Praxis/Friends of Ashe Prep

                        The Ashé Prep Early Learning Center at Bryant Manor is Open!!!

Ashé Prep Academy is modeling how liberatory education is intergenerational and is truly rooted in and informed by the community.  Our Ashé Preschool at Bryant Manor opened in early November, 2025 and is now welcoming preschoolers, age 2 - 5 years old.  We are so excited! The program is fully licensed and what a joy it is to observe children learning and playing in the brand new classrooms. Most importantly, the environment, the program, the values and the mission of cultivating the genius of Black children shines through the center the minute you walk in the door. What a perfect time to support and boost this program with a donation large or small.

                              Our Open House Captured the Joy and Spirit of Ashé Prep.

A joyous Open House introduced Ashé Prep to many in the community and served as a preview of what is on the horizon.  The Open House got started with welcoming and inspirational words from Executive Director Dr. Debra Sullivan, followed by the set up of hands on, participatory math stations under the direction of Akin Alston.  And then a music, percussion, and dance experience, " Rhythms of the Diaspora" presented by Adefua.

                          The Community Educator Certification Institute is Ongoing

The Ashé Community Educator Certification Institute has celebrated capacity enrollment with cohorts of teachers and future teachers, modeling culturally relevant, community based teaching and learning.  From preschool through to adult learning these initiatives reflect the core principle of "cultivating the genius of Black children."*

                         The Ashé Preparatory Academy K-5 Program at Holgate Church

The Ashé Preparatory Academy K-5 Program at Holgate Church is the first school age iteration of the P-12 school model that centers its educational approach on the needs of Black students, aiming to prepare them for leadership and success in their communities. The school's vision emphasizes that focusing on the education of Black students can lead to liberation for all, showcasing a commitment to equity and justice. Our mission involves cultivating the genius of all individuals by prioritizing the education of Black students and preparing them to excel and serve as leaders. The core values, based on the principles of Kwanzaa, guide the school's culture and decision-making, promoting unity, self-determination, collective work and responsibility, cooperative economics, purpose, creativity, and faith. Through culturally responsive teaching methods, community-focused projects, student leadership development, and regular creative celebrations, Ashé Prep seeks to provide a holistic education that supports academic, non-academic, and social-emotional growth for all students, especially those from marginalized backgrounds.

*  Sullivan, D.R.  2016. Cultivating the Genius of Black Children. St. Paul, MN:  Redleaf Press.

 Ashé Preparatory Academies have made extraordinary strides towards the mission of cultivating the genius of Black Children.  Now more than ever we need your financial support to keep the momentum going.