top of page
092023MAAFA167SG.jpg

Reclaming the Village,

Restorying Our Past

The 30th Commemoration of

SPCBC The Return-3.png
IBO RISING Logo Black.png

Reclaiming the Village, Restorying Our Past

September 14 — September 22, 2024

Schedule of Events

14

Saturday, September 14

10:00 AM - Dedication of Our Babies: Welcoming The Spirit Home Ritual

(African attire is requested for those worshipping in-person)

15

Sunday, September 15

8:00 AM -  Worship Service

Rev. Dr. Reginald W. Williams Jr.

Pastor, First Baptist Church of University Park

6:00 PM -  SPCBC MAAFA Dramatic Presentation

The MAAFA Suite...A Healing Journey ®: In Search of Home

Directed by Lakai Worrell

 

(White attire is requested for in-person for all events today

Purchase Tickets Here

Dr. Tony McNeil, Guest Liturgist

Providing musical leadership throughout the week.

16

Monday, September 16

 

8:00 AM - Healing Hut: Ritual work for Communal Healing

Under the Tent

Dr. Willie G-dman

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Interdenominational Theological Center

Rev. Dr. Michael Elam

Priest, St. Paul Community Baptist Church

10:00 AM - Reclamation Mbongi: Something Inside So Strong - Rebuilding Our Village, Reclaiming Our Authenticity

Sanctuary

Mama Dr. Itihari Toure

Fundi, St. Paul Community Baptist Church; Associate Dean of Curriculum and Evaluation, McCormick Theological Seminary

11:30 AM - Listening Chapels: African Meditation Music

​​

12:00 PM - Community Libation Walk: Presentation of the Sankofa MAAFA wreath

Sankofa Park

12:30 PM - Lunch Break

1:30 PM - Restorying Mbongi: Our Medicine for Communal Trauma & Grief: Restorying to Restore Our Souls

Sanctuary

Dr. Kevin Washington (Mwata Kairi)

President, Black Mental Health Matters

Dr. Ifetayo Ojelade

Founder and Executive Director of A Healing Paradigm, LLC

Rev. Dr. Jamie Eaddy-Chism

Theologian, traumatologist, and founder, Thoughtful Transitions

 

Moderator: Dr. Willie G-dman

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Interdenominational Theological Center

3:00 PM - Break Time

3:30 PM - Engagement Mbongi: “Hands On”- Creating Rituals for Family

Sanctuary

Dr. Willie G-dman

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Interdenominational Theological Center

​​

Mama Dr. Itihari Toure

Fundi, St. Paul Community Baptist Church; Associate Dean of Curriculum and Evaluation, McCormick Theological Seminary

7:00 PM - SPCBC MAAFA Dramatic Presentation

Sanctuary

The MAAFA Suite...A Healing Journey ®: In Search of Home

Directed by Lakai Worrell

Purchase Tickets Here

17

Tuesday, September 17

​​

8:00 AM - Healing Hut: Loyalty Crossroads

Under the tent

Dr. Willie Goodman

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Interdenominational Theological Center

10:00 AM - Reclamation Mbongi: Queen Mothers’ Calabash

Sanctuary

Baba Dr. Lawrence Boakye

Senior Lecturer in the Lancaster University Ghana, Politics Philosophy and Religion

Mother Delk

Founding Director of the Center for African American Theological Studies

11:30 AM - Listening Chapels: Audio of Howard Thurman

12:00 PM - Lunch Break

 

1:30 PM - Restorying Mbongi “In the Margins: Re-Futuring Our Education

Sanctuary

Dr. Natasha Thornton

Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, Spelman College

Dr. Chike Akua

Associate professor of Educational Leadership, Clark Atlanta University

 

Moderator: Dr. Ayanna Tilghman​

Associate Director, Division of Enrollment Management and Student Experience, University of Maryland Eastern Shore

3:00 PM - Break Time

3:30 PM - Engagement Mbongi: “Hands On” - Creating Altars

Rehearsal Hall

Min. Carla Gittens

Director of Congregational Care, SPCBC

Min. Yolanda Knight

DMIN Learner, Interdenominational Theological Center

7:00 PM - Hush Harbor for Teachers: Guided conversations for Restorying and Restoration

Sanctuary

 

Dr. Natasha Thornton

Assistant Professor of Elementary Education, Spelman College

Ashley Thomas

Founder, Edustainable Consulting

 

