Nestled in the heart of Bronzeville, It Takes A Village Leadership Academy is doing what few schools in Chicago—or the country—dare to do. It is radically reimagining education for Black children by centering cultural empowerment, global citizenship, and community responsibility in every lesson, every classroom, and every trip abroad.
Founded by educators and community advocates Nakisha Hobbs and Anita Andrews-Hutchinson, alongside Hobbs’ mother, former CPS teacher Gwendolyn Harris, the school was born out of necessity. After running successful early learning centers on Chicago’s West Side, the trio witnessed their students enter public schools only to be told they were “too advanced.” Parents urged them to do more.
So, they did.
Today, It Takes A Village is a thriving independent K–8 school where academic rigor meets social justice. It’s a space where children learn not only algebra and grammar but also how to interrogate systems of oppression, build grassroots campaigns, and speak confidently about issues that impact their communities. Its motto might as well be: educate the whole child—and prepare them for the world.
“We don’t want to replicate the status quo,” said Dayo Harris, the school’s Vice President of Curriculum, Culture, and Development. “We want our students to have the language of oppression and resistance. We want them to feel confident interrogating the world.”
That vision materializes through a three-pronged approach: an interdisciplinary social justice curriculum, student-led grassroots campaigns, and the innovative World Scholars Program, which sends students as young as third grade abroad to experience the cultural, political, and economic landscapes of countries like Ghana, Costa Rica, Haiti, Panama, and, this summer, Kenya.
“The trip isn’t just a vacation,” Harris emphasized. “It’s a deeply intentional extension of their classroom learning. They study the country’s geography, religion, political structure, and social systems before they even board the plane.”
According to eighth-grader Telvir Williams, who has already traveled to Rwanda and Brazil through the program, the impact is lasting. “I remember when someone said Africa is dirty,” he recalled. “But I’ve been to Rwanda. It’s one of the cleanest countries I’ve seen. Now I can bust that myth.”
This kind of cultural awareness doesn’t just happen. It’s built on a curriculum that begins with identity—how students understand themselves and their place in the world. From there, they move through a continental history that starts with Africa, then Latin America, Asia, and beyond. “We’re not emphasizing a Eurocentric worldview,” said Harris. “We want students to understand that cultural exchange is powerful, and global Black solidarity is essential.”
While the school centers Black cultural experiences, its doors are open to students of all backgrounds who value equity, global awareness, and culturally responsive learning.
This aligns with a growing body of research that underscores the value of culturally responsive teaching and teacher diversity. Studies show that Black students are more likely to graduate and enroll in college if they’ve had at least one Black teacher. They’re also less likely to be suspended and more likely to see themselves reflected in the curriculum, which leads to greater academic confidence and higher achievement.
“These benefits are visible at It Takes A Village, where the staff reflects the student body and embraces an inclusive environment that affirms students of all cultural backgrounds.” Teachers like Ms. McGee—who leads the World Scholars class—integrate social justice movements like Kenya’s Mau Mau resistance into lessons about contemporary civic engagement. “We draw comparisons between freedom movements across continents,” said McGee. “It helps them see that liberation isn’t a chapter in a book—it’s a global struggle, and they are part of it.”
That awareness starts early. Kindergarteners participate in social-emotional learning lessons on empathy and emotional regulation. By the time they reach third grade, they are reading contemporary articles, analyzing the media, and discussing civic responsibility. Each homeroom class creates a year-long grassroots campaign around a social justice issue, from food insecurity to gun violence. Some students are even studying the federal budget.
The school’s commitment to truth-telling has grown even stronger in recent years, as political efforts to ban books and censor Black history intensify nationwide. “It’s one of the benefits of being an independent school,” Harris said. “We teach accurate history. Period. Not just about oppression—but also about resistance and solidarity. Our students know they have the power to create change now, not just as adults.”
It’s no wonder parents are increasingly seeking out the school for their children—especially parents of Black boys, who are often disproportionately disciplined or mislabeled in traditional settings. “We’re seeing families come to us because their sons were misunderstood or unfairly targeted,” Harris said. “Here, they’re affirmed. They’re safe.”
Safety isn’t just a feeling. The school has invested in physical security as well as emotional support. Every classroom includes Second Step, a social-emotional learning curriculum that helps students manage conflict, regulate emotions, and build self-esteem. For students with IEPs, ADHD, or learning differences, the school offers tailored support through Title I services, reading and math tutoring, and intervention groups—all free of charge.
In Chicago, where only 17% of Black students met or exceeded reading standards on recent state assessments and less than 1 in 4 Black male students graduate high school in four years, the outcomes from It Takes A Village tell a different story. Students here learn at least one grade level ahead in reading and math. And more importantly, they believe in themselves.
“I feel like I can talk to anybody now,” said eighth-grader Lamar Bramlett. “This school helped me expand my vocabulary and my confidence.”
His classmate Carter Shaw echoed that sentiment. “At my old school, things were falling apart. Here, I feel like I have more direction. I want to be a lawyer or real estate investor. And I’m learning the skills I need to do that.”
But the school can’t do it alone. The World Scholars trips are funded almost entirely through donations and digital fundraising. Corporate sponsors like Mamon Powers of Powers & Sons Construction have stepped up with $25,000 gifts, but more help is needed.
“We used to hold annual galas,” said Harris. “Now, we rely heavily on digital outreach and our 20,000-subscriber email list. Every dollar goes toward changing a child’s life.”
Parents are invited to attend the trips—many for the first time leaving the country—and students return with new eyes, deeper understanding, and bold dreams.
When asked what he wants to be when he grows up, Telvir responded without hesitation: “A judge, a lawyer, the president, maybe even an astronaut.” And he’s already taken the first steps.
“In a city where public school closings, inequitable funding, and systemic racism continue to shape educational realities—especially for Black children and other historically marginalized students,”It Takes A Village Leadership Academy offers a glimpse of what is possible when education is centered on truth, justice, and love.
To learn more or donate to the World Scholars Program, visit www.itavschools.org.