About Us
Mission & Philosophy
The mission of Roots Activity Learning Center is to:
Promote and secure the connection of mother Africa within our children. To prepare students to break the chains of psychological conditioning that attempts to keep them powerless in all phases of society.
Provide students with a strong African-centered learning environment Guide students toward academic excellence, exemplary character and social responsibility Encourage success leading to self-reliance and economical, social and political contributions to society Roots Activity Learning Center believes in the principles of Nguzo Saba - The African Value System of:
• Umoja - Unity
• Kujichagulia - Self Determination
• Ujima - Collective Work & Responsibility
• Ujamaa - Cooperative Economics
• Nia - Purpose
• Kuumba- Creativity
• Imani - Faith
The teachers and staff of Roots believe that children of African heritage have unlimited potential, that can flourish and bring about a brighter world if nourished properly. We believe in teaching from an African-
centered perspective, which includes, hands-on and holistic activities.
Our school is designed to facilitate organized activity using open spaces which are strategically divided. Student are grouped in a multi-grade fashion so as they can grow and develop naturally as siblings do in a family - the younger learning skills faster and older acquiring a sense of responsibility and maturity along with advanced academic skills.
The Roots motto is "Youth are the roots of change" and "Exposure is the key to intelligence." RALC provides students with an academically stimulating curriculum of language arts, mathematics, science, social studies, music, art, and physical education in a caring environment. The goal is to enable students to becomes successful, lifelong learners and valuable, contributing, positive agents of change of the global community.
Our Founder
Dr. Bernida Thompson
For more than 50 years, Dr. Bernida L. Thompson, with the help of several conscientious mamas and babas, has provided an African-centered education for hundreds of Black children who’ve walked through the halls of Roots Activity Learning Center and Roots Public Charter School, both located in Northwest.
Mama Bernida, remains steadfast in her assertion that Black children in the District benefit from an educational model that promotes the greatness of their African culture and heritage, immerses them in a family-oriented environment, and exposes them to academically enriching material.
As long as Washington, D.C. has children of African descent, Roots is here to take care of their psychological, emotional and academic needs. And even with the other races of children, it’s a scientific fact that all races came from an African woman,” said Mama Bernida, principal and founder of Roots Activity Learning Center and Roots Public Charter School, both located in Northwest.
“Our young people should know about the genius that’s in our genes and how the enemy can do things to make us not accomplish [our goals],” Mama Bernida added. “African-centered education inculcates children with who we are, where we are and what we must do to liberate ourselves and our community.”