Why Black Dollars Matter in Pittsburgh & Beyond...

http://newpittsburghcourieronline.com/2016/04/28/black-dollars-matter-initiative-to-provide-economic-awareness-through-doc

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Allow Me to Re-Introduce Myself in The Soul Pitt Article....

“Sankofa is how I show homage to the ancestors; Sankofa is how I take responsibility in strengthening the community; I have learned to take the spirit of Sankofa in all that I do.” — Nazura Asaseyeduru

A participant in marches, rallies and protests since 2004, Nazura Asaseyeduru is living out her life purpose as a social worker focusing on community organizing.  “I love uniting our people and bringing a sense of urgency to community work.”  Asaseyeduru explains, “The community constantly needs improved; it will take all of us to contribute, contributions such as serving disadvantaged people with food and clothes on the corner of Frankstown and N. Homewood Avenue; marching down the street not for a cause but to celebrate the legacy of Black people living in Pittsburgh; I am fulfilled by serving the community in this capacity.” 
“We, Black people, have to know that we can change the communities we live in by first being critical enough to know that the community needs to change and we must unite to save ourselves.  It’s crucial for Black people to become critical thinkers; to think critically and question everything about the world and our role in this world.  These political/cultural think-tanks inspire me to continue to do this work.  My goal is to continue to unite Black people and to bring us together despite our shortcomings, of not getting along, territorial riffs, spiritual warfare, to mend divisions that keep us separated as a people, to stop Black on Black violence, police brutality, and to address the education crisis, gentrification, etc.  We can’t address these issues because we’re not united, we are actually working against ourselves to our own detriment and our communities’ demise.”

Asaseyeduru made her decision to serve the community after organizing a bus trip to Washington, D.C. to celebrate African Liberation Day.  “We usually celebrate African Liberation Day at Freedom Corner in the Hill District, but on May 28, 2005, we did something different, a bus load of people and a caravan of folks went to D.C.  We embarked on Malcom X Park near Howard University to join Sankofa Community Empowerment Inc., AARP (All African Revolutionary Party), RTAC (Revolutionary Theory Action Collective), and various other Pan African organizations.  That experience impelled me to give back to the community and use my gift, skills and talents to assure the community as a whole be improved and bettered by my decision of becoming a community organizer.”  Indeed Asaseyeduru is fulfilling her purpose.  Jeanine and Gerald Ferguson of Seshemet Community Council and Asaseyeduru organized a cultural event at the Greater Pittsburgh Coliseum that featured Umar Johnson (Hidden Colors) which resulted in the start of a Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Independent Black Parents Association.  Over 500 people showed up for this Unity in the Community Day event.  “Pittsburgh has never seen that kind of power packed lecture before, let alone for a culturally conscious event.  The event united a lot of people, young and old, conscious and unconscious.  Pittsburgh looked twice the size of a bigger metropolitan area and it showed that people are hungry and eager to learn.”

Asaseyeduru’s preference is to serve all Black or diverse communities, “The majority of Black communities are under-served, underprivileged, disadvantaged and impoverished, we always need more people that are willing and capable of giving back and taking responsibility for the conditions in our communities.  There’s an African proverb ‘when the spider webs unite they can tie up a lion’; the goal is always to unite our people so we effectively work together to solve issues, we can’t afford to work separately and independently.  If I bring one more person into the cultural conscious community that’s one less person who is contributing to the madness of Black on Black violence, hating on other Black women, watching horrible reality shows, and contributing towards self-hate.”

Humbly Asaseyeduru states she is grateful to have great people around her that assisted with her overall growth and development as an organizer.  “There are a lot of great people who are influential in my life, they are known and unknown.   I especially owe a lot of credit to the ancestors whose shoulders were wide enough and deep enough for me to stand on and do this work.  From the ancestors I get a lot of strength and resilience to keep fighting the good fight.”

Asaseyeduru recently began Sankofa Unity Consulting Services which specializes in strategic planning, organizational development, fundraising, and development.  Contact her at: nazura1@gmail.com; Nazura1 on twitter; SankofaMaat Instagram; for more information on Sankofa United: http://strongpeopleinthecommunity.blogspot.com/

This article was first published in Soul Pitt Quarterly Print Magazine
Copyright Soul Pitt Media.  All Rights Reserved.

