Umoja Perspectives Blog

Dear Umoja Student Leader, 

Welcome to 2026. The foundation has multiple events for you this year. Along with symposiums, summits, and our annual conference, Umoja will publish a blog. 

The objective of the Umoja Perspectives blog is to provide you with practical leadership tools that you can use to support and collaborate with other scholars. Whether you serve as a student ambassador, international fellow, or alumnus, I will equip you with the resources to increase your leadership skills and knowledge.  

Remember the words of Ancestor Malcolm, El-hajj Malik El-Shabazz, X: “Tomorrow belongs to those who prepare for it today.” Lead effectively by acting now. Avoid delays.  

Let’s get to work.  

The following are three time management strategies applicable from the moment you finish this letter.  

Step 1: Establish your priorities clearly.  

Figure out what you want to do and write it down. The more specific, the better. For example, don’t say, “I want to study.” Indicate how you will gain knowledge and develop skills. e.g., “I want to read 25 pages of Ta-Nehisi Coates’s book, Between the World and Me, before 8 PM tonight.” Make it a goal to teach someone about your studies and deepen your understanding of the subject.  

Step 2: Create a schedule for your priorities.  

After clarifying your priorities, write or use an electronic device to set the day and time to accomplish your goals. You can use your phone, computer, tablet, or a pen and notebook. It’s important to make a schedule.  

Step 3: Contact your accountability partner.  

Whether the person is a family member, friend, professor, or Umoja counselor, contact someone you can rely on to hold you accountable. Tell them about your goals and ask them to check in with you.  

Ok, that’s it for this first post.  

It’s time for you to be about that work! Establish priorities, create the schedule, and find accountability.  

If you execute the three suggestions of this letter, you will improve daily in your Umoja student leadership role. Don’t hesitate to reach out to your counselor, coordinator, professor, trusted family member, or friend for support.  

The Umoja Community Education is here to support you in the process of becoming the best version of yourself. 

Follow and contact us via LinkedIn and Instagram @umojaedu.  

In solidarity with your success,  

Dr. V 

P.S. For extra credit in knowledge of self, Read Malcolm, X. (2015). The autobiography of Malcolm X. One World.