ABOUT ABEN

FOR ACADEMIC

AND CULTURAL

EXCELLENCE

ABEN was the former California Alliance of African American Educators (CAAAE)

A Black Education Network (ABEN) is a membership organization open to public, private and charter school educators, school and district administrators, board trustees, college/university faculty and staff, education program developers, support providers, high school, undergraduate and graduate students, parents, community rightsholders, civic and corporate leaders who resonate with our mission and are compelled to collaborate and invest in our efforts to achieve academic and cultural excellence for students of African ancestry.

ABEN's vision  is to develop, support and sustain a national network to serve thousands of students through STEM Academies and cultural programs and activities to ensure that Black students reach their full potential.

More specifically, we seek to work with partners who are committed to moving toward the provision of African-centered education — to the degree possible within any given environment. 

Our mission  is to reverse the backward slide by facilitating academic and cultural excellence where ever our children are— using culturally informed research, technology, visionary parent education, and networking in our communities, here and in diaspora contexts.  

EDUCATION FOR LIBERATION

Some History. . . .

Dr. Joyce E. King, a long time thought-partner of the CAAAE’s founder, Debra Watkins, urged Debra to spearhead a 2012 National Black Education Agenda Working Summit in Chicago. The purpose was to address the widespread mis-education of children of African ancestry. Debra put together a praxis group focused on building a network of schools, community partners, educators, researchers and non-profit organizations to serve African American students across the country by scaling CAAAE’s proven programs— including Project WORD, Dr. Frank S. Greene Scholars Program (GSP), Dr. George Washington Carver Scholars Program (CSP) and other activities that promote academic and cultural excellence. ABEN took over the CAAAE, and the rest is history.  

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While our brand new website is under construction, we nonetheless welcome you to visit the existing one at www.aben4ace.org to learn more about ABEN's newest projects and current campaigns, and also to take advantage of the many membership benefits of officially joining our stellar organization— specifically and un-apologetically designed as— A BLACK EDUCATION NETWORK.