Creating Opportunities for Black Male Students and Educators
Throughout his professional career, Dr. Afrika has developed and led educational programs, secured grants and contracts, and established partnerships focused on advancing the educational experiences and development of Black male students and educators.
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Dr. Afrika's work spans daycare centers, early childhood education programs, elementary schools, middle schools, high schools, non-profits, community-based educational programs, colleges, and universities.
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As Founding Director and Founding Executive Director of the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers at Bowie State University, Dr. Afrika created and led initiatives focused on academic achievement, educator recruitment and preparation, mentoring, research, scholarship, leadership, professional development, and brotherhood.
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These experiences helped inform the creation of The Black Male Educator Classroom and Dr. Afrika's continuing commitment to supporting Black men in education.
​Black Male Student Development
Program
Black Boys Rites of Passage Program
Black Boys and Men Speaker Series
Years
2021–2024
2019–2025
African-centered cultural identity, mentoring, brotherhood, and personal development among Black boys
Connecting research, theory, and practice to the educational experiences, development, and well-being of Black boys and men
Focus
Black Male Educator Recruitment & Development
Program
Years
Focus
Brotherhood Living Learning Community
2024–2025
A residential academic learning community supporting Black male college students through mentoring, academic development, leadership, personal growth, and brotherhood
2022–2025
An academic learning community space supporting Black male students' engagement, mentoring, academic development, and success
2023
An academic learning community integrating linked university courses, high-impact educational practices, and introduction to the teaching profession
2021
An academic learning community using linked courses and high-impact practices to explore Black male identity, college success, and teaching
2019–2025
Recruiting, preparing, mentoring, and supporting Black male middle and high school students in pursuing teaching careers
2019–2025
Bringing together scholarship and professional experiences concerning Black male educator recruitment, preparation, development, and retention
2022
Research-informed professional learning examining Black male educators' experiences and pedagogical practices
2022–2025
Professional development for educators, teacher leaders, educational leaders, and school staff, including targeted initiatives supporting Black male teachers and educator preparation at HBCUs
2019–2025
Raising more than $50,000 in scholarship support for aspiring Black male educators
Brotherhood Student Success Hub
The Shop: Educating Black Men from Community to Classroom
The Bowie Man: Black Males in Education Scholars Studio
Black Male Teachers College Program
Black Male Teacher Speaker Series
Black Male Educator Pedagogy Professional Learning Series
Chicago SEED
Minority Male Educators Endowed Scholarship
Research & Scholarship Initiatives
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Initiative
Years
Focus
Faculty Fellows Program
2019–2025
Supporting faculty research and scholarship concerning Black male students and educators
Scholar Fellows Program
2019–2025
Engaging students in research, mentoring, and scholarly development related to Black male education
Selected Funded Grants & Contracts
Grant / Contract
Year
Agency / Partner
Amount
Bowie Black Male Educators Project
2022
U.S. Department of Education
$1,589,015
Racial Equity: From Black Boys to Men in STEM Education
2022
National Science Foundation
$3,997,959
Chicago SEED
2022
Voorhees University Center of Excellence for Educator Preparation and Innovation
$1,006,000
Black Male Initiative
2021- 2024
Bowie State University Title III
$652,000Â
Rites of Passage Program
2021
Anne Arundel County Public Schools
$116,000
Paraeducators Pathways to Culturally Responsive Teaching
2019
Maryland State Department of Education
$750,000
Expanding Black Male Research Across Campus
2018
Bowie State University
$6,000
Black Males in Middle School STEM Research & Mentoring Project
2017
National Science Foundation EAGER
$249,066
Undergraduate Black Male Teacher Research
2016
Bowie State University
$12,450
Black Male Teach Project
2016
Bowie State University
$5,500
Funding amounts represent institutional grants and contracts secured under previous name and as Founding Director/Executive Director for the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers at Bowie State University, not personal income or funding awarded to The Black Male Educator Classroom LLC.
Selected Project Highlights
Bowie Black Male Educators Project
U.S. Department of Education | $1,589,015 | Project Director
Funded through the Augustus F. Hawkins Centers of Excellence Program, the Bowie Black Male Educators Project was designed to strengthen pathways into the teaching profession for Black men.
