MAAFA 2025
Schedule of the MAAFA Mbongi (Learning Place)
September 21 - 28, 2025
Reclaiming the Village: Restorying Our Values and Honoring Our Voices
***All experiences except for Day of Discovery are located on St. Paul Community Baptist Church Campus***
Our Healing Hut: Interactive community session of everyday rituals for each aspect of healing.
Reclaiming The Village: Practical and symbolic models of African ways of being
Restorying Values: Collaborative definition statements on social values for communal futures
Specialized Conversations: Organic conversations that emerge from each day’s session
Honoring Our Voices: Community creating shared meaning of what constitutes voices essential to our well being
31
Sunday, August 31
8:00 AM - MAAFA Village Elders Permissioning Service
13
Saturday, September 13
10:00 AM - Bereavement Service of Comfort
20
Saturday, September 20
10:00 AM - Dedication of Our Babies: Welcoming The Spirit Home Ritual
1:00 PM – 5:00 PM - Day of Discovery (Children's MAAFA)
Imagine Me Leadership Charter School | 39 Truxton St, Brooklyn, NY 11233
21
Sunday, September 21
8:00 AM - MAAFA Opening Worship Service
Guest Proclaimer: Rev. Dr. Anika Wilson-Brown
Pastor of Union Temple Baptist Church, Washington DC
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Specialized Conversations
Nurturing Children Worship Grant - Church Grantees Only
Tiauna Webb, Interim Project Director of Nurturing Children & Centering Joy Grant
6:00 PM - MAAFA Suite… A Healing Journey® Dramatic Presentation
22
Monday, September 22
7:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Light & Plant Based Options)
Frank Taylor Hall
8:30 AM - Our Healing Hut
Heritage of Healing Herbs
Conversation Guide: Mr. Stephen Lewis
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Context Setting
Conversation Guide: Dr. Itihari Toure
10:30 - 11:45 AM - Reclaiming the Village
Village Socialization
Conversation Guides: Dr. Daniel Black & Dr. Itihari Toure
12:00 - 1:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Restorying Values
Transcendence
Conversation Guides: Mr. Stephen Lewis & Dr. Mark Armstrong, ND
2:30 - 4:00 PM - Honoring Our Voices
Voice of the Children
Conversation Guides: Elder Willy Legagneur & Dr. Natasha Thornton
4:00 - 4:30 PM - Restorying Moment
Live Creative Restorying
Creative Storytelling with Mr. Michael Wright
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Seminary & Community Class Sessions
McCormick Theological Seminary & Wake Forest School of Divinity: Insurgent Methodologies for Transformative Proclamation
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
Trauma Informed Praxis: Second Year Class for Sacred Memory Learners and Audit Registrants
Instructors: Dr. Marcus Smalls and Dr. Ebony Only
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Specialized Conversations
Sacred Memory Work - Invitation Only
Conversation Guides: Mr. Orland Bishop & Dr. Mark Armstrong, ND
7:00 PM - MAAFA Suite… A Healing Journey® Dramatic Presentation
23
Tuesday, September 23
7:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Light & Plant Based Options)
Frank Taylor Hall
8:30 AM - Our Healing Hut
Heritage of Healing Sounds
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. Willie G-dman
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Context Setting
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley
10:30 - 11:45 AM - Reclaiming the Village
Village Traditions
Conversation Guides: Bro. Mausiki Scales & Chef BJ Dennis
12:00 - 1:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Restorying Values
Cooperative Economics
Conversation Guides: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson & Mr. Jamye Wooten
2:30 - 4:00 PM - Honoring Our Voices
Voice of the Ancestors
Conversation Guides: Elder Julia Hayes & Mr. Orland Bishop
4:00 - 4:30 PM - Restorying Moment
Story Sharing- Storytelling Interviews about MAAFA
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Seminary & Community Class Sessions
McCormick Theological Seminary & Wake Forest School of Divinity: Insurgent Methodologies for Transformative Proclamation
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
Trauma Informed Praxis: Second Year Class for Sacred Memory Learners and Audit Registrants
Instructors: Dr. Marcus Smalls and Dr. Ebony Only
7:00 PM - Hush Harbor for Educators
Educator's Hush Harbor (Open to all individuals working with education) - Family Life Center
Conversation Guides: Dr. Natasha Thornton & Ms. Ashley Thomas
24
Wednesday, September 24
7:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Light & Plant Based Options)
Frank Taylor Hall
8:30 AM - Our Healing Hut
Heritage of Speech
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. Willie G-dman
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Context Setting
Conversation Guide: Dr. Itihari Toure
10:30 - 11:45 AM - The Village "Clearing"
Full community creation of the liberated spaces of our ancestors through choral singing, bodies moving and word proclaiming.
