Umoja (a Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community of educators and learners committed to the academic success, personal growth and self-actualization of Black/African-American students. The Umoja Learning Community seeks to educate the whole student—body, mind and spirit. Informed by an ethic of love and its vital power, Umoja will deliberately engage students as full participants in the construction of knowledge and critical thought. The Umoja Learning Community seeks to help students experience themselves as valuable and worthy of an education.
With emphasis on topics relevant to the African-American experience, the curriculum focuses on improving reading, writing, self-discipline and critical thinking skills. The Umoja Learning Community leaders also provide assistance with the personal issues that often hinder Black/African-American students in an educational setting. The Umoja program is a “family” that cares for each other in the new experience of learning to navigate college and becoming successful professionals.
The mission of the Umoja Learning Community is to retain students at the community college level, assist students in graduating with an Associate’s Degree or certificate, and increase transfer readiness to a four-year college or university.