OLAFEMI B. AKINTUNDE

DIRECTOR

Olafemi B. Akintunde currently serves as Director of the Ubuntu Leadership Institute. Olafemi’s work focuses on healing centered engagement, curriculum development, and differentiated learning.

A graduate of California State University, East Bay with a B.A. in Sociology and an emphasis on social services, Olafemi is a multi credentialed teacher who continues to serve many different communities throughout the country. With an extensive background in teaching, facilitation, program development, and social service delivery, Olafemi’s focus has been geared towards the healing and education of boys and men of color. Through his work with Flourish Agenda, Inc, Alameda County of Education, Juvenile Hall, and the African American Male Achievement program over the last several years, he has created opportunities for individuals to explore toxic social constructs while providing a comprehensive lens needed to heal self and community.

As an educator, he has been featured in the Detroit Free Press, Ubuntu Leadership Academy, and the African American Male Achievement Documentary, “Kingmakers.” In addition, his work has been published by the Campaign for Black Male Achievement, which featured his unique approach to educating young black males, as his engaging and charismatic approach reflects his background in performing arts. His interactive teaching is spoken from a place of absolute understanding of the Black male experience through education. He sees the education and healing of black men and boys as his life’s work and looks forward to continuing the legacy of great African educators.

AREMU MBANDE

ASSISTANT DIRECTOR

Aremu Mbande is an educator committed to the intellectual, psycho-emotional, and cultural wellness of boys and young men of African descent. He graduated from Howard University with a degree in psychology and currently directs the African-American Male Resource Center at Chicago State University. He is a doctoral student at the University of Illinois at Chicago where he is studying Educational Psychology with an emphasis on Human Development and Learning. His research interests include racial socialization and male identity construction. Striving to live by the words of the late Toni Morrison, “The function of freedom is to free someone else,” Brother Aremu aims to build deep, personal relationships with the students of the Ubuntu Leadership Institute with the overarching goal to encourage liberatory growth on a personal, educational, and cultural level.

MOSHEH MILON

ARTIST IN RESIDENCE

Moshe Milon is a well-known drum percussionist, teacher, and instrument maker. He has taught and performed African drumming and dance arts for more than 40 years. He currently works with children of all ages and abilities at the Malonga Center for the Arts in Oakland, CA.

As the Ubuntu Leadership Institute Artist in Residence Moshe will provide a variety of creative services to our participants and the broader community, including the creation of therapeutic and cultural enrichment programs that are grounded in mindfulness practices and the use of African drumming as a springboard to develop discipline, life skills, confidence, pride, and a sense of accomplishment and community building.

JASON SEALS

ART OF BEING A BLACK MAN LEAD TRAINER

Jason Seals is an African-centered educator, carrying the tradition of activist-intellectual to address critical systemic issues and empower individuals for personal and social transformation. An Oakland native, Jason has over two decades of experience serving his community locally, nationally, and globally as an educator, thought leader, speaker, and change agent.

While completing his BA in Sociology at San Jose State University, Jason began his career in youth development serving in multiple roles across the nonprofit, mental health, and juvenile justice sectors. After obtaining his master’s in Africana Studies from the University of Albany, Jason leveraged his love for transformational educational practices and Africana studies in the classroom, teaching ethnic studies and manhood development courses at multiple high schools, colleges, and universities across the Bay Area.

Jason went on to earn a Master of Education in Counseling Psychology from the University of San Francisco and began working fulltime at Merritt College, where he currently serves as the Chair of Ethnic Studies and as a tenured Professor of African American Studies.

Beyond the traditional classroom, Professor Seals facilitates community workshops and professional development trainings on a wide range of topics inclusive of radical healing, anti-racism, parenting/fatherhood, and systems change. Jason is often called upon to provide his expertise as a consultant, curriculum designer, and speaker.

In addition to speaking engagements, Jason shares his critical thought leadership while providing a platform for authors, leaders, activists, and artists of African descent through his podcast, “A Moment of Truth”.

The role that Professor Seals is most passionate about is his role as a father. His love for his own children is reflective in the work he does to rebuild families and communities as a means towards healing and wellness.

Outside of his work, Jason enjoys spending quality time with his children, running, and vibing to an eclectic array of music.