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Programmes Home > Search USA > The True Roots Project The True Roots ProjectVOTE for our project now at www.RefreshEverything.com/TrueRoots!FAQsWhat am I voting for?Search for Common Ground is partnering with African Ancestry to launch a project that will help at-risk, black youth unlock the secret of their identity and learn who they truly are. The True Roots Project will provide ancestry tests to 100 black youth in juvenile detention or at-risk programs in the Washington D.C. area. Pepsi is sponsoring an online idea competition. If you and all of your friends vote for The True Roots Project, we could win $50,000 for the project. Why ancestry testing?Too many African-American youth turn to “gang culture” for a sense of belonging, community, and identity. They don’t know their true heritage or culture; much of this ancestral knowledge was wiped out during slavery and segregation. A person who does not know his own past is disadvantaged in shaping his future. Fortunately, today’s science can fill in important blanks and provide new answers. Ancestry tests can tell them what tribe or African country they are from. And it turns out that knowing one’s ancestry makes a difference. In fact, it’s transformative. See for yourself, as Isaiah Washington’s heritage is revealed to him. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RXz6v4eUtM4 What Do Others Say about ancestry testing?“Our roots are the foundation of our family tree. They help define who we are. However, for many of us, the injustices of slavery have robbed those trees of many of its most important branches, leaving major voids with respect to our African history. African Ancestry allows people to reconnect to their ancestral past—easily, accurately and profoundly.” “Tracing my ancestry was more than a cultural exercise. It is a deeply spiritual event. If you don’t know your heritage you can’t fully know who you are. If you don’t know who you are someone else will define you. If someone else defines you they tend to define you in terms that position themselves for power and you for subjugation. Now that I know, I plan to redouble my efforts to invest my resources in ways that build up my people on this side of the Atlantic and on the other side.” “I am moved more than I ever thought I would be. We are empowered by details, and this small fact is a significant detail in my life, and brings with it such inner dignity.” What will The True Roots Project accomplish?We will document these youth as they discover and learn about this aspect of their identities. We will partner with educators to create a curriculum for these youth that incorporates science, history, culture and geography using the most fascinating subject of all—themselves. We will develop a model that can be replicated in other locations, conduct research, and evaluate results. Rather than embracing gang culture’s false tribalism, these youth will have the opportunity to embrace their true roots. This process will give them a new sense of grounding, inspiration, and personal pride. As a result, it will help make our urban neighborhoods more peaceful and prosperous. It can also help our society see and embrace black youth differently. How can I help?VOTE for The True Roots Project starting February 1 at www.refresheverything.com TELL YOUR FRIENDS TO VOTE. Please help us provide ancestry testing kits to black youth in underserved neighborhoods of D.C. Help us transform the way young people see themselves and the way we see them. Together we will transform lives and the way we live together. What is Search for Common Ground?Search for Common Ground is a global conflict transformation organization. SFCG works with child soldiers in Africa, women in the Middle East, and children and youth worldwide to prevent conflict and heal the wounds that are caused by conflict. We are equally dedicated to healing the wounds of racism and divisions in our own country. For more information, visit www.sfcg.org Who is going to do the ancestry tests?African Ancestry is an established genetic genealogy company, headquartered in Washington, D.C. African Ancestry has pioneered the effort of helping African-Americans learn their true identity. Co-founders, Gina Paige and Dr. Rick Kittles, have created a vehicle to enable people of African descent to trace their ancestry back to their present-day country of origin by analyzing their DNA. African Ancestry has traced the DNA of many notable people, including Oprah Winfrey, Spike Lee, and Isaiah Washington. For more information, visit www.africanancestry.com How do I find out more?Send an email to jcarter@sfcg.org and let us know you want to stay tuned…. VOTE for our project now at www.RefreshEverything.com/TrueRoots!
Search for Common Ground (Washington DC)
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