House of UMOJA, Inc.
The House of Umoja is a 57 year old non-profit organization that uses the nucleus of family, kinship of community, culture, education (STEAM and life skills), agriculture and nutrition, to continue to reduce violence evident among at-risk and under-served youth and their families while maintaining sanctuary and mobilizing and empowering community. https://www.houseofumoja.net
Established in 1968, the House of UMOJA, an internationally acclaimed institution, has for 54 years designed and implemented timeless global models for eradicating violence, fostering community development, creating economic sustainability, and addressing many of the key challenges that prevent boys and adolescent males from reaching their full potential and maturing into productive adults. It's successful track record of transforming and working with youths has moved universities and institutions that include, but are not limited to, the Office of Juvenile Justice and prevention and the Center for Disease Control, to seek the expertise of Queen Mother Falaka Fattah and her husband Mr. David Fattah in the areas of gang reduction, youth programming, and community organizing. Former United States Presidents Jimmy Carter and the late Ronald Regan have recognized the House of Umoja, Inc. for its pioneering work which has been documented in published articles such as "A Summons To Life" by Robert Woodson of the American Enterprise Institute and "The Violent Juvenile Offender" by Paul DeMuro and Richard Allison of the National Council and Delinquency in 1984. The House of UMOJA has brokered peace and invested in the future by creating lifelines that positively transformed the trajectory of the lives of at least 3,000 adolescent males.
Today the focal point of the House of Umoja is the development of the Fattah Peace Academy & Campus. As men study war; we will study peace. This development is the redevelopment of buildings and lots owned by the House of Umoja on the 1400 block of N. Frazier Street (Queen Mother Falaka Fattah Way) in the 19th police district in West Philadelphia. The academy will house a community campus comprised of a state-of-the-art MakersLAB™ & Entrepreneurial Hub, an aquaponic fed urban farm with roof-top gardens, transitional housing for returning citizens, guest housing for visiting faculty, speakers, and artists, along with classrooms, meeting and co-working space. The academy will facilitate a global peace think tank and educational programs geared to the empowerment of African Americans from ages 12 and up. The UMOJA INTENTIONAL COMMUNITY in conjunction with the physical development project helps pave the way for the peace academy by maintaining sanctuary while cultivating evidence-based programming, a culture of peace, and supportive community:
- Planting Seeds Messaging Campaign
- Umoja Youth Peace Corps (ages 12-18 students, truant youth, and those who have dropped out of school)
- Block Parent Block by Block Initiative
- BuildUp! - Returning Citizens Coalition