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
Why Randall Robinson Matters in Life and Death
Randall Robinson, an American activist, lawyer, and author, founded TransAfrica Forum, an institution focused on US policies towards Africa and the African diaspora. Robinson gained prominence for his activism and protests against discriminatory policies in South Africa and the Caribbean. The TransAfrica movement began in 1984 and continued until Mandela was released from a South African…
Teaching About Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. When Homeschooling
Those of us who attended public school remember the days when Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.’s birthday approached. There would be a few mentions about his “I Have a Dream” speech and we would learn a few things about how he fought for equal rights for Black people while practicing non-violent tactics. I was in…
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.
So Our Youth Aspire (S.O.Y.A.) 