Literacy Rally

Iya (Bashea Jenkins-Imana) is an Award-winning educator and entertainer. She has inspired, educated, and empowered thousands of young people for over 25 years. Iya is the founder of Kuumba Kids, an innovative developer and provider of culturally affirming and relevant early childhood educational programs, curriculum, and materials. Iya's energetic, enthusiastic, and motivating personality captivates young people of all ages. As a Master Educator and teaching artist, Iya creates academic curriculums and provides educational enrichment programs, professional development, in-school residencies, and performances throughout the country. Her work has been featured in local and national newspapers, magazines, television, and radio. Her first educational CD, “Ooh Kuumba!” has sales worldwide. Iya started as a professional vocalist, musician, and radio personality. She later made a career change to education and taught music and specialized reading programs. She served as a mentor for new teachers, assistant-director of the Prince George’s County Southern Honors Chorus, and cultural arts director & coordinator for several summer camps in the DC metropolitan area. Iya has been recognized by her educational peers as one of the best teachers in the country. Iya also served as a Master Educator for DC Public Schools. As a Master Educator, Iya worked to ensure that highly effective teachers were in every classroom. Today through Kuumba Kids, she trains teachers, childcare providers, and parents on making children’s educational experiences culturally relevant and affirming and using the arts to teach core academic content. In 2013, Bashea was a recipient of Prince George's County's Top Forty UNDER 40 award for her outstanding work in education.

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www.kuumbakids.com

Dr. Rachel Edoho-Eket (Ed-oh-eck-it) is a wife, mother, principal, author, and speaker. Her journey in public education spans eighteen years, during which she has served as a classroom teacher, instructional team leader, mentor teacher, assistant principal, and principal. Her school was recently named the 2024 #1 ranked public elementary school in central Maryland.

Dr. Edoho-Eket is the author of "The Principal's Journey: Navigating the Path to School Leadership" which provides a practical blueprint for aspiring and current school leaders as they transition to higher leadership roles. The Principal's Journey reached #3 on the Amazon best seller's list in Educational Leadership! Her newest book, "The Principal Pals: Bright Minds, Big Dreams" is a children's book that encourages children to explore leadership and ways to make a positive difference. Its companion book, "The Principal's Pals Activity Booklet" is an educational workbook that includes writing activities, word searches, comprehension questions, coloring pages, and more for children ages 5-11.

Dr. Edoho-Eket holds a B.S. in Early Childhood and Elementary Education from Temple University, a M.S. in Curriculum and Instruction from McDaniel College, and a Doctorate in Leadership and Professional Practice from Trevecca Nazarene University.

Please connect with Rachel at www.racheledohoeket.com

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Industrial Bank was established in 1934 with a mission to promote financial and economic empowerment to diverse communities. We are fully committed to the Community Reinvestment Act (CRA) and offer free development services such as: financial, homeownership, and entrepreneur literacy. We have standardized our own financial literacy curriculum that is used in many different venues to empower and educate youths, adults and seniors in securing financial success.

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www.industrial-bank.com

Everything Legendary, founded by Duane “Myko” Cheers and Danita Claytor, is leading the flavor revolution with a line of healthy, plant-based ground and burger patties. Inspired by Mom, created by a chef, and taste-tested by the community, Everything Legendary is a black-owned company that goes above and beyond the impossible to deliver food with legendary flavor and superior quality. Everything Legendary can be found at retailers nationwide, in restaurants and on our website. For recipes, tutorials, product information and more, visit golegendary.com. 

Kristian is a dedicated daughter, sister, friend and primary elementary school teacher. Since high school she has gained her educational background in Child Development and Early Education. She has received her Bachelor of Science at Bowie State University in Child and Adolescent Studies. This new endeavor was an organic process. During the beginning of the pandemic, it allowed Kristian to think of new ways to express her passion for children and how to impact them physically while intellectually. Covid-19 has graced her in a disruptive way to write her first children’s book. It is her exertion to show children how to cope and thrive in the new environment Covid-19 has created for us all.

Melissa Munro Boyd, is a wife, mother of 3, Clinical Psychologist, and officer in the United States Army. Dr. Boyd has spent much of her clinical career treating service members with behavioral health disorders, to include PTSD. Prior to the military, Dr. Boyd worked with children in the Philadelphia School District. She is a proud graduate of Hampton University in Virginia where she earned her Bachelors in Psychology. Upon graduation, she attended La Salle University where she obtained her Master’s and Doctorate in Clinical Psychology. Through it all, God and her family have been a constant source of strength and motivation.

Born in the Dominican Republic, daughter of educators, she was a precocious girl who at age 6 showed her love for teaching by writing her first poems. She is author of 8 books and mother of 4 children. Her first child, Dostyn Manuel, was a special child, who helped her understand the true meaning of unconditional love, which made her see the world in a totally different way.

Sagrario has a Bachelor’s degree in marketing and business administration, and upon arriving in the United States she founded El Poder de Ser Mujer (The Power of Being a Woman), an organization dedicated to helping Latina immigrants in the DC area reach their full potential.