Dr. Chike Akua

Associate Professor of Educational Leadership, Clark Atlanta University

18

Wednesday, September 18

8:30 AM - Healing Hut: Hope At The Crossroads

Under the tent

Dr. Willie G-dman

Associate Professor of Pastoral Care and Counseling, Interdenominational Theological Center

10:00 AM - Reclamation Mbongi

Sanctuary

Cole Arthur Riley

NYT Best-selling author, "This Here Flesh" and "Black Liturgies"

11:00 AM - Listening Chapels: Water Meditations

12:00 PM - Worship Service

Sanctuary

Preacher – Rev. Dr. Earle Fisher

Senior Pastor of Abyssinian Baptist Church, Memphis, TN

1:30 PM - Restorying Mbongi: Ecosystem and Economy of the Broken Calabash

Sanctuary

Jamye Wooten

Founder and CEO, CLLCTIVLY

 

Melvin A. Wilson

Executive Director, Turnaround Tuesday

Orland Bishop

Founder and Director, ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation

 

Moderator: Mr. Matthew W. Williams

Founder, Liberating Leadership

3:00 PM - Break Time

3:30 PM - Engagement Mbongi: “Hands On” Creating Your Own Platform

Rehearsal Hall

Kylan Pew

Restorative Practice Director, Neighborhood Church Atlanta 

Dr. Melva Sampson

Assistant Professor of Preaching and Practical Theology, Wake Forest University School of Divinity​; Founder, Pink Robe Chronicles

7:00 PM - Filmmakers’ Circle: MAAFA Excerpts

Sanctuary

Rev. James Singletary

Family Life Pastor, SPCBC

 

Taurean J. Webb

PhD-Department of African and Black Diaspora Studies DePaul University

 

Leah Ra'Chel Gipson

Associate Professor, School of the Art Institute of Chicago

Lakai Worrell

Award-winning choreographer, director, and filmmaker

Marjorie Clarke

Emmy-nominated and NAACP Image Award-winning Producer

Moderator: Rev. Dr. Porsha Williams Gates

Founder, Porshanality Media

19

Thursday, September 19

8:30 AM - Healing Hut: “Anger” / Fitting In

Under the tent

10:30 AM - Reclamation Mbongi

Sanctuary

Orland Bishop

Founder and Director, ShadeTree Multicultural Foundation

 

11:30 AM - Listening Chapels: Audio of Ella Baker

12:00 PM - Lunch Break

1:30 PM - Restorying Mbongi: Recovery & Healing

Sanctuary

Ashley Ellis

Founder, The Breathe Collective

​​

Ashley Thomas

Founder, Edustainable Consulting

Dr. Daniel Black

Author of Black on Black, Assistant Professor, African
and African American Studies Clark Atlanta University

​​

3:30 PM - Engagement Mbongi: Youth Hour

Rehearsal Hall

Min. Ashley Ellis

Founder, Breathe Collective

7:00 PM - SPCBC MAAFA Dramatic Presentation

Sanctuary

The MAAFA Suite...A Healing Journey ®: In Search of Home

Directed by Lakai Worrell

Purchase Tickets Here

20

Friday, September 20

 

8:30 AM - Healing Hut: Spaces for Intent and Resolve

Under the tent

10:00 AM - Reclamation Mbongi

Sanctuary

Dr. Daniel Black

Author, Assistant Professor of African and African American Studies, Clark Atlanta University; Atlanta, GA

11:30 AM - Listening Chapels: History of Nehemiah Houses and People of St. Paul

 

3:30 PM - Engagement Mbongi: “Hands On” Creating A Sankofa Journey

Rehearsal Hall

Gilbert Bouhaire

Executive Director, GodBox Tours

7:00 PM - SPCBC MAAFA Dramatic Presentation

Sanctuary

The MAAFA Suite...A Healing Journey ®: In Search of Home

Directed by Lakai Worrell

Purchase Tickets Here

21

Saturday, September 21

6:00 AM - Closing Ceremony: Sunrise Seaside Send Off

Rockaway Beach, 94 & 95 Street

Buses will depart St. Paul at 5 AM sharp. Tickets are required for the bus.

Please visit the fiscal office to purchase tickets for the bus or call 718.257.1300 ext. 174. Tickets are $10.

22

Sunday, September 22

8:00 AM - Commissioning Ceremony

Sanctuary

Preacher –  Rev. Dr. Irie Session

Founding Pastor, The Gathering-A Womanist Church, Dallas Texas

The schedule for the 30th commemoration of the Maafa 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.

bottom of page