| "This page will be updated before August 11, 2012" List of candidates w/ brief bios - 2011 Unity Council Elections *Unity Council Elections through 6:00 PM September 10, 2011 African Community Center for Unity and Self-Determination/Atlanta The following persons have been nominated as candidates for the local (Atlanta) Unity Council of the African Community Center. (1) Aziz Ali In 2005, Brother Ali found FUTURE OUR CHILDREN, a non-profit organization located in Long Beach, CA., to create a way to share, uplift, encourage and motivate children in the art of music.And, to remind some and enlighten others that the future of the children is our sole responsibility. We should show love for them because they are special. He has consistantly, for more than 2 years been volunteering 2 1/2 hours weekly at S.L. Stanton Elementary School, in Atlanta , GA. For more than 3 years he has been providing free concerts for WRFG Radio. His greatest desire is to see Music back in the schools, public and home schools. He also plans to register FUTURE OUR CHILDREN in Georgia. (2) Kofi Munyiga Ampon Kofi was born in New Orleans, LA and grew up in Rochester, NY. Kofi began his road to cultural and political awakening in the late 80’s/early 90’s as a teenager influenced by hip- hop music. While attending Tuskegee University, Kofi went through a semester long rites of passage process sponsored by an Afrikan-centered on-campus fraternal organization called Ka Het-Heru / Ka-Ra. This was followed with more years of on- campus and community political organizing. After graduating Tuskegee, Kofi, then known as Munyiga Maa Sa-Ra, attended ALTR (Afrikan Adult Leadership Training Retreat) and was soon invited to teach math at Nationhouse Watoto Institute in Washington DC. During his time in DC, Kofi joined and was actively involved in the Ankobea Abusua Society and the Nyansa Nananom development process, began his formalized training as a traditional Afrikan healer, started a family, and continued his work as a teacher throughout the DC Afrikan community. In the fall of 2005, Kofi, his wife Thema aka Sunkwa and their children moved to Atlanta, GA to further galvanize their family mission. During his time in Atlanta, Kofi and his wife began work on a institutional model called Abusua KwaeE, began travelling to Afrika regularly to both learn and organize, and co-facilitated the Nege Yemela Yaa / Daga Jo rites of passage process. Kofi has been an active traditional Obosomfo (priest healer), and has worked with and/or supported other community initiatives such as Afrikan Djeli Cultural Institute, Abakosem Sunsum, Kilombo Pan-Afrikan Institute, Black Star Educational Institute, and Ankoben Institute. Kofi and his wife have been married ten years and they have three children. Kofi is self-employed, proficient in multiple martial art styles and studies financial literacy for economic empowerment, indigenous knowledge, music, and survivalism. (3) Thabiti Anderson Brother Thabiti, age 19 ½ , was born and raised in Atlanta, Ga. He studied at Clark Atlanta University then transferred to Georgia State University where he currently studies Business Administration. He is a community activist. His organizational affiliations include the United Brothers of America, where he volunteers to mentor and uplift young black men. He also uses his energy to support initiatives of The Next Great American Poet. His hope for African people is that we come together as one and be able to control what happens to us as a people. (4) Sundiata Kweku Aya Sundiata Kweku Aya, also known as “Brother Kweku”, graduated from Florida A&M University with a Major in Psychology and a Minor in Sociology. As a student leader, he served as president of the Pan-African student organization, (SACD) Student Alliance for Cultural Development. During four years of leadership, Brother Kweku spearheaded a variety of community empowerment activities that extended far beyond the college campus. The organization served and still serves the community through education, activism, and old fashion service. Activities ranged from weekly educational programs, and mentoring youth, to political, social, and cultural activism. As a professional Brother Kweku, has worked in real estate, business, finance and has also worked in social service for 15 years. As a Counselor and Case Manager, he has consistently assisted in the development of Youth and Community Families. Brother Kweku is one of the founding members of Let Us Make Man- A Gathering to Reclaim Black Manhood, and has also served as a Coordinator and Director for several community initiatives such as Rising Sun Development Center, which provided residential treatment services to previously homeless, drug addicted, or formerly incarcerated men. Brother Kweku/Rising Sun Development Center is currently partnered with Cobb and Douglas County’s Community Service Board to Coordinate, Believe In Youth, a Federal Mentoring Initiative and is presently recruiting strong men and women to volunteer to make a difference in the lives of our community's youth. (5) Noni Bennett Mrs. Noni L. Bennett was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and grew up in Southwest Atlanta, Georgia. Her professional passions include education, business and wellness. Just after high school, she enjoyed a career as a licensed cosmetologist advising clients on natural beauty, nutrition, fitness, reflexology, natural facials, and natural nails. She studied Preventative Wellness under Dr. A. Kweku Andoh, former Unity Counsel member. She earned a B.A. in English Language and Literature from Morris Brown College, an MBA from American Intercontinental University and she is currently a PhD candidate for Curriculum Design and Instructional Leadership from Northcentral University. Since her graduation from Morris Brown, Mrs. Bennett has worked as an English Instructor at Phoenix Alternative Academy, Booker T. Washington High School and Benjamin E. Mays High School. Her experiences with the public school system have moved her to research for and develop a system of Truly World Class Education (for more info on Truly World Class Education see worldclasseducation.wordpress.com and Atlanta k12 Examiner on examiner.com) She consults parents and educators on World Class