Àbulę Community Meeting
Join our educators worldwide for an important community gathering where we’ll discuss our mission, share updates, and connect as a global educational family
Time Until Meeting
Meeting Agenda Preview
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9:00 AMWelcome & Introductions Board members and teachers will briefly introduce themselves
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9:15 AMProgram Updates Get a preview of what’s coming this school year—new classes, projects, and goals
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9:30 AMCommunity and Culture Explore the values that make this a powerful space for students and educators
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9:45 AMAccess & Affordability Discover how we’re expanding access through tuition assistance, ESA funds, scholarships, and free enrollment for children of teachers and volunteers
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10:00 AMOpen Q&A & Closing Reflections Community discussion, questions, and thoughtful closing
📋 Important Meeting Guidelines
To ensure a smooth and professional experience for all participants, please review these essential requirements:
Introduction Order
Teachers will introduce themselves in the following order during our community meeting. Each introduction should be 20-30 seconds.
📝 Introduction Format
Share: Your name, where you’re from, current location (if different), educational background, and subjects you teach.
Introduction Order
Randomized sequence for teacher introductions
📢 Important Note
Some teachers, especially those teaching elective courses, may not be introducing themselves to help manage our meeting time. The order above is randomized.
Meet Our Board Members
Here are two board members you’ll meet and hear from during the community meeting
Halim Nix
Board Member & Infrastructure Development
What He Brings to Àbulę:
- Educational program volunteer & youth mentorship
- Project management & infrastructure planning expertise
- Community engagement & inclusive dialogue leadership
- Father and grandfather with multigenerational perspective
- Religious studies background fostering cultural understanding
Dawn
Board Member & Academic Excellence
What She Brings to Àbulę:
- Former HBCU Professor with Arts education expertise
- Pan-African studies & global educational perspective
- Academic research & creative writing experience
- Humanitarian work and international living insights
- Mother and grandmother bringing family-centered wisdom
Get to Know Your Community Director
A little better…
Sam Jackson
Community Director & Founder
Black American & Native American (Lakota Sioux)
🌟 My Story
At 30 years old, I’ve been on quite a journey. When I was just 17, turning 18, life threw me a curveball that became my greatest blessing—I began raising my uncle’s son, Zak, from when he was just one week old. He’s been my world ever since, and watching him grow has taught me more about love, responsibility, and resilience than any textbook ever could.
I’m a Black American, descendant of slavery—not African, though African blood certainly runs through my veins. Many people assume otherwise, but my roots are deeply planted in American soil, with branches reaching back to my Lakota Sioux heritage as well.
I was raised as a Muslim my entire life, though many of my extended family are non-Muslim. I believe deeply in co-existence and the beauty that comes from different faiths and perspectives coming together.
📚 My Passions
I love reading, I own about 750 books. Mostly nonfiction, but I have a soft spot for classical literature and I’m a huge Stephen King fan. In addition to reading, I enjoy cooking…soul food fried chicken, macaroni and cheese, cornbread….and jollof, egusi soup, I make pasta and pizza from scratch, I cook a lot of butter tofu and tikka masala. I love to cook and host and serve others. I also enjoy baking, sewing, art, just about anything that allows me to be creative.
🎨 A Few of My Pieces
📖 Books That Shaped Me
💡 Why Àbulę Exists
As a former school teacher, I left the Western educational system behind because I believe we should be teaching ALL children—Black, Brown, White, Asian—about the lasting impact of colonization and neocolonialism. Education should empower students to change the world with their voice and actions, not just prepare them for a 9-to-5 cubicle life.
I believe deeply that as educators, we hold the power to light a lot of sparks! Àbulę is my way of doing just that—it’s my daydream made real, born out of love for education and justice.
🌍 My Daily Reality
You might wonder why I sometimes seem busy or inaccessible—by day, I’m actually a brand strategist running a secondary business. Àbulę, this beautiful nonprofit, is what I do out of pure love and conviction. It’s the work that feeds my soul.
🎯 Random Facts About Me
I appreciate all of you SO much for joining Àbulę. Thank you for believing in the power of education to change the world! 💙
🇵🇸 Free Palestine. 🇨🇩 Free Congo. 🇸🇩 Free Sudan. Free all occupied lands. Power to Burkina Faso & Long Live Ibrahim Traoré 🇧🇫