Umoja Community

Our Mission

Umoja (A Kiswahili word meaning unity) is a community and critical resource dedicated to enhancing the cultural and educational experiences of African American and other students.

When the voices and histories of students are deliberately and intentionally recognized, the opportunity for self-efficacy emerges and a foundation is formed for academic success.

Umoja actively serves and promotes student success for all students through a curriculum and pedagogy responsive to the legacy of the African and African American Diasporas.

Join the UMOJA program at MJC!

RISE UP CENTER LOCATION: Center for Advanced Technologies (CAT), Room 261

Upstairs - East Campus | Phone: (209)575-6847 | Email: mjcriseupcenter@yosemite.edu

Organizing Principles Of Our Community

• Students Are Our Highest Priority: serving to promote student success for all students 
• Touching the Spirit: using a holistic approach to reach each student---Body, Mind, and Spirit
• Building Community: creating an environment that encourages students to be accountable to each other's learning
• Connections to the African Diaspora: expanding students' cultural awareness of the diaspora and articulating their place in that experience
• Ethic of Love: expressing compassion and care in the learning community
• Culturally Relevant Pedagogy and Practices: developing curriculum relevant to the students' lives for learning
• Ritual: engaging in cultural practices rooted in African traditions to strengthen the community and the people within the community 

Umoja Can Help Students With:

• Lending library: books, statistics calculators, tablets, and/or computers
• Priority registration: students who remain in good standing with Umoja will be granted higher priority for class registering 
• Mentoring and tutoring support: supplemental instructors/instructional assistance, academic support coaches, support groups
• Travel for Umoja students to participate in "in-state" four-year institution campus visit or tours to HBCU Transfer Partner Schools
• Activities to help you understand and thrive on campus
• Conferences and Symposiums: Free participation (transportation, lodging, food) 
• Gift/Cash cards (no cash grants) for economically disadvantaged Umoja students after exhausting all Financial Aid Services for: Gas, Groceries, Clothing
• Snack bar with healthy foods 
• Public Transportation assistance for qualified Umoja students
• Culturally relevant activities and performances: African American/Black Graduation, workshops, presenters, and keynote speakers 

The Umoja website contains more information about the Umoja program as well as a calendar of upcoming Umoja events at MJC and our affiliate programs around the state.

Need Umoja Support? Contact:

Eric Anthony Ivory
Umoja Counselor, Instructor, Faculty Coordinator, Founding Elder
Email: ivorye@yosemite.edu

Glen Stovall
Director, RISE UP Center, Founding Elder
Email: stovallg@yosemite.edu

Chandra Howard
English Professor, Founding Umoja Faculty
Email: howardc@yosemite.edu 

Marvin Jackson
Umoja Council, History Faculty and Football Coach
Email: jacksonma@yosemite.edu 

Dejeune Shelton
Career Services Director
Email: sheltond@yosemite.edu

Venesse Metcalf
Umoja Elder, Human Services & BBSS Instructor
Email: metcalfv@yosemite.edu

LaKiesha McDonald
Career Services Program Specialist, Founding Umoja Member
Email: mcdonaldl@yosemite.edu

Tracey Potts
Behavioral and Social Science Counselor, Founding Umoja Faculty
Email: pottst@yosemite.edu

Michael Jackson
Veterans Services Coordinator, ASC and Veterans Counselor
Email: jacksonm@yosemite.edu

Pamela Crittenden
Founding Umoja Elder, Counseling Faculty-Retired

Al Smith
Founding Umoja Elder, Faculty Coordinator & Griot (History Professor)-Retired