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Staff listed from left to right:
Chase Liggins, Alvertis Muhammad, Jamar Muhamad, Luther Perry,
Carlos Dukes (in front), Kieth Ferguson (in back), Bruce
Lee, D'Narius Green (in front),
Alton Wilkerson, Mike Muhammad,
Stephen Muhammad, and Johnny Muhammad
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In looking at the history of the
educational system and the challenges it faces in the Dallas
Fort Worth (DFW) area,
it is evident that problems inside and outside the
school environment have had a negative effect on some
students, which has negatively affected their ability to make
good decisions. These conditions make them vulnerable to
ridicule, ostracized by peers and in some cases, causes long
term negative consequences. As a result of these issues, our
society is facing a number of discipline issues that have
negatively impacted students and teachers, not only in the DFW
area, but across our Nation.
The men of UMOJA have provided services
to the DFW school system since 1994. UMOJA has stepped up and
accepted the challenge to provide guidance to young men and
women by offering alternatives for making better decisions and
choices through the school intervention programs they offer
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Organizational History and
Uniqueness
UMOJA was formed in 1994 and during the first year, the focus
and concentration was working with gangs and very distressed
children that could not function in a normal classroom
environment. Now, UMOJA pride itself in working with three
types of children, and these children then forge
relationships:
- Natural Leaders
- Trouble Children
- Children that fall between both of these categories
Through this process, the children get a better
understanding that all children share like experiences and
situations, just on different levels based on religious or
socio-economic conditions.
Organization Experience
UMOJA's experience in dealing with children and young adults
is varied. The members of the organization have vast amounts
of experiences ranging from police officers, advocates,
intervention specialists, ministers, business owners, etc.
UMOJA has many years of experience among its membership
that range from five years to 25 years in working with youth
of all ethnicities.
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Background and Scope
In mid 1994, several African-American men jointly set out to
make a difference in the city of Fort Worth, as well as in the
black communities. They formed a group called UMOJA, which
means UNITY. UMOJA's goals was to take the young boys and
girls in the community and mentor them in order to achieve the
highest quality of education and professional careers. In
addition, teach the boys and girls to become men and women of
good standing in their communities. Since its inception, UMOJA
has become inclusive, promoting their programs to all boys and
girls despite ethnicity.
Personnel
The organization is unique because there are no paid staff
members, with the exception of site directors. UMOJA shares in
the responsibilities and enjoys rehabilitating these children.
UMOJA now has 20 members in the organization. Each site
director has extensive experience working with students that
exhibit behavioral problems.
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