Nairobi Renaissance: A Community-Driven Education Pilot

Belle Haven Action is the nonprofit fiscal sponsor for this initiative.

Please consider donating to support the Nairobi Renaissance Community Education Program, a 6-month community education pilot led by the East Palo Alto Nairobi Advocates Education Committee.

This initiative is designed to strengthen educational outcomes for Black students and families by restoring culture, building collective capacity, and creating consistent spaces for learning, advocacy, and connection in East Palo Alto and surrounding communities.

About the Nairobi Renaissance Community Education Program

The Nairobi Renaissance program is a community-led education initiative rooted in the legacy of the original Nairobi Movement in East Palo Alto — a movement grounded in collective responsibility, cultural pride, and community self-determination.

Today’s Nairobi Renaissance is not about recreating the past, but about responding to current realities facing Black students and families. The Education Committee brings together elders, parents, educators, and community advocates to reimagine what educational support can look like when it is designed with the community, not for it.

The program centers the belief that:

When families, youth, and community members learn together, sustainable change becomes possible.

Program Overview

Nairobi Renaissance is a 6-month pilot consisting of monthly, family-centered learning sessions aligned with African-centered values and the Nguzo Saba (Kwanzaa principles).

Each session includes:

A shared community gathering

Age-specific learning experiences for children, teens, and adults

Storytelling, dialogue, and creative expression

Collective problem-solving and solution-building

Take-home resources to support continued learning at home

The program creates consistent “cultural wells” — spaces where families can pause, reflect, heal, and build skills to better support Black students in and beyond school settings.

Who This Program Serves

Black/African diasporic students (elementary through high school)

Parents, guardians, and caregivers

Elders, educators, and community advocates

Families committed to collective care and community-led solutions

This program welcomes community members who want to move from concern to collaboration — and from collaboration to action.

Consulting & Program Support

The Nairobi Renaissance program is supported by Culturally Restorative Learning Supports, LLC (CRLS) as a consulting partner.

CRLS provides curriculum design, facilitation support, and planning tools to help the Education Committee implement a culturally grounded, well-structured, and sustainable pilot.

How Funds Will Be Used

Donations collected through our fiscal sponsor will support the full 6-month pilot, including:

Food and snacks for families and youth at each session

Curriculum materials and printed learning guides

At-home learning resources to extend impact beyond each gathering

Youth and family incentives to support consistent participation

These resources reduce barriers to participation and allow families to engage fully and consistently.

Why This Matters

Black students continue to navigate educational systems that often overlook their cultural identities, lived experiences, and strengths. Families are advocating, organizing, and caring — often without adequate structural support.

Nairobi Renaissance is a collective response.

It is about building community capacity, not quick fixes.

It is about action, not nostalgia.

Thank You for Supporting Our Community!

Your donation directly supports Black students, families, and a community-led vision for educational restoration and empowerment in East Palo Alto.

Thank you for investing in a future shaped by collective wisdom, cultural grounding, and shared responsibility.