Equity and Transformation is excited to announce the launch of the Restore Fellowship

Connecting Black informal workers to their indigenous roots through land, lineage and language in West Africa

Equity and Transformation is excited to announce the launch of the Restore Fellowship

Connecting Black informal workers to their indigenous roots through land, lineage and language in West Africa.

Chicago, Ill. -- Equity and Transformation (E.A.T.) opened applications for The Restore Fellowship with an overwhelming response. Applicants from all over the city and suburbs applied for the opportunity to reconnect with their African heritage through this immersive fellowship experience. In partnership with Resplendence Language Arts, E.A.T. has developed a 23-week curriculum to prepare participants for a 10-day trip the Benin, the former Kingdom of Dahomey and one of the largest slave ports in West Africa in November 2024. The Restore Fellowship was created with the intent to be an example of how to satisfy the reparations pillar of restitution for descendants of chattel slavery. This fellowship is meant to provide space and structure for our communities’ most marginalized Black people to reconnect with their indigenous roots and heal from the historical trauma caused by slavery in the U.S.

After reviewing all applications, some participants were called back for interviews and of those that were interviewed five fellows were chosen to embark on this journey into self and identity that will be fully funded for participants throughout starting with facilitated courses through zoom to the culmination of the fellowship which is a 10-day stay in Benin. The curriculum will provide a foundational introduction to the Fongbe language for beginners. Fellows will acquire essential conversational skills in Fongbe through engaging in interactive activities designed to reinforce vocabulary and pronunciation. Additionally, the course will delve into the history, culture, and spirituality of the Fongbe speakers in Benin with specific attention to the Kingdom of Dahomey.

Primary Goals of the Fellowship as stated by EAT- Chicago

1. Empower fellows through healing their relationship to land, language, and lineage.

2. Change the narrative surrounding reparations to include a more robust vision of

restitution that goes beyond simply cash payments.

3. Support the Fellows in developing a deeper sense of self.

4. Reconnect descendants of chattel slavery to their history beyond the US context

It is with great pride that the team at Equity and Transformation announce the inaugural round of fellows that will be embarking on this healing journey into reclaiming their identity and ancestral roots: Nicole Lurry (Joliet, IL) Malcolm London (Chicago, IL) Damien Davis (Chicago, IL) Shabazza Hameed (Chicago, IL) Quianya Enge (Carbondale, IL)

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