JAMBO!(“Hello!” in Swahili)
Welcome to Regenerating Our Offspring Though Stories – ROOTS, Inc. After returning from my journey to Ghana West Africa in 2006, I realized it was time to form an organization that would use the art of storytelling to promote literacy.
Roots would like to operate in non traditional after school settings such as community centers, museums and schools.
My love for literature and reading has expanded my repertoire of stories to include historical and moral tales from all cultures.
One day after reading stories to my grand daughter Astarte’, I discovered that everyone, both children and adults, could benefit from a well told story, because storytelling enables us to keep the library open 24 hours a day and 7 days a week! Books in my opinion should not be kept on a shelf but be given the opportunity to be read out loud.
As an active member of my community I share tales with elementary and middle school students for many public and private schools. Here’s a review from children who recently enjoyed one of my presentations!
Auntie Jo Jo
Asante Sana, Auntie JoJo!
~for your vision
~for your dedication
~for your perseverance
~for your love for the youth, storytelling, literature, & the culture
~for your many gifts
Your site is lovely and your endeavors, spirit-driven.
Continued Blessings!
*MoonSong
Hello Auntie Jo Jo I just want to thank you for giving my children Jasmine and Stacey the opportunity to be a part of the play. it really helped to improve their confidence. I notice a different side to my children especially Stacey. He came out of his shell, he’s reading more, his confidence is up. He’s learned so much and I thank you and the sponsors for making it possible. I look forward to see you working on future projects with children giving them hope and inspiration. Thank you, thank you.
This has been a wonderful experience. Looking back over the past seven months we have learned a lot through the Sankofa Youth Theatre a division of Regenerating Our Offspring Through Stories. We just didn’t learn about history we learned about acting. Somehow, somewhere we can put the acting to good use. Also the trip to the Blacks In Wax Museum taught us about our history. Just like the Sankofa bird teaches us to go back to our past in order to go forward. Now that the play is over I hope other youth will get the chance to get the same opportunity we did. The play The Ties That Bind Us was a educational way for us to learn about our communities. I gained new friends and reunited with old. We not only learned about our history we excelled in our reading skills and how to communicate with each other.
Thank you Leeway Foundation and Children Can Shape the future of giving us the opportunity to do this.
My daughter and I have been so blessed to find a diamond in the Sankofe Youth Theater workshop. I moved in the neighborhood the last few months, and only went to the community center to get my daughter involved in actvities. We tried several activities such as dance and cooking, but this one was much more special than the others, and we stopped the other actvities to have sole involvemnet in Sankofa.
To my suprise, my daughter and I received a great african american history lesson of our new community of Lamott. Elkins Park and Glenside. I am still telling the history to others that I found out about because I found it to be so fascinating. My daughter met some good friends here, and she is aksing about the new classes already and it just ended. It ives great value to our community and to our young people’s self esteem and self pride. Thanks so much to Leeway Foundation and Children Can Shape the future for the opportunity presented. I do hope that consideration is given to this group for future endeavors. I absolutely love it!!!!
Auntie Jo Jo,
We can not thank you enough for the selfless dedication you showed in your work with our daughter, Deanna and the other young people who were involved in this year’s play through the Sankofa Youth Theater Program. My entire family was not only entertained by the talented performances of the actors, but we also learned a great deal of history as well.
I know that this effort was also supported by the contributions of the Leeway Foundation, Children Can Shape the Future, and the Art Sanctuary, and so I thank these organizations for their support as well.
I truly hope that you will continue this work in the future, as it clear that you have both a love and talent for working with young people.
Asante Sana,
Kimberly and Anthony Ellerbee
Auntie Jo Jo – I wanted to take this opportunity to thank you for your commitment to our youth and for educating them of our rich history. The program was truly a valuable experience for Brandon. He looked forward to coming each weekend, and gained new friendships. I am also grateful to each funder for sponsoring and supporting Sankofa Youth Theater and Arts.
Peace & Blessings
I had the pleasure to work with the awesome Auntie JoJo and the Sankofa Youth Theatre. I’m so grateful to the sponsers, Children Can Shape the Future, the Leeway Foundation, and the Art Sanctuary for their generous donations to make the program possible. It’s a joy to see our children learning and loving their history and themselves. Auntie JoJo helped the youth to give their best. The play that she wrote and produced, showed how much growth the youth made since the beginning. The trip to the Blacks in Wax Musuem, Morgan State, and the story of our people in Maryland was an experience that will not be forgotten. Thanks again to everyone for supporting and believing in our youth. I hope you will continue to support and encourage them.