Emancipation Day (Day 1)

Key Activities

• Setup & Arrival: Warm, welcoming environment with small group seating, sign-in for accountability, and treats to set a positive tone.

• Welcome & Recap: Mrs. Shade encouraged consistency and commitment. Youth introduced themselves, then shared lessons from past sessions on topics like money management and skilled trades. This reinforced growth in communication, confidence, and learning.

• Emancipation Day Session

  • Mr. Hamid explained the meaning of Emancipation Day and highlighted African heroes Harriet Tubman, Josiah Henson, and William Still, inspiring youth with lessons of courage and leadership.

  • African Cooking Challenge: Youth split into three groups:

    • Group A prepared African fried rice.

    • Group B cooked Jollof rice (voted best dish).

    • Group C made oven-baked chicken.
      The activity fostered teamwork, creativity, cultural pride, and joy.

  • Fun game “Don’t Touch the Color” kept the energy lively while food cooked.

  • Shared meal brought unity, pride, and celebration.

Final Reflections

Day 10 was vibrant, engaging, and empowering, blending history, culture, and hands-on teamwork. Youth deepened their understanding of resilience and freedom, built stronger bonds, and celebrated African heritage. The day emphasized that emancipation is not only about the past, but also about shaping a better future with courage, collaboration, and pride.