Hello folks. It’s been a while since we last posted on DEI. So much has changed! In this episode, entitled Ubuntu-Freedom: An Alternative Life Approach we welcome YahNé Ndego of the UBUNTU-FREEDOM Project. YahNé Ndgo (pronounced “Indigo) has been developing the project for well over a decade. It is based off three pillars and 12 principles collectively developed. As one of the visionaries for the project, she is working with teams of organizers, as partners and advisors, to develop a collection of freedom resources. These resources will support and network communities and individual’s ability to embody the Principles of Freedom inspired by Ubuntu, which mean – “I am because you are.”
While building these resources, she brings Ubuntu Freedom into the world by supporting and developing projects that embody the principles, including The Care Space Project, Curbfest, Homegrown Maroons and the Annual Maroon Legacy Prisoners’ Families Brunch. She is a member of the Black Alliance for Peace.
Three Pillars of Ubuntu-Freedom
The members of UBUNTU-FREEDOM have three pillars which guide their work. The first is UFree Digital Platform. The platform is a site the project is developing to enable people connected to the project to communicate with each other, share ideas, and give feedback on how various strategies are working.
Deeply ingrained in UBUNTU-FREEDOM is the idea that not only are they working to build a new society for the future, but they are trying to live the principles now as they build for that future. The Seed & Harvest pillar creates immersive experiences where folks can do just that. They can learn about sustainable building and farming. They can study, build communities, and learn about self-care.
The third Pillar is Church of the Revolution where project members seek to create physical spaces in communities. These centers will allow people to gather to meet, organize, strategize, educate and serve as a location for community resources.
12 Principles
Ubuntu-Freedom is guided by 12 principles. They are (1) Food is Freedom; (2) Housing is a Human Right; (3) Every Individual’s Health is Community Wealth; (4) We are the environment and the environment is us; (5)We Are the Brian Trust; (6) Self-determination is Freedom’s Manifestation; (7) We are born with all the currency we need; (8) Our contribution is Our value; (9) Our Differences make us beautiful, brilliant, and powerful; (10) A Safe Community is a free Community; (11) The Core of Communities is the Connection of Individuals; (12) Our resource ecosystem is based on Life, Health, and Environmental Sustainability.
Each principle is accompanied with a description of system ideas for that principle as well as some examples of how the principle could be embodied. You can find the full list of principles and their systems here.
More Information on YahNé
** For more information about YahNé and her work, you can go to her website. We do want to point out that she has sections of the site where there is Jill Stein campaign information featured in the background. Nubian Tigers does not now, nor has it in the past, supported any of Jill Stein’s campaigns. However, we do recognize that some activists did, and still do support her. We want to use this as an example to show you don’t have to agree with every position of allied activists, but you can still support the ideas and projects where you share common ground.
We know this show is a little different from what we normally offer, but we are living in trying times. Open your mind and enjoy Ubuntu-Freedom: An Alternative Life Approach.