Clearing Guides: Rev. Dr. William Lamar IV, Min. Joshuah Campbell, Mr. Michael Wright & Dr. Chelsey Green
12:00 - 1:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Restorying Values
Self-Determination
Conversation Guides: Atty Mawuli Davis, JD & Mr. Darrick Young
2:30 - 4:00 PM - Honoring Our Voices
Voice of Adults
Conversation Guides: Elder Zandra Brockman & Dr. Kylan Pew
4:00 - 4:30 PM - Restorying Moment
Story Sharing- Storytelling Interviews about MAAFA
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Seminary & Community Class Sessions
McCormick Theological Seminary & Wake Forest School of Divinity: Insurgent Methodologies for Transformative Proclamation
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
Trauma Informed Praxis: Second Year Class for Sacred Memory Learners and Audit Registrants
Instructors: Dr. Marcus Smalls and Dr. Ebony Only
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Specialized Conversations
What is the Flow of Balanced Living for the Village?
Conversation Guides: Rev. Hodari Williams & Ms. Ashley Thomas
7:00 PM - The Ubuntu Experience
25
Thursday, September 25
7:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Light & Plant Based Options)
Frank Taylor Hall
8:30 AM - Our Healing Hut
Heritage of Smells
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. Willie G-dman
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Context Setting
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley
10:30 - 11:45 AM - Reclaiming the Village
Village Problem Solving
Conversation Guides: Mr. Matthew Williams & Elder Gloria Miller
12:00 - 1:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Restorying Values
Love
Conversation Guides: Dr. Anthony Bennett & Mrs. Donna Bennett
2:30 - 4:00 PM - Honoring Our Voices
Voice of Experience
Conversation Guides: Elder Sheila Bennett & Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
4:00 - 4:30 PM - Restorying Moment
Story Sharing- Storytelling Interviews about MAAFA
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Seminary & Community Class Sessions
McCormick Theological Seminary & Wake Forest School of Divinity: Insurgent Methodologies for Transformative Proclamation
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
Trauma Informed Praxis: Second Year Class for Sacred Memory Learners and Audit Registrants
Instructors: Dr. Marcus Smalls and Dr. Ebony Only
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Specialized Conversations
Clergy Circle: What Does It Mean to be a Sacred Memory Church/Proclamation - Open
Conversation Guide: Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley
7:00 PM - MAAFA Suite… A Healing Journey® Dramatic Presentation
26
Friday, September 26
7:30 - 9:00 AM - Breakfast (Light & Plant Based Options)
Frank Taylor Hall
8:30 AM - Our Healing Hut
Heritage of Sharing- Conclave of Elders
Conversation Guides: Earth Conclave
10:00 - 10:30 AM - Context Setting
Conversation Guide: Dr. Itihari Toure
10:30 - 11:45 AM - Reclaiming the Village
Village Celebrations
Conversation Guides: Rev. Ronnie Galvin, Jr. & Dr. Yanique Redwood
12:00 - 1:00 PM - LUNCH
1:00 - 2:30 PM - Restorying Values
Creativity
Conversation Guides: Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley & Rev. Dr. Maisha Handy
2:30 - 4:00 PM - Honoring Our Voices
Voice of Spirit
Conversation Guides: Elder Cherise Booker & Rev. Dionne Boisserie
4:00 - 4:30 PM - Restorying Moment
Creative Ms. Natasha Fray
4:00 - 5:30 PM - Seminary & Community Class Sessions
McCormick Theological Seminary & Wake Forest School of Divinity: Insurgent Methodologies for Transformative Proclamation
Instructor: Rev. Dr. Melva Sampson
Trauma Informed Praxis: Second Year Class for Sacred Memory Learners and Audit Registrants
Instructors: Dr. Marcus Smalls and Dr. Ebony Only
7:00 PM - MAAFA Suite… A Healing Journey® Dramatic Presentation
27
Saturday, September 27
6:00 AM - Sunrise Worship At Oceanside
Proclaimer: Rev. Dr. David K. Brawley
28
Sunday, September 28
8:00 AM & 11:00 AM - MAAFA Closing Worship Service
Guest Proclaimr: Rev. Dr. Maisha I. Handy
Pastor of Rize Community Church, Atlanta, GA
The schedule for the 2025 Maafa Mbongi is subject to change. We encourage you to check back regularly for the most up-to-date information. Thank you for your understanding and flexibility.
Guest Proclaimers
Listed in order of appearance on the above schedule
Conversation Guides
Listed in order of appearance on the above schedule
Instructors
Listed in order of appearance on the above schedule