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The initiative focused on educator recruitment, preparation, mentoring, and the development of culturally responsive teachers through Bowie State University's teacher education programs. It sought to address the underrepresentation of Black male teachers by developing intentional academic and professional support systems for aspiring educators.
Racial Equity: From Black Boys to Men in STEM Education
National Science Foundation | $3,997,959 | Lead Principal Investigator
This research initiative focused on the educational experiences and development of Black males across the STEM pathway, from earlier educational experiences into later academic and professional opportunities.
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The project combined intervention and critical race mixed-methods research to examine educational opportunities, experiences, and conditions affecting Black males in STEM. Its focus recognized the importance of understanding both the opportunities that support Black male achievement and the barriers shaping participation and advancement.
Chicago SEED
Voorhees University | $1,006,000 | Contract Leader
Chicago SEED supported professional development for educators, teacher leaders, educational leaders, and school staff.
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The work included culturally responsive professional learning, instructional and leadership development, National Board Certification, and targeted opportunities for Black male educators. It also connected educator development to HBCU teacher preparation initiatives, including Call Me MISTER.
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The initiative recognized that improving educational experiences requires investing in the professional learning and leadership capacity of those working with students and within educational institutions.
Black Male Initiative
Bowie State University Title III | $652,000 across four annual awards | Project Director
The Black Male Initiative supported a coordinated set of university-based opportunities focused on the academic, personal, social, and leadership development of Black male students.
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The initiative helped advance mentoring, intentional learning communities, brotherhood, student engagement, and opportunities for Black men to build relationships and strengthen their connection to the university.
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Its work reflected the importance of addressing Black male college students' educational experiences and development beyond classroom performance alone.
Black Males in Middle School STEM Research & Mentoring Project
National Science Foundation EAGER | $249,066 | Lead Principal Investigator
This research project investigated how STEM mentoring programs and informal educational experiences influenced Black male middle school students' academic and career interests in engineering.
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The study explored how culturally responsive mentoring and opportunities to engage with STEM learning environments could inform efforts to increase Black males' participation and interest in engineering and related fields.
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The work emphasized the importance of creating meaningful educational experiences and exposing Black male students to STEM pathways before they enter college.
Paraeducators Pathways to Culturally Responsive Teaching
Maryland State Department of Education | $750,000 | Bowie State University Lead Investigator
This collaborative educator preparation initiative developed pathways for paraeducators to advance toward becoming certified teachers.
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The project supported participants' movement into teacher preparation while emphasizing culturally responsive teaching practices and the development of educators equipped to serve diverse student populations.
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The initiative included three Black male participants and demonstrated how alternative preparation pathways can help broaden access to teaching careers.
Rites of Passage Program
Anne Arundel County Public Schools | $116,000 | Contract Leader
The Rites of Passage Program created culturally grounded developmental experiences for middle school Black boys through an African-centered approach.
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The program brought together cultural identity, historical knowledge, mentoring, brotherhood, reflection, and personal development to support students' growth and sense of self.
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Its work recognized that Black boys' educational development is inseparable from their social, emotional, cultural, and personal development.
Undergraduate Black Male Teacher Research
Bowie State University | $12,450 | Principal Investigator
This initiative engaged undergraduate Black male teacher candidates in research focused on the identities, preparation, and professional experiences of Black male educators.
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Rather than positioning students only as recipients of knowledge, the project created opportunities for them to become researchers examining the profession they were preparing to enter.
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The work contributed to scholarly presentations and publications while supporting the research development and professional identities of aspiring Black male teachers.
Funding amounts represent institutional grants and contracts secured under previous name and as Founding Director/Executive Director for the Center for Research and Mentoring of Black Male Students and Teachers at Bowie State University, not personal income or funding awarded to The Black Male Educator Classroom LLC.
From Programs and Research to The Black Male Educator Classroom
These experiences reinforced my commitment to creating intentional communities, expanding educational opportunities, and developing culturally grounded approaches that recognize the strengths, identities, and aspirations of Black males.
The Black Male Educator Classroom builds upon this work by creating opportunities for Black men in education to connect, develop meaningful relationships, and pursue personal and professional growth.
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