Ujamaa Place: A Black Man’s Sketch

S1, E13: Ujamaa Music Group - On A Mission

A Black Man's Sketch podcast interview with Ujamaa Music GroupNo stranger to adversity, the pandemic inspired the men in Ujamaa’s Music Therapy program to start their very own music group, Ujamaa Music Group (UMG). Finding music to be a cathartic way to tell their stories, UMG went to work on their first single, “On A Mission”, which debuts January 25, 2021Ujamaa Music Group “On A Mission” Single Release
Available on all digital music platforms (iTunes, Spotify, Twitch, Pandora, Tidal, iHeartRadio, YouTube, Amazon, Apple Music, Deezer . . . )“On A Mission” with Bayo, Young Light, Ju$$ Lyfe & Sensae Da Waelaah
Songwriters: Kirk A Johnson, Walter Chancellor, Jr., Bayo, Young Light, Ju$$ Lyfe & Sensae Da Waelaah
Produced by: KAJ PRODUCTIONS
Record Label:  KITCHEN RECORDS
Special Thanks:
Ujamaa Place
Otis Zanders
Stevenson Morgan 
Monique Linder
“On A Mission” Video Produced by: OMG Media 
Album Cover Design by: OMG Media
“On A Mission” is available on all digital music platforms.  
©️2021 Ujamaa Music Group, a program of Ujamaa Place.  All rights reserved.  
Ujamaa Place is a non-profit 501(c)3 located in Saint Paul, MN.  100% of proceeds from "On A Mission" are donated to the Ujamaa Place general fund to support transformation and stabilization of the most marginalized population in society, primarily African American men, aged 18-30. 
To learn more about the programs and services available at Ujamaa Place, visit: ujamaaplace.org.
 
About Ujamaa Place
Ujamaa Place serves the most marginalized population in society, primarily African American men, ages 18-30.  Ujamaa Place provides holistic transformation for men experiencing inequity at the intersection of race and poverty.  Ujamaa Place helps them achieve brotherhood, stability and personal success. 

S1, E12: 10th Anniversary Celebration & Awards 2020

#Ujamaa10Forward #TheoryofTransformation #UjamaaPlace
It is a great honor to celebrate all Ujamaa men, their families and the beloved communities we serve. May we continue to unite as a community to love and take care of one another in the spirit of our ancestors that came before us. 
The 10-year anniversary celebrations began in January.   However, the scheduled in-person festivities were postponed in light of COVID-19 and the awakening of racial injustice, until we gathered safely in August for a drive-in tribute to the honorable Congressman John Lewis and pre- screening of his film Good Trouble. Since then, we have witnessed our community come together to fight against the spread of COVID-19, evidence that we are stronger together.
Congratulations to all the honorees:
Founding Fathers Recognition: Rick Heydinger (RIP), John Harrington, Bill Sands and Bill Svrluga
Ujamaa Legacy Award: Commissioner John Harrington
Rick Heydinger Community Partner Award: Jane & Paul Tshida
Rick Heydinger Community Organization of the Year Award: Kathleen Fluegel of HRK Foundation
Rudy Coach of the Year Award: Darnell Baker
Ujamaa Excellence Award: Stephenson Morgan
Ujamaa Man of the Year Award: Stephan Francis
Ujamaa Man of the Month Recognition: 
Kevin Berry
Dalyn Doyle
Stephan Francis
Rajonta Jackson
Devon Frand
Justin Langley
Damontay Mathew
Lathen McKinney
Kavon McNeal
Devonne Tinsley
Joshua Napier
Dakai Saunders
Keonee Schaffer-Frazier
Wesley Sims
Damontay Shriver

S1, E11: COVID-19 Impact Pt. II

Ms. Fredison volunteered at Ujamaa Place from the Hubert H. Humphrey Fellowship program, which provides a year of professional enrichment in the United States for experienced professionals from designated countries throughout the world. Fellows are selected based on their potential for leadership and their commitment to public service in either the public or private sector.
Ms. Fredison is a prison social worker in her country of Suriname, near Brazil in South American.  In this episode Mr. Fredison shares her experience working with Ujamaa staff and participants, along with unexpected crisis events, COVID-19 and the murder of George Floyd.  Behavior Health Coach Darnell Baker supervised and trained Ms. Fredison on work with him on the Ujamaa Wellness Team.
Click on the links below for our guest bio and more information about the Humphrey School Fellowship program.https://www.hhh.umn.edu/international-fellows/current-fellows
http://ifsalumni.hhh.umn.edu/fellows-2020/2019-2020-fellows
Go to: ujamaaplace.org to learn about the programs offered at Ujamaa Place.

