What Happens When You Fuse Culture and Career Prep? Skills That Stick.

After 12 weeks of grueling arts and career training, it brought me so much joy to celebrate the graduation of my students from the Sankofa Rising Career Readiness Program at Better Family Life, Inc.

Since I can remember, I’ve admired Better Family Life, Inc. (BFL), a 40-year non-profit co-founded by one of my mentors, DeBorah Ahmed, an elite African dancer who taught me my favorite West African dance, Lamban. So when she invited me to join as a Career Readiness Instructor as a part of her Sankofa Rising Program, I didn’t hesitate—the chance to guide others using the arts was too inspiring to miss.

At Sankofa, I’ve had the privilege of supporting career-seeking adults as they work toward their professional goals, coaching on technical skills, soft skills, and cultural expression. In this role, I get to do what I do best: inform, engage, and empower.

Even better, I get to utilize dance and digital storytelling as tools to help learners connect with their personal and professional missions, making space for guided, creative brainstorming and the development and implementation of tangible action steps toward their goals.

For all participants, be it folks looking into a new field or seeking more fulfilling work, our sessions focus on self-discovery, skill-building, and strategic planning—all through the lens of cultural movement and personal artistry.

Leveraging the Power of Productive Struggle

One of the most powerful lessons we explore is the idea of “productive struggle.” By analyzing the journeys of unlikely entrepreneurs and community leaders, my students learn that challenges are stepping stones. Through 1:1 mentorship and small group coaching, I support learners in identifying roadblocks, developing solutions, and completing the program with clarity and confidence.

This experience has reinforced my mission of helping creative leaders go from vision to maximum impact.

At Sankofa, that impact has been amazing: many participants have attained meaningful jobs, launched their own businesses, and completed books they once only dreamed of finishing.

Others gained more refined portfolios, resumes, and personal brands to pursue opportunities with confidence and clarity.

This is the type of work I feel grateful and called to do! And it brings me much joy that I'm able to amplify this call for all creative leaders at Artsy-Preneur.com

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