Program / Event Details
Provider: Khadijah Z. Ali-Coleman, Ed.D.
Contact Details
Format: Multi-session residency or recurring in-class program (originally developed for students in grades 9–10 in an alternative high school setting; adaptable across grade levels)
Audience: Students (originally designed for students experiencing behavioral and attendance challenges in traditional classroom settings, and adaptable for general education classrooms)
Description: Using the drum as a centerpiece for learning and creative expression, Dr. Ali-Coleman guides students through the history of the Piscataway native people of Maryland and the Guinea people of Africa, including their early presence in colonial Maryland. Students engage in a multi-disciplinary sequence of activities built around identity, culture, and communication — including designing and crafting their own drums and composing original spoken word pieces inspired by what they’ve learned.
The program combines history instruction, cultural studies, visual/craft arts, and creative writing/performance, making it especially well-suited for students who benefit from hands-on, expressive, and identity-affirming learning approaches.
Ideal for:
- Alternative education and behavioral support programs
- Social studies, African American history, or Native American history units
- Arts integration and creative writing curricula
- Identity-based advisory or SEL (social-emotional learning) programming
- Multi-day artist residencies
- Professional development
Suggested Structure: Can be scheduled as a short residency (multiple sessions across several days or weeks) or as a recurring in-class program, allowing time for:
- Historical and cultural grounding (Piscataway and Guinea peoples in colonial Maryland)
- Drum design and craft creation
- Spoken word writing and development
- Culminating showcase/performance (optional)
Duration: Flexible — can be scaled from a 3-session mini-residency to a longer-term program depending on school schedule and goals.
Materials/Space Needs: Classroom or arts space with tables for drum-making; art/craft supplies (details provided upon booking); space for movement and spoken word performance.
Scheduling Note: As a program, this can be booked across multiple dates to fit a school’s calendar, unit plan, or residency timeline — ideal for sustained engagement rather than a single occasion.