Sankofa, a word from the Twi language of Ghana, translates to “go back and get it.” It is often depicted by a bird with its body facing forward and its head turned back, holding a precious egg. This and other Sankofa symbols remind us of the importance of learning from the past.
Now is a critical time when opportunities for open-minded consideration and civil discussion of hard truths about our nation’s history are being threatened. Please consider making a donation to help the Collaborative continue to support these foundations of our democracy. Donations may be made by check made out to Trent House Association, the Collaborative’s fiscal agent, or via PayPal by clicking here or on the button below.
Sankofa Collaborative celebrates five years of programming and resource sharing! Our story is outlined briefly below. You can also click here to learn more about how our initiative began, and about the many community members to came together to make it happen.
In 2017, five New Jersey organizations – 1804 Consultants, Grounds For Sculpture, The New Jersey Historical Society, Stoutsburg Sourland African American Museum, and the William Trent House Museum – formed the Sankofa Collaborative. Its purpose is to help individuals in schools, museums and libraries present, interpret, and discuss African American history.
The Collaborative’s 2017 workshops drew capacity audiences, who later expressed the need and desire for more in-depth examination of African American history. They also asked us to find a way to share information and ideas beyond the workshops.
Since 2017, the Collaborative has presented seven workshops, generously supported by grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities and the New Jersey Historical Commission. Funding from additional sources has been received toward our 2021 panel series, “Health as a Civil Right.”
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We hope you will continue to visit our website frequently, where we update information about upcoming events, recent news and relevant publications, as well as resources for educators and others who share our vision: That all residents of New Jersey know, acknowledge, and appreciate the critical role and contributions of African Americans to the history, development, and current affairs in our State.
Our mission is to build the capacity of individuals, groups, and organizations to learn about, present, and discuss the complex and difficult issues in the history and current experiences of African American citizens of New Jersey.
Sankofa Collaborative’s work has been made possible by generous grants from the New Jersey Council for the Humanities, New Jersey Historical Commission, Robert Wood Johnson Foundation, and Patient First.
