The Sankofa Youth and Family
Summit, is a leadership development program conducted by the Bowman-Francis
Ministry Project and the Ambassadors of the Word on an annual basis. "Sankofa"
from the West African proverb, "Sewo were fi na wo sankofa a yenki" means it is
not forbidden to go back and claim what you have forgotten." Essentially, it is
the mission of this conference to respond to the educational, psychological, and
spiritual needs of African, African American, and Caribbean American Diaspora.
The Sankofa Summit emphasizes an urban and Africentric approach in addressing
the needs of urban youths and families. The Summit is a valuable spiritual
experience directed to meet the critical skill building needs of youth
ministers, pastors, ministers, Christian educators, teachers, parents, and teen
leaders striving for excellence in their ministry to urban youth. The primary
goal of the Sankofa Youth Summit is to culminate the leadership development
precepts and training objectives rooted in the integrity, communal values, and
cultural enrichment of youth, families, and community throughout the African,
African American and Caribbean American Diaspora.
Recently, the Annual National Sankofa Family Summit
2010 convened youth (ages 8-17), young adults (ages 18-35), and their families
on June 25, 2010 - June 27, 2010 in Queens County of New York. The family summit
encompassed keynote speakers, workshops and a closing liturgical celebration.
Conference Main event and activities occurred on the lavished Queens campus
grounds of St. John's University. The conference theme/motto was "Generations:
Blessed! Called! Qualified!" which endeavored to celebrate and invigorate the
intrinsic charge of youth and their families to rise in action as leaders
aspiring to communal wellness.
Sankofa Family Summit 2010 kicked-off on a spirited
Global Missions Awareness Tour hosted by VIVAT International on Friday, June 25,
2010 between 10 am to 3 pm at the United Nations. "Sankofa 2010" general session
began with a riveting keynote address rendered by Mr. Carrier Solages, devout
community activists, inspiring motivational speaker and long standing advocate
of youth while serving as former Human Rights Commissioner for the Nassau County
Legislature. The AOW Enrichment Institute, a culmination of leadership
development seminars, community empowerment and wellness training activities,
was provided throughout the weekend. Additionally, conference main events were
organized and set to inspire conference participants of all ages in attendance.
Celebrations such as "Kingdom Fest" a gospel festival program on Saturday on
June 26, 2010 and Liturgy on Sunday, June 27, 2010 featured group and solo
performances by holy hip hop artists, gospel rappers, step ministries, local and
visiting youth choirs, vocals, praise dancers, drummers, mimes, and much more.
As leaders and stewards of the Sankofa Summit over
the last thirteen years, we work in agreement, that our Divine Creator never
ceases to amaze. Recalling the journey of the Sankofa Family Summit 2010 in New
York endears one's heart and mind, bearing no exception. First of all, it was
humbling to be in service to all our conference participants including
conference presenters who generously contributed their time, talent, and
treasure towards the synergistic expression of the conference theme
"Generations: Blessed! Called! Qualified!" in their workshops. It was uplifting
to be surrounded by the giftedness and willingness of our conference youth and
young adults, who rendered the mightiest cries of praise and thanksgiving, as
artful witnesses through their music, movement (step and dance), prayer,
dialogue and reflection. It was utterly inspiring to bear witness to the
unforeseen provisions of the Holy Ghost, enabling us all from cities near and
across shores afar including Brooklyn, Queens, Long Island, Camden, Maryland,
DC, St. Louis, and Grenada, to converge into a cohesive conference family.
Affirmatively, not only did Sankofa Summit 2010 conference convene to celebrate
and invigorate the intrinsic charge among youth and family but also forged an
earnest conviction to rise in action as leaders aspiring to communal wellness.
