The Sankofa Project was started by the Office of Equity and collaborating teachers, staff and community partners in the Spring of 2025 to celebrate Black History and beyond.
The Meaning of Sankofa and The Goal of Our Sankofa Project
Sankofa is a Twi word from the Akan people of Ghana that is used in Black history to represent the idea of learning from the pastπ to create a better future. The mythical bird has its head turned backward while its feet point forward. The egg in the bird’s mouth represents the knowledge of the past that can be used to create wisdom. The word Sankofa translates to “go back and get it.” It’s based on the proverb, “It is not taboo to go back and fetch what you forgot.”
For the BSD Equity Office’s Sankofa Project, we evoke this symbol and message to drive our goal of moving Black History & Excellence forward as a more prominent and consistent part of our school and community. Sometimes, we must return and bring those we left behind. We strive to affirm that Black History is American History and African History is World History that extends far beyond Black History Month.
Historically, the Burlington School District has left marginalized students behind, particularly Black and Brown students; it is time for us to ensure all marginalized groups, especially Black and Brown students, are seen, heard, and treated with the utmost respect and dignity they are entitled to. We must hold ourselves accountable to ensure these students receive the best education possible. We must use the resources necessary to honor our heritage, nurture excellence, and develop the brilliance these students already possess. We must not continue to deny and rob them of excellence in education.
Sankofa Calendar: Spring 2025
Reading to End Racism w/ LeVar Barrino, Flynn Elementary Student Success Coordinator
APRIL
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 1 Smith Reading to End Racism | 2 | 3 Know your Rights Event for Immigrant Families TBC | 4 Office of Equity Community Partners Luncheon | 5 | ||
| 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 Sankofa – Sharing our Story Event | 10 Transforming Trauma Workshop with ELO | 11Education Justice Coalition Statewide Youth Gathering | 12 |
| 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 Equity Collaborative Meeting | 18 | 19 |
| 20 Sankofa Trip w/Richard Kemp April 20-24 | 21 Sankofa Trip w/Richard Kemp APRIL VACATION | 22 Sankofa Trip w/Richard Kemp APRIL VACATION | 23 Sankofa Trip w/Richard Kemp APRIL VACATION | 24 Sankofa Trip w/Richard Kemp APRIL VACATION | 25Food Donations for New American Families in BSD APRIL VACATION | 26 |
| 27 | 28 | 29 | 30Multicultural Resource Center DiversitySpeaker Series: Isabel Wilkerson | COMING SOON: | ||
MARCH
| Sunday | Monday | Tuesday | Wednesday | Thursday | Friday | Saturday |
| 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 Reading to End Racism @ IAA | 6 Reading to End Racism @ Champlain | 7 Reading to End Racism @ SA | 8 |
| 9 | 10 | 11 Reading to End Racism @ Flynn | 12 | 13 Reading to End Racism @ EES | 14 | 15 |
| 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 Equity Collaborative Meeting | 21 | 22 |
| 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 | 27 Dismantling White Supremacy Culture Schools Conference | 28 Dismantling White Supremacy Culture Schools Conference | 29 |
| 30 | 31 Eid – No School | |||||