S1, E10: COVID-19 Impact Pt. I

Ujamaa Place re-opens its doors to men to program on-site after the pandemic shutdown on March 23rd.  A Black Man's Sketch Ep. 10 with Ujamaa Program Director, Faith Lofton and Behavior Health Coach, Darnell Baker check in with Ujamaa Man Harry.

S1, E9: I Can’t Breathe

Honoring the life and legacy of Brother George FloydUjamaa Men are struggling to face another attack on their manhood, heritage, culture and trauma that was triggered from watching a brother die at the hands of a white police officer.  The murder of George Floyd triggered anger, trauma and fear in the lives of men who are often forced face down on the ground with a knee on their neck by a person whose oath is to protect citizens.  This is the reason Ujamaa men run from police.  
In Episode 9 of “A Black Man’s Sketch,” Ujamaa brother Demontay talks about his historically traumatic relationship with law enforcement with Ujamaa Life Skills coach Kemii and Employment coach Stevenson, in a candid discussion honoring the life and legacy of George Floyd, led by Ujamaa CEO Otis Zanders. 
George Floyd was a man of God that loved his family and community.  Time is standing still for Ujamaa men as they navigate life and death through COVID-19 (the invisible enemy) and the murder of George Floyd due to RACISM (the visible enemy), while making every attempt to avoid interaction with police. They avoid protesting and any spotlight that triggers emotional trauma, though they are in pain and want Mr. Floyd's family to know they are deeply troubled and sad for their loss.  They are not able to unsee the video of the police officer sworn to protect, deny breath to their Black brother, family, uncle and man of God.  Ujamaa Men are George Floyd.  
Coach Stevenson starts by reciting a segment of Dr. Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s interview with Mike Wallace on 60 Minutes in September 1966 where he eloquently expressed - “A riot is the language of the unheard.”
“Urban riots must now be recognized as durable social phenomena. They are mainly intended to shock the white community. The looting which is their principal feature serves many functions. It enables the most enraged and deprived Negro to take hold of consumer goods with the ease the white man does by using his purse. Often the Negro does not even want what he takes; he wants the experience of taking. But most of all, alienated from society and knowing that this society cherishes property above people, he is shocking it by abusing property rights. A profound judgment of today’s riots was expressed by Victor Hugo a century ago. He said, ‘If a soul is left in the darkness, sins will be committed. The guilty one is not he who commits the sin, but he who causes the darkness.’ The policymakers of the white society have caused the darkness; they create discrimination; they structured slums; and they perpetuate unemployment, ignorance and poverty. When we ask Negroes to abide by the law, let us also demand that the white man abide by law in the ghettos. Day-in and day-out he violates welfare laws to deprive the poor of their meager allotments; he flagrantly violates building codes and regulations; his police make a mockery of law; and he violates laws on equal employment and education and the provisions for civic services. The slums are the handiwork of a vicious system of the white society; Negroes live in them but do not make them any more than a prisoner makes a prison. Let us say boldly that if the violations of law by the white man in the slums over the years were calculated and compared with the law-breaking of a few days of riots, the hardened criminal would be the white man." --Rev. Martin Luther King, Jr., September 1967
Coach Kemii shares his perspective on how our culture processes trauma of the actual incident and everything around  it.  Ujamaa Place was founded by law enforcement heroes in our community who are center stage in the fight for Justice for George Floyd.  They are our community leaders and heroes - Chief John Harrington, Attorney General Keith Ellison and Mayor Melvin Carter, III.  They understand the inequality in the Criminal Justice system and created Ujamaa to help men navigate the roadblocks that prevent them from living a quality life. 
 
