Tagged: Bronzeville, celebration, education, events, history, ITAV, news, school, socialjustice, VLA,
7 minutes, 22 seconds
When choosing a school, one of the best measures is the success of its alumni. For It Takes a Village Family of Schools in Chicago, Tia Ford, a current sophomore at Howard University, is an excellent example of ITAV’s alumni achievement. ITAV nurtures Black students through culturally responsive education and leadership development.
“My experience at Village Leadership Academy was amazing and transformative,” she says. “I feel like that is where I found my voice as a young Black woman.”
The importance of representation
After feeling like a cultural outsider during her previous experience at an all-white private school, Ford’s initial impression of ITAV was powerful.
“For the first time in my life, I was with other Black students and was surrounded by Black educators who looked like me and reflected my own identity,” she says. Being immersed in this environment gave Ford a profound sense of belonging and self-worth, which was pivotal for her personal growth and self-discovery.
Ford’s feelings about the transformative power of ITAV were solidified when she was able to join The World Scholars Program. Each year, ITAV World Scholars learn about a different country and culture, which culminates in a class trip to that nation.
Ford’s seventh-grade class traveled to Cuba. “It was one of the best experiences of my lifetime,” she says. “What we had learned in the classroom back in Chicago, we were actually seeing. I was inspired to work hard so that I would be able to continue to travel the world and learn about other cultures.”
Ford’s feelings about the transformative power of ITAV were solidified when she was able to join The World Scholars Program. Each year, ITAV World Scholars learn about a different country and culture, which culminates in a class trip to that nation.
Ford’s seventh-grade class traveled to Cuba. “It was one of the best experiences of my lifetime,” she says. “What we had learned in the classroom back in Chicago, we were actually seeing. I was inspired to work hard so that I would be able to continue to travel the world and learn about other cultures.”
Developing leadership through activism
The programs at ITAV extend beyond traditional academics, emphasizing activism and community involvement. The school provides a platform for students to explore their voices and advocate for social justice.
For example, Ford and her peers led peaceful protests in the wake of the LaQuon McDonald case, demanding change in their communities. “I will never forget that experience. It was mind-opening,” Ford recalls. “There we were, hundreds of young Black students marching together in solidarity for a brighter future.”
Inspiration for a career in education
The founders of It Takes a Village Family of Schools were innovative educators themselves, who wanted to transform communities through high-quality, culturally responsive education.
This legacy continues in students like Ford, who was so moved by her experiences at ITAV that she is now pursuing a career in elementary education. “ “I want to become an elementary school social studies and African-American history teacher so that kids can learn about their heritage from a young age,” she says. “The youth are going to be the change.”
Continued community commitment
Ford remains deeply connected to the It Takes a Village family of schools, feeling it is important to continue to give back to a community that so deeply affected her life. “I go back every summer to help run the school’s summer camps and after-school programs,” she says.
Seeing younger students walking through the halls in their uniforms reminds her of her own journey and gives her hope for the future.
“It makes me so happy to see young Black girls feeling proud of themselves, feeling confident. I want to be a beacon of light for other young Black girls,” she says. “I want to reinforce to the students that at ITAV, they are in good hands.”
Originally published by Chicago Parent at: https://www.chicagoparent.com/sponsored-content/it-takes-a-village-family-of-schools/