El Poder de Ser Mujer has helped thousands of Latino immigrants access community resources, learn practical skills in business development and finance, and build self-esteem and a sense of community. El Poder de Ser Mujer was named Organization of the Year 2015 by the Maryland Hispanic Chamber of Commerce.

The impact of Sagrario’s work in the United States earned her important recognitions including the following:

Named one of the 100 most influential people in the Washington DC metropolitan area, by The Power Meter, Tiempo Latino

Selected as one of Telemundo Washington DC’s Achievers for going above and beyond to educate, empower and lead the Hispanic community in Virginia, Maryland and Washington DC.

Woman of Courage Award 2016 granted by the honorable Latino Democratic Club of Montgomery County.

Recognized by the 2015 Maryland Assembly for Work in Empowerment of Latina Women, granted by State Delegate Marice Morales.

Recognized for supporting business development in Montgomery County by the Honorable Councilor David Albornoz 2019.

Recognized by the Dominican Commissioner of Culture in the United States for supporting women so that they can recognize their power and the transcendent value of literature.

Elpoderdesermujer.org

More than four decades ago, Chelsea School became the first high school in the Washington, DC area specifically designed to serve the unique needs of students with learning differences. In May of 1976, founders Betty Nehemias and Eleanor Worthy, two parents of children with dyslexia, began a legacy of inspiring talented young people to meet their learning challenges head on and achieve success in college and beyond.

From the very beginning, Chelsea School’s focus was on providing a skill-based curriculum to students organized in small homogeneous groups based on reading level. The teaching methods that were established were individualized and multi-sensory and included intensive reading intervention based on the most current research and findings. As the school’s reputation grew in

the 70’s and 80’s, families throughout the Washington, DC area began to look to Chelsea School to help their children struggling with learning disabilities.

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By 1989, the school made a major evolutionary shift in its focus by admitting publicly-funded students from Washington, DC, Virginia, and Maryland. Chelsea School had always been dedicated to those students who were not adequately served; however, now admittance to the

program could be extended to students who would not have had the economic means otherwise.

Chelsea School’s program model of educating children with learning disabilities was expanded to include children who would not have had the economic means to attend a school that met their individual needs.

Since its founding in 1976, our school has been through many changes, and has changed the lives of hundreds of students. Throughout, Chelsea’s mission and guiding values remain unchanged.

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Our commitment to small classes, individualized multi-sensory instruction, explicit direction and

assessment, and intensive reading intervention based on current research is as strong now as it

was then.

Chelsea School continues this vision today. Currently, around 90% of our students are funded by

their public school jurisdictions. Our world-class staff of educators is working on the cutting edge of special education research and methodology. The commitment to small classes, individualized multi-sensory instruction, explicit direction and assessment, and intensive reading intervention based on current research is as strong as it was over 45 years ago.

Dela Kissi is a textile artist and co-owner of Delkis Collections. Growing up in Ghana where she was born, she was always intrigued by the process of fabric production. She pursued her education and obtained a Bachelor of Arts (B.A) in Industrial Arts with specialization in Textile Design. Dela is influenced by the vibrant African culture and nature. She also believes that it is important to wear clothes that tell a story or even start a conversation. She incorporates abstract designs, Ghana Adinkra symbols and mask in screen printing and painting on clothes. Delkis designs are one of a kind birthed by Dela, thus making them unique. Delkis Collections currently has employed a team of workers in the US and Ghana to accommodate the growing demands by the help of her wonderful parents. 

DelkisCollections.com

Sabrina Cotton is a wife, mother, artist, clinical social worker, and officer in the United States Air Force. Growing up on the south side of Chicago, Illinois, Sabrina witnessed the impact of violence, addiction, and poverty on families-including her own. Those experiences inspired her pursuit of a career in mental health. Her passion for mental health, community work, and children inspired her to write a children's book series. The main character is named

after her son, Jelani Jason, whose name means "powerful healer." She hopes the series will educate and empower children to seek help for their invisible

wounds.

www.jelanij.com

Derrick Jakolby Washington is an innovative, insightful, and ambitious leader with over 16 years of local government, higher education and nonprofit leadership experience. He considers himself to be a, “people builder,” aiming to empower others with the skills needed to improve their quality of life and be successful. As an accomplished author, Washington has captivated young readers with his thought-provoking and inspiring children's books. His commitment to making a positive impact on children's lives is evident in his works, which are filled with messages of hope, inclusion, empowerment and self-worth. In his inaugural book, "Son, You Matter," Washington takes readers on a journey of self-discovery and self-acceptance.

derrickjakolbywashington.com

At only eight years old, Thembani Mnyandu is a first time author and presenter. Her book, Sindi is the perfect mix of her three passions: classic fairy tales, her Zulu culture and of course princess dresses! While reading one day she thought aloud, "Hey! Wouldn't it be cool if there was a Zulu version of Cinderella?"...That was the beginning of ‘Sindi’ Thembani lives in Maryland, USA with her parents and three siblings.

SindiCinderella.com