YouTube: September 27, 1966: MLK—A riot is the language of the unheard
 
“No other race has been a slave on American soil.”
Source: CBS 60 minuteshttps://youtu.be/_K0BWXjJv5s
George Floyd Left a Gospel Legacy in Houston
Source: Christianity Todayhttps://www.christianitytoday.com/news/2020/may/george-floyd-ministry-houston-third-ward-church.html?visit_source=twitter&fbclid=IwAR0mnCyFYsETUZcplmd85AcnB6JSa3JbhEyMQZepWsk24434JoWJA6NzWb8
 
 

S1, E8: Growth

Ujamaa coach Gary-EL talks to the men about understanding the true meaning of "Growth."

S1, E7: Music Therapy with Kirk A. Johnson - LIVE @ The Dakota

Guest Bio: 
Kirk A. Johnson, KAJ Productions
Drummer, Percussionist, Producer, Performer and Dancer
As an active member of PRN Productions / Paisley Park Studios since the late 80’s, Kirk has been involved in almost all aspects of Prince’s musical journey from 1984 to the present. Starting as a dancer and choreographer in Purple Rain, various videos for Prince & The New Power Generation, Kirk soon moved over to the production side in 1993. During this time, he also created his own record label “Kitchen Records, in which to record his own music and artists such as TKO, Walter Chancellor, Jr., BKS and Fonky Bald Heads.
In 1996, Kirk too over the drum chair for Prince and appeared on releases such as “Diamonds and Pearls (percussion), The Gold Experience (Programming), Symbol, Chaos and Disorder, Emancipation (drums/production), Rave Un2 The Joy Fantastic and The Vault: Old Friends 4 Sale.  Kirk co-wrote/produced and played for multiple artists projects including Candy Duffer, Chaka Khan, Larry Graham, Boyz II Men, Jevetta Steele, El DeBarge, Monie Love, Tevin Campbell, Rosie Gaines, Mavis Staples, Nona Gaye and Najee.  2009 – Present, Kirk took on the task of Estate Consultant for PRN & Paisley Park Studios.  In 2015-2016 Kirk recorded drums & percussion on NPG recording artist Judith Hill and had the privilege of recording on the last Jazz tracks recorded by Prince.  Currently, Kirk tours with the Funk Soldiers and Greats Gone 2 Soon. 
Listen to "A Black Man's Sketch" everyday you listen to podcasts.  Learn more about Ujamaa Place at: ujamaaplace.org
#Ujamaa10Forward

S1, E6: Commemorate Black History & Culture Day 2020

Ujamaa Place invited the community to "Commemorate Black History & Culture Day" at the George Latimer Library in partnership with Saint Paul Public Library in celebration of its 10 years of service to its men and the community.   Celebrate Black History & Culture Exhibit 2020 Program *Program subject to change without notice.12:00noon- 12:30 Welcome / Introduction
12:30am - 2:00pm
Author's Loft + Music & Art Exhibition
Local Black authors will be featured.  Authors will autograph all books purchased.
"Hope in the Struggle" by Dr. Josie R. Johnson Publisher: University of Minnesota Press
"Towards An African Education" by Professor Mahmoud El-Kati Publisher: In Black Ink
"Diesel Heart" by Melvin Carter, Jr. Publisher: MN Historical Society PressMusic & Art Exhibition:Ujamaa Place "Music Therapy"
Take a "Music Therapy" class with Ujamaa Men facilitated by the "Behavior Health & Wellness" team Darnell Baker and Faith Lofton and Housing Coach, Keith Nance, who is a talented musician.  DJ Roosevelt Mansfield, Ujamaa youth coach, will be on the 1s and 2s."Philando Castile Art in Healing" exhibit and discussion with Ujamaa men facilitated by Valerie Castile featuring artists who healed the community after the death of her son. Ujamaa Podcast: "A Black Man's Sketch" will be recorded LIVE.
Click here to learn more.