NationHouse

 NationHouse Positive Action Center, private African - American school originally located at 770 Park Rd NW in Washington, D.C. I had the opportunity to attend this school from 1978 - 1991. Some of my teachers while I was a student at NationHouse include Baba Agyei Akoto, Mama Nkechi Taifa, Mama Afia Nson Bonsu and Baba Michael Anthony - Brown artist. 

"Baba Agyei Akoto was a respected scholar, educator, institution builder and author. He was the principal of NationHouse Positive Action Center – which has provided a rigorous African-centered education to students ranging from pre-school through high school, for over thirty eight years." Baba Agyei recently passed on December 4, 2019. 

"Mama Nkechi Taifa is a native Washingtonian and life-long resident of the District of Columbia. She is a social justice attorney, activist, author, motivational speaker and entrepreneur. She serves as a Senior Policy Analyst for an international foundation and convenes a Washington-based coalition advancing federal criminal justice policy reform. She has served as legislative and policy counsel for several advocacy organizations, and as founding director of the Howard University School of Law’s award-winning Equal Justice Program, and as an adjunct professor at Howard Law and American University Washington College of Law. As a private practitioner she represented adult and juvenile clients before the Superior Court of the District of Columba. Ms. Taifa has served on the boards of numerous public interest organizations and has written and spoken extensively on issues of civil/human rights and criminal and civil justice reform. She received her Juris Doctorate from George Washington University Law School, and BA degree from Howard University." 

"Mama Afia Nson, art had always been somewhat of a family tradition and the driving force for every venture in her personal and professional life. Afia Nson Bonsu was born 1956 in Trenton, New Jersey. She relocated to the District of Columbia to transfer to Howard University from Mercer County College Fine Arts program after a 2-year hiatus. She created for academia, she created as an outlet, and she created as a means of income; selling jewelry and crafts at various festivals and art events. A mother of 2 sons, and a full time student, her determination, hard work, dedication and vision were recognized with a spot on the dean’s list. In 1978 upon arriving in the District, Afia began dancing with Wose' Dance Company under the direction of Aiedoo Holmes followed by Memory of African Dance Company under the direction of Djimo Kouyate until 2005.

She also performed briefly with Nation Liberation Arts Ensemble.   Over the course of 30 years Afia Nson Bonsu has painted backdrops, constructed dance costumes, created approximately 150 pieces of wearable art, produced graphic tee designs for organizations and individuals, illustrated album covers, book covers and four children's books. She taught, created lesson plans, and directed pre-school through high school from 1978 through 2010.

In 1993 Afia produced a poster art coloring collection called 'Nationkolors'. She has produced artwork, textile and dance instruction for a youth summer program from 1979-1998.  She served as an art, step and dance instructor for elementary students in the Washington DC metropolitan area from 1998- 2006. She is the official creator of the dance/step team 'Taratibu', founded in 1979; a program that has served the community, and contributed greatly to the art of step along the east coast.

She has conducted professional development sessions for educators, sewing workshops, and even life coaching sessions. In addition to her many partnerships with various organizations and her amazing work as a private seamstress, Afia also serves as assistant costume designer for select Caribbean carnival bands in Antigua, constructing wearable masks and headpieces. Afia has devoted every aspect of her life to her children. Though she has birthed 4, she has and continues to raise, inspire and influence children across communities. “Now that [her] children are grown”, Ms. Bonsu is actively reestablishing her art career. She currently manages and facilitates an acclaimed homeschool academy for infants and toddlers using art to produce original learning supplies. Her company, Rhythm-N-Flow LLC, has been in operation since 2011and shall be releasing the long-awaited and highly requested curriculum to be accompanied by earning supplies inspired by her original artwork. Afia Nson Bonsu has committed her life to serving others through her talents and creations." 

"Baba Michael Anthony - Brown artist is a gifted multi-media artist who has worked independently for nearly four decades. He grew up in what is known as one of the toughest neighborhoods in Washington, DC, the Trinidad section. As a child he began drawing pictures from life, and doodling from comic books.  At the age of 12, one of his teachers recommended that he attend art classes through a new program titled Workshop For Carriers in The Arts. This program was designed for students ages 15 and 18. Unfortunately, he was turned away and told that he was too young for this program, to come back when he was 15. However the very next year he reapplied, and interviewed with the same person who interviewed him the previous year. Upon realizing that this was the same child that he interviewed the previous year, Michael was allowed to attend the workshop at 13 years of age. 

While in High School, he continued to developed his craft, receiving numerous awards in art and began to sell his paintings on the streets of Washington DC through a DC program called Art in The Parks. He is a graduate of The School of The Arts at Western now known as the Duke Ellington School of Arts, and received a BFA from the Maryland Institute College of Art. He did graduate work at Howard University. And has worked as a professional Artist ever since. 

In Michael’s work, realism and surrealism are combined to create lush, historical "dreamscapes" empowered with cultural images from our ancestral past to inspire our visions of tomorrow. From his hands come people and places of uncommon beauty, spirituality and pride. The passion so abundant in his trailblazing works makes him one of the most exciting and innovative artists of our time. And just when we think we know the parameters of Michael's art, he astounds us with bronze sculptures, that reflect beauty, power, and grace while paying tribute to "the greatness sleeping in us all".  Michael has been blessed to exhibited nationally and internationally in galleries, art exhibitions, and museums. " ​

At NationHouse, I had the opportunity to learn about my roots, culture and heritage. I participated in numerous Kwanzaa programs and events. When I left NationHouse in 1991, I continued to recognize and celebrate my roots, culture and heritage.  Many years later, I learned that NationHouse got demolished and shut down. Recently, I received information about Baba Agyei's transition on December 4, 2019. I believe that having a safe, nurturing, and positive environment aids in the development of students and their academic success.   ​