Our Mission
Koku-Roko Learning Co-op is a Black and Brown-led learning community established in Philadelphia that encourages continuous learners and conscious critical thinkers.
We play and are inspired by alternative Sankofa learning styles and cross-cultural influences. Creating a space where we can collectively create child-led and family-encouraged learning experiences.
Our logo is the Adinkra symbol of Ananse Intontan, which represents the Creativity of the Weaver (Ananse Kokuroko, The Great Spider), Wisdom, and the Complexities of Life.
Solidarity & Sustainability
We are an independent operating group that agrees to sustainable and holistic practices to create more balance with nature and each other.
Black and Brown-Led Space
We center Black and Brown families and ensure that our African diasporic history and cultural influence is reflected in materials, content, and spirit.
Family-Encouraged
We believe that learning and curiosity is an ongoing process and healthy families are the root to ensure healthy futures of our youth.
Autonomy/Sovereignty
We support freedom of choice for ourselves and young people and the importance of loving boundaries, respectful negotiation and radical self-responsibility.
Safe/Brave Space
We are a nurturing space for our children, to encourage, challenge, and support their mind, body, spirit, and creativity.
Healthy Community
We foster an ecosystem of a sustainable, multi-generational, creatively-rooted community. We commit to embrace our individual healing journey, believing our health affects the whole.
Koku-Roko Steering Committee
Melissa Bingham
blew kind
Jasmine Miller
blew is a mother of four, artist, and entrepreneur, was born and raised in Virginia. Lover of the African diaspora, poetry, sustainability, & community.
Jasmine is a mama of three, nonprofit expert, lover of good music, travel, vegan fare, and reconnecting with the ancestors and Mother Earth.
Melissa is a queer woman of color, momma of two, tech guru, intentional community builder, activist, yogini, herbalist and raw vegan enthusiast.
2020
blew opened her home to families who decided to remove their children from school
Spring 2022
Steering Committee formed
Winter 2023
Officially incorporated as a non-profit
Spring/Summer2023
Awarded Vela grant
Relaunching 5 day program
Filing for tax-exemption status
Fall 2022
Shifted to weekly meetup group to focus energy on building the co-op foundation
Fall 2020
5 day program offered including a residency at One Art Community Center
Philosophy
We believe Black and Brown children deserve high-quality spaces where they are holistically centered and represented so they can explore their childhood freely without the layers of racism, othering, and friction. We know that each child is born with an individual purpose bringing their own interests, skills, pace, and insight. When children are at ease, feel cared for, and valued they are more involved learners. Learning is a full mind, body, and spirit adventure and we believe education is a communal process, where the whole family is part of the unschooling journey.
Curriculum Map
- Child-led, project-based individual and group exploration
- Affirmations and African proverbs to encourage positive self-development
- Daily time for quiet reading, reflection, and rest
- Academics are highlighted and naturally integrated
- Screen time is purposeful, not passive
- The Koku-Roko Community Guide facilitates a cohesive community of learning, exploring, and engaging in our creativity
Tribe Membership
- Tuesday-Friday 8:30am-3:30pm in Germantown
- September 12, 2023 - June 14, 2024
- Limited to 11 children per day
- Option to attend 2 to 4 days per week
- Mixed age groups: 2-13 years of age
- Facilitated learning support with experienced educators
- Bi-weekly Community Guides
- Youth-led daily agenda exploring projects and interests
- Koku-Roko notebook for daily reflections and journey documentation
- Monthly field trips
- Quarterly community potluck
- Babysitting co-op app membership
Tribe Membership Requirements
2023-24 Membership Fees | |||
2 | 3 | 4 | Days attended per week |
$440 | $600 | $720 | Monthly tuition per child |
- 5% sibling discount
- One parent per family to be present 1 full day for every 4 days your children are in the program. This will be collaboratively set and scheduled in advance for planning purposes.
- Each parent will need to provide references for community safety and connection.
Extended Family Membership
- 5 month agreement (Sept 12-Jan 31 / Feb 1-June 14)
- Community access with like-minded families
- Telegram private group chat invitation
- Monthly Community Guides
- Resource collection for homeschooling, unschooling, and growth opportunities for youth and families
- Virtual skill/interest offering
- Weekly meetups and monthly field trips
- Quarterly community potluck
- Babysitting co-op app membership
Extended Family Membership Requirements
- $70 per month per family
- One parent leader per session to lead a huddle per gathering
- Caregivers must be present at meetups unless agreeing to pass responsibility to another member of the group
- Each parent will need references for community safety and connection
Additional Benefits
- Co-working space for families!
- Homeschool resource library
- Support in portfolio creation and daily schedule for your learner
- Connection to homeschool evaluators
- Engaged co-learning with your young people, plus trusted community to free up your day
- Village of like-hearted folks raising free Black children
- Parent education & training opportunities
- Local business and service network
Enrollment
Click Here
Co-op members are vetted through an affirming process to ensure alignment with our mission and support strong community relationships.
Job Openings
Koku-Roko Learning Co-op is seeking facilitators who are interested in partnering with families and young people ages
2-13 years on their learning journey and are passionate about holistic education practices. We are looking for creative and
compassionate people that understand collective learning in mixed-age groups and are open to collaborating with families
in alternative learning spaces.
Check out the job posting to learn more and complete our interest form.