<div>Donations benefit Black Dot Leadership Academy, a nonprofit empowering Black communities. Akoma Coffee &amp; Books is a social enterprise that helps fund this mission.
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<div>For the past eight years, Akoma Coffee &amp; Books has been a vibrant cultural hub and community gathering spot in the heart of Lithonia, Georgia. Formerly the Black Dot Cultural Center, Akoma is more than a coffee shop and bookstore — it's a community-based project of Black Dot Leadership Academy, our non-profit organization dedicated to building Black storytelling, leadership, civic engagement, and economic development.
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<div>Now, Akoma is preparing for a transformative move into expansion to a larger space at Privi Stonecrest, and we are relying on you to make it a reality.
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<div><strong>Our Mission: Empowering Through Culture</strong>
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<div>Black Dot Leadership Academy (BDLA) exists to empower Black communities to build self-sustaining systems, own our narratives, and ensure Black voices remain central to the future of culture and economy.
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<div>Through education, entrepreneurship, publishing, and cultural preservation, we equip our communities with the tools to lead, thrive, and tell their own stories. Akoma Coffee &amp; Books embodies this mission in action — a place where economic empowerment and cultural literacy come together.
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<div><strong>Why Akoma Matters</strong>
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<div>Akoma — meaning “the heart” in the Adinkra symbol system of Ghana — lives up to its name. For years, Akoma has:
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<li>Hosted hundreds of author talks, cultural events, and community conversations
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<li>Provided a home for Black literature, thought, and artistry
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<li>Created a safe, welcoming space for intergenerational learning and collaboration
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<li>Offered locally roasted coffee, teas, and small bites while supporting Black vendors and creatives.
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<div>By blending culture and commerce, Akoma supports funding and growth of the initiatives of Black Dot Leadership Academy, where our programs continue to be community-driven and economically sustainable.
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<div><strong>Why We Need Your Help — and Why Now</strong>
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<div>We are excited to move into a new and larger space at Privi Stonecrest, but we must act fast.
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<div>We have 30 days to raise the funds needed to:
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<li>Renovate the facility
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<li>Add shelving and seating
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<li>Purchase equipment for the café
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<li>Construct a community stage and event space
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<li>Reopen without disruption to our programming or impact
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<div>We’ve set an initial fundraising goal of $9,000 to jumpstart the first phase of our transition. As we meet key milestones, we’ll gradually increase the campaign goal to reflect the next stage of progress. GoFundMe allows us to update the goal along the way — so every dollar you give brings us closer to the full vision.
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<div>Here’s how your contribution will help:
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<div><strong>Week 1 – Setup ($6,500):</strong>
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<div>Covers basic renovations, lighting, shelving installation, and preparing the new space for operations.
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<div><strong>Week 2 – Equipment ($15,000):</strong>
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<div>Funds the purchase of essential café equipment — espresso machine, grinders, refrigerator, sink installation, and POS system.
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<div><strong>Week 3 – Inventory ($12,500):</strong>
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<div>Supports our initial stock of books (new, used, and rare titles), coffee beans, teas, and retail goods that reflect our cultural mission.
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<div><strong>Week 4 – Staff Training ($2,500):</strong>
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<div>Ensures our team is fully prepared to deliver exceptional service and uphold Akoma’s values of hospitality, cultural care, and excellence.
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<div>Additional Funds Raised Will Support:
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<li>Two-month Payroll Reserve
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<li>Emergency Reserves for Operational Stability
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<div>By helping Akoma establish its new home, you’re also directly supporting Black Dot Leadership Academy’s programming — from youth leadership development and entrepreneurship workshops to cultural literacy events and publishing initiatives.
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<div>Your support fuels both the space and the systems that empower our people.
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<div><strong>Supporter Recognition &amp; Incentives</strong>
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<div>We are deeply grateful for every contribution — and to honor your generosity, we’re offering the following rewards as a token of appreciation. These gifts are designed to reflect the heart of Akoma and the mission of Black Dot Leadership Academy.
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<div><strong>Donation Tiers</strong>
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<div><strong>$25+</strong>
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<div><em>A Free Drink Voucher</em>
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<div>Enjoy a handcrafted beverage on us — your gift warms more than cups; it warms our mission.
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<div><strong>$50+</strong>
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<div><em>Your Name on Our Digital Donor Wall</em>
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<div>Displayed on our website and in-store screen — a public thank-you from the heart.
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<div><strong>$100+</strong>
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<div>Akoma Tote + Free Drink Voucher
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<div>Carry the mission with you — a custom-designed Akoma tote plus your complimentary drink.
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<div><strong>$250+</strong>
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<div><em>Signed Book by a Local Author</em>
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<div>Receive a hand-selected, signed title from one of the many powerful voices we've hosted at Akoma.
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<div><strong>$500+</strong>
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<div><em>Your Name on the “Bookshelf of Honor”</em>
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<div>Be part of our legacy. Your name will be engraved on our freestanding “Bookshelf of Honor” — a custom-built recognition display designed to look like a library shelf, where each engraved book spine represents a founding supporter. This installation will stand in our new space as a living tribute to those who helped build it.
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<div>Rewards can be picked up in-store upon our grand reopening, or mailed upon request.
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<div>Please include your contact info when donating if you’d like to receive a thank-you item!
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<div>Akoma Supports Our Nonprofit Mission
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<div>This move is not just about square footage — it’s about deepening our impact.
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<div>Profits from Akoma directly support Black Dot Leadership Academy’s nonprofit work:
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<div>Youth leadership development
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<div>Publishing programs that have at the center Black voices
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<div>Cultural literacy events and workshops
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<div>Entrepreneurial education and cooperative economics
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<div>Your donation doesn't simply assist with opening a store — it invests in a system that is meant to empower, educate, and uplift.
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<div>EIN #: 86-1625327
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<div>Your donation is tax-deductible and goes directly toward Black Dot Leadership Academy’s mission-aligned operations and initiatives.
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<div>Join Us in Building the Future
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<div>We see a future in which Black culture is not merely preserved but protected, elevated, and taken up by the communities that create it.
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<div>Together, let us bring Akoma's new home to life — and continue building a future founded on love, unity, knowledge, and economic self-determination.
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<div>Give today. Share with others.
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<div>Let's build something lasting — together.
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Still $7,565 to go. Help us build momentum.