So Our Youth Aspire (SOYA) began as an LLC in 2005 by Dr. Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman. Since then, SOYA has served nonprofit organizations as well as educational institutions and corporations in need of youth development programming, training for employees and curriculum development guidance. In 2016, an off-shoot of SOYA was formed called StudentMediaOnline.com. Visit StudentMediaOnline.com for courses, events and workshops for youth, families, educators and practitioners.
This blog is a resource for educators, youth practitioners and parents. In recent years, Dr. Ali-Coleman has used the site to share resources specific to homeschooling Black children as she is a homeschooling mother and a researcher who focuses on college preparedness, dual-enrollment and homeschooling.
SOYA is guided by principles found in the Advancing Youth Development (AYD) theory developed by the BEST Network. Our mission is to integrate best practiced methods to help young people enjoy opportunities that help facilitate positive youth development.
To schedule a consultation, email soyascholars@gmail.com
Homeschooling Black Children in America
Dr. Ali-Coleman’s recent research study examined preparedness for college through interviews with eight African-American dual-enrolled teens who attended community college in Virginia, Texas, and Maryland while being homeschooled for high school. She is co-editor of the book Homeschooling Black Children in the US: Theory, Practice & Popular Culture.
Homeschooling for Liberation
I homeschooled my daughter off and on for 13 years, graduating her from our family homeschool in May 2021. In this video, I share the ways that I designed my homeschooling practice with liberation in mind. Visit my website at http://www.khadijahali-coleman.com and http://www.studentmediaonline.com to learn more about me. Dr. Ali-Coleman is the co-founder of Black … Continue reading Homeschooling for Liberation
Deschooling Before Homeschooling
Homeschooling is a lifestyle. What Is Deschooling? Deschooling involves a period where you do very little formal school work in order to re-calibrate your child’s natural love of learning. During the deschooling process you’ll adjust your understanding of, and approach to, how a child learns. –Time4Learning I had a great time talking with William Honablew, Jr. … Continue reading Deschooling Before Homeschooling
So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.) 