Education and various aspects of teaching and learning. She is a beautiful wife and mother of two. When she has any spare time she loves to read, write, garden, cook vegetarian meals, exercise, and chill with family. She grew up in the "Cultured Community" and is has worked to support initiatives of the RNA, FTP, the ACCUSD and numerous other local organizations/ institutions. Her hope is for a Natural World Order. She believes that GOD is everything; thus, "everything combined" is GOD. If WE can find a way to come together and work in UNITY, respecting all the elements of the universe, we will see what we imagine GOD to be. (6) Stanley Olatunji Cotton, MSW As Program Director of the Male Action Coalition (MAC), Olatunji Lumumba is dedicated to the constructive development of African American Boys and Men. MAC is a collaborative effort between community volunteers, schools, churches, the business community, consultants and supporters under the direction of the Male Action Coalition’s board of directors. Olatunji is a veteran social service administrator, program developer and social work practitioner in Atlanta, Georgia. Olatunji has worked as a Fatherhood Pathways Coach at the Center for Working Families. He directed the Young Father’s Program at the Whitefoord Community Center and an Africentric After-school Enrichment Program at the Atlanta Area Health Education Center. Olatunji has been the Instructor of the African/African American History Class at the Pan African Orthodox Christian Church (PAOCC), since 2002. And he is the chairperson of the Social Action Committee at PAOCC in Atlanta. (7) Bobby Jackson Bobby Jackson has been involved with the African Community Center almost since its inception. With his wife Aynda, through their non-for-profit organization NSM, Inc., he has worked actively with community youth for well over a decade. He is co-founder of My Way HSC, an African Centered high school in Atlanta's historic West End. In addition to serving as an alternate on the Unity Council, he serves as a member of the ACCUSD Think Tank on Education. He and his wife have four beautiful children who are all involved in the business of nation building. His love of his family and his people keeps Bobby focused on the work of nation-building which is, for him, the only solution for the plight of Africans in the Diaspora. (8) Ras Marvin Ras Marvin earned a Bachelors of Science degree in Mechanical Engineering with a Minor in African History and a Master of Science degree in Industrial Engineering Management from SUNY at Stony Brook, Stony Brook, New York. He has worked as Pre- Calculus/Mathematics Teacher for the Upward Bound Program at Georgia State University, a Mathematics and Science Teacher/Tutor for the Reading to Learn program in Lilburn, Georgia, a Mathematics and Science Teacher for the Roots to Fruits Home School in Stone Mountain, Georgia, a Mathematics/Science Teacher – for the Acorn Community High School in Brooklyn, NY, and as an Independent Math/Science Tutor. He supports students through the Math Hotline: 404-HIP-JAZZ in Atlanta, Georgia. Ras Marvin has also worked as a Nuclear Engineer (Hi Flux Beam Reactor) Brookhaven National Laboratories, Brookhaven, NY, Auto Mechanic/Construction Engineer/Carpenter, Plumber, and Electrician for the Abyssinian Cultural Productions, Atlanta, Georgia. He is the Founder and Chief Engineer of The Collective Black People Movement and the Web Designer for the Collective Black People Movement (CBPM). He is the President Julius Nyerere/CBPM UNIA- ACL Atlanta Division 421. He is a Radio DJ, Outlaw Radeo7 WRFG 89.3 FM, Atlanta, Georgia, Radio (9) Nzhinga Samu El Nzingha Samu El is the Educational Director & Co-Founder of Black Star Educational Institute (a K-12 Independent school in SW Atlanta). Nzingha holds a B.A., B.B.A., and M.S. in Educational Psychology from Georgia State University. She is currently pursuing an ED.D in Educational Leadership and Curriculum Development from Nova Southeastern University. In addition to her formal education, she travels extensively to various international destinations throughout the Diaspora annually, studying our history and using those experiences to add value to the local community. Nzingha uses the lessons she learned from Baba Asa Hilliard, Mama Marimba Ani, her parents, her students, and her close friends to enhance her personal growth, and academic prowess. She is committed to utilizing project- based education to surpass state, national and international standards by allowing the students to express knowledge of what they have learned through their own personal gifts. She believes early exposure to terms, concepts, critical-thinking skills, languages, cultures, and people from our neighborhoods, communities, villages, towns, cities, and countries will give our students the academic tools they need to succeed. “Eight years in the classroom, six schools, and five classes later, I have finally taken a large step in institution building. Black Star Educational Institute (BSEI) is the culmination of my years of diligent educational and community service including classroom instruction, my formal University education, answering the call of my Ancestors, and most of all my community activism. BSEI was born out of the needs of our community, and seeks to find the balance between raising nation builders and maneuvering the educational sector in the U.S. and abroad. Thus, in September of 2009, several students began the first middle school class of BSEI. Developing this institution is one of my most significant accomplishments to date--especially since we expanded to a K-12 institute in 2010. I enjoy watching my students use the tools they are given at Black Star to flourish and rebuild our nation.” (10) Nisa Shabazz Nisa Shabazz comes to us from St. George, South Carolina and currently resides in the West End of Atlanta. She is a community activist who serves as the Lady President of the UNIA. She also serves as the National Lieutenant Commander of the PGRNA. She is the CEO and Founder of Jabari Sekou Entertainment and Industry. She is a Black Image artist in the production stage for two independent black films; one movie and one documentary. Her hope for Africans is that we raise our level of consciousness. <<< Back |