Identity
Sankofa Academy helps youth rediscover their authentic identity by teaching them who they are beyond trauma.
A Rites of Passage Movement
Sankofa Academy
More than a program — this is a movement. A district-wide, systemic healing and leadership movement designed with intentionality to transform the lives of young men and young ladies in grades 2–12.
Rooted in our four guiding principles — Identity, Belonging, Purpose, and Hope — students reclaim their identity, build authentic belonging, discover personal purpose, and restore hope in the midst of struggle.
The Movement
One child at a time.
Because of the Public Health Emergency (trauma) facing our schools and communities, Sankofa Academy transforms extended learning time into therapeutic academic labs- safe, restorative spaces where students heal, grow, and rise. Using Neuro-Emotional Therapeutic Teaching, our model directly confronts the crisis of illiteracy, disengagement, and maladaptive behavior that have become far too common in today's classrooms. We do not treat symptoms; we build systems. Sankofa Academy is designed to empower students in grades 2–12 through a district/city-wide, systemic Rites of Passage movement that meets young people exactly where they are. Through deliberate practice of our guiding principles — Identity, Belonging, Purpose, and Hope — we awaken the brilliance within each child, preparing them to be role models and agents of positive change within their schools and communities. Sankofa Academy is more than a program; it is a movement. A movement for healing. A movement for academic restoration. A movement for emotional liberation. A movement for building systems that honor the whole child. This is the beginning of a lifelong journey where every student can reclaim their story and their future. One movement that will change everything!
Four Pillars
What the movement is built on.
Belonging
Sankofa Academy creates a safe, structured, healing community where young people feel seen, valued, and supported.
Purpose
Sankofa Academy helps youth discover their true purpose by guiding them through vision-building, career exploration, and leadership development.
Hope
Sankofa Academy teaches hope as a skill — rooted in vision-building, internal locus of control, and personal agency.
The Pathways
A journey from second grade to graduation.
From grades 2 through 12, Sankofa Academy meets students where they are — and walks with them into who they are becoming. Four tiers, one unbroken movement.
Grades 2–3Elementary · Lower
The Young Scholars
Laying the Foundation
The Young Scholars tier nurtures early learners by strengthening academic achievement while cultivating a strong sense of identity, curiosity, and character. At this stage, students begin developing the habits, confidence, and foundational skills that prepare them for long-term success. Through engaging learning experiences and culturally grounded guidance, Young Scholars discover who they are, what they can become, and how their daily choices shape their future growth.
Grades 4–5Elementary · Upper
The Middle Passage
Strengthening Voice, Insight, and Leadership
The Middle Passage tier guides students through a pivotal stage of growth, where academic skills deepen and personal awareness expands. Learners sharpen critical thinking, strengthen reading and problem-solving abilities, and begin to understand their emotions with greater clarity and confidence. As they develop emotional literacy and practice peer leadership, students learn how to navigate challenges, support one another, and contribute positively to their school and lived community. This tier equips them with the intellectual tools and character strengths needed to step into adolescence with purpose and pride.
Grades 6–8Middle School
Young DIVAA & SIMBA
Rising into Purpose, Power, and Responsibility
The Young DIVAA & SIMBA tier guides middle school students through one of the most defining moments in their lives. Grounded in sisterhood and brotherhood, accountability and pride, the middle tier is designed to strengthen academic achievement while helping young people sharpen their personal agency and sense of responsibility. Participants explore who they are, where they come from, and the futures they are capable of shaping. Through mentorship, rigorous learning, and intentional rites of passage, the middle school tier cultivates cultural awareness, leadership readiness, and a clear pre-college and pre-career vision. This tier empowers participants to stand tall in their identity, support one another, and step confidently toward the young people they are becoming.
Grades 9–12High School · The Capstone
Lady DIVAA & The Esquires Club
The Capstone of the Sankofa Journey
The Lady DIVAA & Esquires Club represents the culminating stage of the Sankofa Academy Rites of Passage experience — a distinguished tier where young women and men refine their academic, personal, and leadership capacities they have been building throughout their journey. Participants deepen their commitment to academic excellence while strengthening personal agency, character, and responsibility. Through intentional mentorship, leadership development, and real-world learning opportunities, they engage meaningfully in their schools and communities, practicing the habits of service, integrity, and disciplined decision-making. This tier also guides young people through comprehensive college and career planning, helping them articulate a clear vision for their futures and take actionable steps toward postsecondary success. As the capstone of the program, the Lady DIVAAs & Esquires Club prepares students to graduate not only with strong academic foundations, but with purpose, confidence, and a commitment to leading lives of impact in their communities.
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It is easier to build strong children than to repair broken men.
Frederick Douglass
MP
Founder & CEO
Marshall Peeples
Marshall Peeples is an author and the founder of TMP Productions, but his work stretches far beyond the pages of his books. He is a mentor, educator, and advocate committed to helping young people turn their lives around and reclaim their sense of purpose.
Through his storytelling and hands-on work with youth, Peeples shines a light on the struggles many carry in silence — reminding them that transformation is possible, healing is real, and hope is always within reach.
A product of TMP Productions