the stage for interpersonal development because how we relate to Self will influence how we ultimately relate to others. 

     The basis of my Universal Pre-Kindergarten Program is to establish and maintain an early childhood safe-space that fosters optimum health and a positive interactive learning environment that encourages my students to think critically and creatively about the world around them. Below is a video I shared for my parents and guardians featuring some clips of my students school year which also includes some of my Atlantis School For Gifted Youngsters Animation Series. 

Peace,
Saladin

The 49th Annual Show & Prove: What Did You Miss?

G.O.D. [Gold, Oil, Diamonds] Album by AZ

   Every second weekend in June we [the Five Percent Nation] hold our Annual Science and Educational Show & Prove at the Harriet Tubman School in Harlem, NY [Public School 154]. June 9th, 2019 marked our 49th Annual Event. 

   The first Show & Prove took place on June 13th, 1971 at Harlem Prep following a December 4th, 1970 dance that was organized six months earlier in Queens, NY [AKA: The Oasis in the Desert]. I mention this dance because it was the first collective gathering of Five Percenters since the assassination of The Father [Allah] one year earlier on June 13th, 1969 and the spark to ignite the Science and Educational Show & Prove. This annual youth-centric event was established to celebrate The Father's legacy through showcasing the contributions and accomplishments of our family members who are building upon this legacy. Founded by several young Five Percenters such as Allah B, Prince Allah, God Supreme, Dumar, Gykee, Takesha, LuAsia and others, the Show & Prove highlighted a youth science and educational fair and has expanded over the years to include a marketplace, food vendors, speeches, performances, and a Meet & Greet/Cook Out the day before. The largest single gathering of Five Percenters each year, the first Show & Prove on June 13th, 1971 was said to have over 2,000 people, most of them youth, in attendance. The first Show & Prove I attended was 22 years ago in 1997. In addition to our annual science fair and market place, this year's event added a 3-on-3 Basketball Tournament, and Youth Olympics!

   As I've mentioned above, our Annual Science and Educational Show & Prove is the largest single gathering of Five Percenters each year. It's an opportunity for us to congregate, network, support our businesses and build. By "build" I don't mean talking. Five Percenter concepts such as "building" has become common to many people. It, among other concepts, were adopted by Hip Hop culture and have since taken on the generic meaning of "talking." This concept is now as empty as the glossed over eyes of a Millennial rocking a box with no knowledge of who Big Daddy Kane is. Talking is not its original interpretation. Five Percenters are scientists of life and building is the oral presentation of one's work/research to other members of our scientific community for peer review. And just like any scientist, upon review of that work/research, if something needs to be added on or taken away, we go back to the lab and make the appropriate adjustments. 

   One of the thoughts I shared with someone upon my return from our event is that I appreciate getting an opportunity to hear others feedback or peer review of what I've been doing over the last year. I am so engrossed in what I do I rarely come up for air to check or even celebrate what many others would deem as accomplishments. Upon my arrival to the Show & Prove that Sunday morning the first person I randomly ran into while walking down 125th street was a brother who recognized me, introduced himself and reminded me of the articles I used to write for a United Kingdom publication over twenty years ago. It is experiences such as this that remind me of the work I've done and continue to do to positively impact the lives of others.

   In addition to our youth activities, one of the other highlights of this year's Show & Prove was the official book release of the revised edition of The True History of ALLAH and His 5%. Highlighting the authentic narratives of more than forty-five Five Percenters, this book is a primary source on some of our nation's chronology as told through the life experiences of Gods and Earths who were there in its formative years. This is very different than other books that have tried to tell, and sell, what is allegedly our story. Other books are typically written by one person with an agenda in mind about what they want you to think, or believe. The True History of ALLAH and His 5% does not take that politicized approach. It contains the direct words from those who were around during the early years of our nation and within those words are various perspectives and experiences, as it should be. Showing that sense of diversity, a shared voice, and no hierarchy, is important. You can purchase a paperback, hard cover or e-book HERE.

Peace,
Saladin