AAHRC CO-FOUNDER

Babalwa Kwanele is the founder, creative designer, and visionary for Project Sankofa. 

Professionally, she is a Licensed Marriage Family Therapist, specializing in complex trauma.  She is a community activist, programmatic community developer, and an innovative social scientist. She firmly supports community defined research practices  

Project Sankofa was developed from her research work on the influential factors of Holistic Third Spaces that center radical healing, well-being, belonging, Black joy, and futurism within the youth identity formation process. 

AAHRC CO-FOUNDER PROGRAM ADMINISTRATOR & LEAD - PROJECT SANKOFA CO-FOUNDER

Starla is a community health advocate, organizer, and researcher whose work emphasizes the crucial roles of community driven  engagement and participation in research and program development as a pathway to reduce health disparities. She brings a blend of community-rooted leadership, research collaboration, and program development that centers the voices of the community to her work. 20 plus years of experience in community organizing has culminated in co-founding the Berkeley nonprofit Healthy Black Families, and co-leading the development of the African American Holistic Resource Center in Berkeley.

MENTAL HEALTH INTERN SUPERVISOR

Derethia DuVal, PhD, a semi-retired Marriage and Family Therapist in the Bay Area for nearly 50 years. An Emeritus faculty member and former director of the Counseling and Psychological Services at San Francisco State University. Derethia has been on the board of the African American Holistic Resource Center for nearly 10 years. Today, she is enjoying her involvement in the African American Holistic Center’s first community program “The Sankofa Project.”

PROJECT SANKOFA PROGRAM MANAGER

Durwin Brown, also known as "Brotha D", is a community leader, youth advocate, educator, mentor, and founder of The Catalyst Foundation for Youth Development. With over 20 years of experience in youth programming, case management, community activism, and program administration, Durwin has dedicated his life to empowering young people, strengthening families, and building culturally responsive spaces for healing, growth, leadership, and self-discovery.

Rooted in Oakland and deeply connected to communities across the Bay Area, Durwin’s work centers on helping youth recognize their value, develop life skills, and unlock their innate greatness. Through workshops, mentorship, mental health awareness, college-readiness programming, and community-based education, he creates opportunities for young people to see themselves as leaders, thinkers, builders, and change agents.

As the founder of The Catalyst Foundation for Youth Development, Durwin continues to lead with the belief that transformation begins with exposure, guidance, accountability, and love. His motto, “Each One, Teach One Thousand,” reflects his lifelong commitment to passing knowledge forward and building a legacy of service that reaches far beyond one generation.

Durwin B. Brown’s mission is simple but powerful: to educate, uplift, and activate the next generation through culture, compassion, mentorship, and community care.

PROJECT SANKOFA DIGITAL MEDIA CAMPAIGN SPECIALIST

Akilah Shaheed brings a wealth of experience across the health, education, and non-profit sectors to her role as Digital Media Campaign Specialist. Dedicated to the principles of Radical Healing, she crafts strategic campaigns for Project Sankofa that prioritize community wellness and authentic connection.

Beyond her strategic work, Akilah serves as a mentor and supervisor to the Project Sankofa interns, guiding them in mastering the art of strategic storytelling and media production. By fostering their technical and creative skills, she ensures that the next generation of communicators is equipped to amplify community voices with clarity and heart. Akilah ensures every digital interaction—whether led by her or her team—is clear, timely, and centered on the human experience.

PROJECT SANKOFA INTERN

Mikaius Smith is a talented professional, an experienced artist and graphic designer who is local to the Bay Area. He specializes in acrylic, oil, and digital portraits, as well as curation of visuals for websites and online content.

PROJECT SANKOFA INTERN

Ja'Haron Shaheed-Lewis is the youngest member of the Project Sankofa team, bringing a fresh and vital perspective to our Radical Healing and mental wellness campaign. As part of his expansive homeschooling journey, Ja'Haron utilizes this internship to bridge the gap between traditional education and real-world community advocacy.

He brings a unique set of restorative skills to the table, including:

• Earth-Based Wisdom: A deep background in the apprenticeship of agriculture and native plants, understanding the connection between the land and our collective well-being.

• Mindful Discipline: A passion for horsemanship, a practice he uses as a powerful medium for self-expression and stress management.

By integrating his love for nature and animals into his work, Ja'Haron exemplifies how diverse, healthy outlets can foster mental clarity and resilience. He is dedicated to sharing these pathways of healing with his peers and the broader community through his contributions to Project Sankofa.

PROJECT SANKOFA INTERN

Mahmood Love brings a versatile toolkit of technical skill and creative depth to the Project Sankofa team. Currently expanding his expertise in construction and welding, Mahmood also contributes a strong foundation in carpentry.

Beyond his technical trades, he is a gifted practitioner of poetry and spoken word. Drawing on his personal experience within the Berkeley Public School system, Mahmood uses his voice to maintain the authenticity of strategic storytelling. He is dedicated to creating and preserving healthy outlets for his peers, ensuring that those coming after him have the tools and inspiration to express their own truths.