The 2010 Delegation commenced with Professor Marcia Tate Arunga, conferring Certificates of Honorary Doctorate Degree in Cultural Reconnection upon Drs. Julia Amayo, Dawn Mason and Damaris Ayodo in 2009. This is a milestone for the Institute for Cultural Reconnection. The certificates are signed by Dr. Maxine Mimms. Dr. Mimms, a founding faculty of the Institute and has traveled with the Delegations since 2004. She told the honorees and those in attendance at the ceremony, "Critical to the work of Cultural Reconnection is the ingenuity of the participants. The self discovery of our collective genius" Background The Institute for Cultural Reconnection is the research, education, documentation and creative expression that supports the work of Cultural Reconnection. It is the only Institute that specializes in participatory action and research inquiry to move people from cultural disconnection to reconnection. Our research and implementation of programs for cultural reconnection spans 27 years of longitudinal inquiry research, documentation. Our programs associated with the Reconnection of African American Women to Kenya has seen 74 delegates of African Ancestry and several hundred Kenyan women engaged in collective action and collaboration. Since 2006, we have expanded cultural reconnection to Ethiopia. Delegates are learning through inquiry and participation that provides a perspective of how humans move from cultural disconnection to cultural reconnection and its impact on human development and socialization in global society. Applied principles of Cultural Reconnection to become more effective leaders and recognize their own power in developing community and participating in global development. CR Art Collective Creative expression is key to all cultures and has been especially evident for Africans on the continent and those living in the Diaspora. The Institute for Cultural Reconnection is the creative outcome of Cultural Reconnection. Within The Institute is the Art Collective which supports creative works of participants and their families on both continents. We see all humans as artistic and creative we teach and support freedom of creativity from the natural genius in all artistic mediums including; writing, spoken word, photography, video, vocal, instrumental, design, journaling. Faculty and Site Based Learning Our faculty is made up of educators and culture custodian practitioners in USA and Kenya. They have matriculated and earned degrees, and taught at some of the best colleges and universities among them, The Evergreen State College, Union Graduate School, Antioch University Seattle, Seattle University, University of Nairobi, Andrews University, Pacific Oaks College Praxis Institute for Early Chilhood Education. Our collective degrees, research and experiences in education, creative expression, technology, elected office, medicine, community and human capacity building brings excellence to our curriculum and application for site based coordinated studies is from a base of the infusion of culture in the context of human and group dynamics. Our site based, interdisciplinary studies allows participants to learn in environments conducive to creativity and mutual exchange. This includes Our Kenyan faculty associated with Susan Academy in Kendu Bay, they teach on issues of gender self sufficiency, water acquisition, reporting systems, HIV/AIDS and stigma counseling, and resource mobilization are among the many topics of training for women and caregivers.    |
