"We have a powerful potential in our youth, and we must have the courage to change old ideas and practices so that we may direct their power toward good ends." —Mary McLeod Bethune
ABOUT
HISTORY
The Lion's Story idea began in 1999 on the campus of the University of Pennsylvania when the cultural and academic enrichment program, Ase Academy, was launched. In 2003 Ase's founding group decided to create a nonprofit organization to further develop Ase and other educational ideas. The name Lion's Story was chosen, from the proverb that appears in many African cultures, "The lion's story will never be known as long as the hunter is the one to tell it."
MISSION
Lion's Story's mission is to develop and support lifelong learning and empowerment programs, particularly for traditionally underserved communities.
SERVICES
By collaborating with schools, universities, nonprofit organizations, and community partners Lion's Story helps to develop and assess curriculum and programs, create strategic plans and program evaluation models, provide operations consultation, and design funding and marketing plans. Our guiding principles revolve around setting a worthy vision, developing a clear achievement path, maximizing partnerships and resources, analyzing comprehensive in-progress data to measure impact, and reflecting/revising accordingly to optimize the process and results. Our team, advisors, and associates consist of nonprofit leaders, researchers, university faculty, and students (undergraduate and graduate).
We are not taking on new projects at this time, but if you would like to speak with us about any projects beginning in Spring/Summer 2011, please contact us.
PROJECTS
CULTURALLY RELEVANT PEDAGOGY
We are presently developing a theory and practice base for a teaching and learning method known as culturally relevant pedagogy. Grounded in work of Paulo Friere, Gloria Ladson-Billings, and others, culturally relevant pedagogy focuses on creating meaningful student-teacher exchanges (whereby both are teachers and learners), and engaging experiences that promote education for liberation and social advancement. Our work with culturally relevant pedagogy involves developing curriculum and outreach programs, teacher/practitioner training, and further shaping the theoretical model as it relates to K-12 and post-secondary education.
ASE ACADEMY
Ase (a Yoruba affirmation meaning "let it be so") is an academic and cultural enrichment program linking middle and high school students with college mentors and other advisors. For twenty-plus Saturdays, students gather on a college campus to participate in seminars, tutorials, leadership workshops, service activities, trips, and cultural/arts programs. The Ase model is built on relationships, early college campus exposure, collective accountability, identity development, and challenging holistic standards to develop academically capable and socially conscious community scholars. Part college prep, part leadership development, part social therapy, and part community building, Ase changes lives - for students and staff alike - and demonstrates what is possible when the community comes together to build its own school on Saturdays.
// More: www.aseacademy.org
HIGHER LEARNING
What does it take to graduate from college? This is the critical question that we must ask and answer. As we move further into the 21st century, more jobs will require post-secondary education, and the income and opportunity gaps between college and high school graduates will widen further. Despite these realities, college access and completion still pose considerable challenges, particularly for urban districts that struggle with preventing dropouts and producing college-ready high school graduates. The Higher Learning project is a book, web, and research initiative designed to provide students and schools/programs with college completion resources while developing and measuring new ways to effectively support undergraduate students through graduation.
// More: www.learnhigher.com
CONTACT
Lion's Story, Inc. | P.O. Box 30717 | Philadelphia, PA 19104
For general inquiries, please use the convenient contact form below.