Dare to Fight & Struggle to Win

Community Organizing has been a passion of mine for over a decade.  When I first started out I just had a interest then over time it developed into a passion for change in our communities.  I have cut my teeth and taken the lead on some very forward projects such as cultural education, community development & a number of social justice issues.
I don't simply favor one issue over the other but, I do try to maintain the same intensity for these issues as the change that needs to be created inside these systems to produce justice.  Cultural Education intervenes a buffer to stop self-hate, violence, drugs, dysfunction for ourselves and our communities.  In Community Development when development happens & we don't benefit as residents in the community then we are a disadvantage of urban blight in our communities.  Social Justice are issues around police brutality, mass incarceration, unfair sentencing, war on drugs, etc. In conclusion, we all have to pick a fight because there is definately a war going on in our communities but, we must dare to fight and struggle to win.

Starting with all Sides of the Box!!!!

Okay so I'm going to point out a couple of different scenerio's

Do you oftentimes spread yourself to thin?

Do people have expectations out of you that you are unaware of?

Do you wish you can clone yourself and make 10 more of you for all the folks that constantly want and desire you to help them and assist them with their cause?

If you answered "yes" to all of these things than a prescription is to Join a Organization.

One of the most noteworthy things we can do in terms of connectedness is have a interdependence on a group or system. By joining an organization we can gain insight and shared vision on the things we want to bring in fruition Such As:

I. Improving our ability to apply theory to the practical conditions in the community
e.g. Poverty = Economic Empowerment

II. Saving yourself alot of time and energy by defining your own purpose interwoven into an
Organizational culture

III. Gaining a better undersanding and analysis of organizing techniques such as grassroots, corporate leadership, guerilla marketing etc.

IV. Knowing that organizational change starts with me, us, them, there, inside, outside,
all sides and the box.

" I am because We Are therefore I am"
- Asante Proverb

Leadership Starts Wherever You Are

I keep contemplating should I make this blog personable or talk in 2nd person like I'm preaching. So I chose to take the latter. And, talk from a more self fullfilled prophecy and talk from my own experience because in fact all of my life experiences has caused me to signify a
"comeuppance" of truly healing and revealing that which was lost.
If I truly live out the purpose of Leadership and Transformation I have to continue to do the work on myself..because in fact no one will do it for me. I do realize that at times I will get political. But, I want people to get the idea that I will be asserting both political and cultural views from time to time. So folks will just have to get used...to my socio-political views. And, know it will be food for the soul but, it must be injested slowly because it will burn.
If you're not thinking critically or translating historically to a people without a past.
Than we are not doing and seeing true Leadership for what it is and needs to be.
We must always create new models of Leadership. If we are constantly creating new models of practice for Leadership than leadership truly must be change and transformation.
Change meaning becoming the creator of your own reality and transformation meaning to own that which was lost. Yes. I said it. TAKING OWNERSHIP of your Ish...it not about blaming anyone person for your ish...but, it taking into accountability that
We really do start our base from wherever we Are.

Lead or Fall Black The State of the Black World

Lead or Fade to the Background noise and added attraction...

I attended the State of the Black World this past weekend. It was as engaging as is it was interesting. I saw this conference as very important for my own personal growth and development as it was significant for folks know and understand the intergenerational struggle that exist when the old are not talking to the young and vice versa.

The first day was filled of lively debates and old leadership...now don't get me wrong I am all for wise guidance and mentorship. But, I felt that the young and upcoming leaders should've been apart of the conversation the first day. Basically, it was sign saying well youngin's I will give you time in a minute "Let me get mines, watch as I talk about the struggle".

I felt it was very segregated in terms of the intergenerational conversation. When I actually dissect the word inter means to depend to rely on a connectivity meaning part. So why were the panels separated??? If I am because you are because you are and we all are...well why can't we all just have one big intergenerational conversation where we all are learning together.