As systemic inequities and policy rollbacks—like the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education—threaten access to quality learning, this panel centers real, actionable solutions created by Black educators.
Deliberate efforts to erase the histories of people of African descent from curricula, increases the urgency to reclaim and redesign education.
Grounded in human rights and community-driven innovation, panelists will share models already in practice.
This is more than discussion—it’s a call to take education into our own hands while demanding just policy from governments.
We warmly welcome contributions and practices from global educators of African descent for future collaboration on volunteer-driven, grassroots, or not-for-profit initiatives. We do not charge for participation in our events, and we have no intention of contacting you to sell any service. Our sole purpose in reaching out is to collaborate on meaningful, community-centered volunteer efforts.
Dr. Kristen Guillory, PhD Educator, Author, Speaker and Coach Seen in Forbes and on NBC, Fox and CBS
T.J. Whitiker Educator, Founder MapSo Freedom School Honored by NJ Education Asssociation
Iman Cassells Alleyne Educator, Founder The Kind Academy Seen in Forbes and the New York Times
Leah E. Jackson, NCC, LAC - Moderator Educator, Author, Counselor Elysium Outreach Honored Advisor, Newark Fellow
When: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 6:00pm est hosted by Athletes United for Peace, Ngaage - Impact Technology and Elysium Outreach and Connections
The event will be recorded and shared with all attendees as a resource for approaches, tools, and techniques to help educate our students. A writeup will also be shared with thePermanent Forum on People of African Descent
CONCEPT Education Essentials for Youth of African Descent Format:Panel Over Zoom Language: English
What: This virtual program will focus on reimagining education through a curriculum created by Black educators, designed specifically to meet the needs of children and young adults of African descent. It will explore educational frameworks that prioritize cultural relevance, equity, and empowerment. Importantly, this panel centers on existing solutions—not just the identification of problems. Panelists will highlight real-world models such as the Kind Academy and MapSp Freedom School showcasing approaches that are already being successfully implemented and can be replicated in Black communities around the world. This makes the session uniquely action-oriented and impactful.
Why: The education of children of African descent continues to confront significant inequities—including disparities in access to quality education, funding, and opportunity—which contribute to lower academic outcomes and higher rates of suspension and expulsion. These gaps are not incidental; they are systemic. As the report Miles to Go: The State of Education for Black Students in America notes, “These opportunity gaps—often systemic and rooted in both historical and contemporary inequities—deny numerous Black students (and others) the full opportunities to learn and thrive.” To counter rising segregation in early childhood and K–12 education, policymakers must revisit the laws and frameworks that have driven nearly half of Black and Hispanic preschoolers into racially isolated settings and resegregated K–12 systems to levels not seen since the 1960s. Similarly, at the postsecondary level, we must address the forces that continue to constrain access and representation for Black students outside HBCUs.
This year’s Permanent Forum will focus on a human rights approach to policy, recognizing education as an essential tool in the fight against systemic racism. As stated in the Durban Declaration: “We recognize that education at all levels and all ages, including within the family, in particular human rights education, is a key to changing attitudes and behavior based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies; we further affirm that such education is a determining factor in the promotion, dissemination and protection of the democratic values of justice and equity.” (Durban Declaration, p. 36) Grounded in this international framework, the panel will offer attendees a “toolkit” of actionable solutions and policy models designed to disrupt discriminatory practices and promote justice-based education. Through the lens of lived experience and proven practice, panelists will equip educators, families, and policymakers with real tools that can be implemented immediately in schools and communities.
As systemic inequities and policy rollbacks—like the elimination of the U.S. Department of Education—threaten access to quality learning, this panel centers real, actionable solutions created by Black educators.
Deliberate efforts to erase the histories of people of African descent from curricula, increases the urgency to reclaim and redesign education.
Grounded in human rights and community-driven innovation, panelists will share models already in practice.
This is more than discussion—it’s a call to take education into our own hands while demanding just policy from governments.
We warmly welcome contributions and practices from global educators of African descent for future collaboration on volunteer-driven, grassroots, or not-for-profit initiatives. We do not charge for participation in our events, and we have no intention of contacting you to sell any service. Our sole purpose in reaching out is to collaborate on meaningful, community-centered volunteer efforts.
Dr. Kristen Guillory, PhD
Educator, Author, Speaker and Coach
Seen in Forbes and on NBC, Fox and CBS
T.J. Whitiker
Educator, Founder MapSo Freedom School
Honored by NJ Education Asssociation
Iman Cassells Alleyne
Educator, Founder The Kind Academy
Seen in Forbes and the New York Times
Leah E. Jackson, NCC, LAC - Moderator
Educator, Author, Counselor Elysium Outreach
Honored Advisor, Newark Fellow
When: Tuesday, April 15, 2025 6:00pm est hosted by Athletes United for Peace, Ngaage - Impact Technology and Elysium Outreach and Connections
Register Here https://us02web.zoom.us/meeting/register/tdJA8syFRnSVQQPkYNoC8w
Those attending the Fourth Session of the Permanent Forum can also find the event listed here https://ohchrfourthsessionoftheperm.sched.com/
The event will be recorded and shared with all attendees as a resource for approaches, tools, and techniques to help educate our students.
A writeup will also be shared with the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
For more information contact Barbara Horne - athletesunitedforpeace@gmail.com
Athletes United for Peace is an NGO in Consultative Status with the UN ECOSOC
"Education Essentials for Youth of African Descent" is a side event to the Fourth session of the Permanent Forum on People of African Descent
CONCEPT
Education Essentials for Youth of African Descent
Format:Panel Over Zoom
Language: English
What: This virtual program will focus on reimagining education through a curriculum created by Black educators, designed specifically to meet the needs of children and young adults of African descent. It will explore educational frameworks that prioritize cultural relevance, equity, and empowerment. Importantly, this panel centers on existing solutions—not just the identification of problems. Panelists will highlight real-world models such as the Kind Academy and MapSp Freedom School showcasing approaches that are already being successfully implemented and can be replicated in Black communities around the world. This makes the session uniquely action-oriented and impactful.
Why: The education of children of African descent continues to confront significant inequities—including disparities in access to quality education, funding, and opportunity—which contribute to lower academic outcomes and higher rates of suspension and expulsion. These gaps are not incidental; they are systemic. As the report Miles to Go: The State of Education for Black Students in America notes, “These opportunity gaps—often systemic and rooted in both historical and contemporary inequities—deny numerous Black students (and others) the full opportunities to learn and thrive.” To counter rising segregation in early childhood and K–12 education, policymakers must revisit the laws and frameworks that have driven nearly half of Black and Hispanic preschoolers into racially isolated settings and resegregated K–12 systems to levels not seen since the 1960s. Similarly, at the postsecondary level, we must address the forces that continue to constrain access and representation for Black students outside HBCUs.
This year’s Permanent Forum will focus on a human rights approach to policy, recognizing education as an essential tool in the fight against systemic racism.
As stated in the Durban Declaration: “We recognize that education at all levels and all ages, including within the family, in particular human rights education, is a key to changing attitudes and behavior based on racism, racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance and to promoting tolerance and respect for diversity in societies; we further affirm that such education is a determining factor in the promotion, dissemination and protection of the democratic values of justice and equity.” (Durban Declaration, p. 36) Grounded in this international framework, the panel will offer attendees a “toolkit” of actionable solutions and policy models designed to disrupt discriminatory practices and promote justice-based education. Through the lens of lived experience and proven practice, panelists will equip educators, families, and policymakers with real tools that can be implemented immediately in schools and communities.
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