Short Bio
As director of Rites of Passage Institute Shemora is a dedicated educator specializing in youth activities and women's wellness. “Connecting you to your best self,” is the motto for Rites of Passage Institute. Rites of Passage institute's classes are based upon respecting nature, honoring indigenous ancestors, and self-sufficiency (Kujichagulia). We mainly focus on women's health because when the women are good everyone is good. Teach a woman, teach a nation. Women of color suffer the highest incidence of gynecological issues and through slavery, colonialism, westernization have lost their connection to cultural/ancient practices that kept us healthy. So, Rites of Passage Institute works to reestablish those traditions, bonds, and confidence that women need to be happy and healthy. Our classes give women and youth the tools they need to have a positive identity and be happy and healthy.
Shemora Sheikh's background is in education. She holds a B.S. Degree in Sociology Secondary Education, minor Race & Ethnic Studies and a Certificate of Mastery in Child Development. She has 15 years of teaching experience in the public school system at the primary & secondary levels. Having lived in Pakistan, Senegal, and throughout the United States she brings a worldview to her work. Background and experience has made her a Belly Dance Instructor, henna artist, & the author of a gluten-free, diary-free cookbook (The Rites of Passage Meal Treasury), and a novel (Fatinah & the Gold Adornments) Shemora's philosophy on life is Sankofa, “Strong roots, strong future.” Learn more about her and her work at www.passageinstitute.com
Kujichagulia is Self Determination "To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves."
Sankofa is an Akan word from Ghana meaning reach back and get it.
Shemora Sheikh's background is in education. She holds a B.S. Degree in Sociology Secondary Education, minor Race & Ethnic Studies and a Certificate of Mastery in Child Development. She has 15 years of teaching experience in the public school system at the primary & secondary levels. Having lived in Pakistan, Senegal, and throughout the United States she brings a worldview to her work. Background and experience has made her a Belly Dance Instructor, henna artist, & the author of a gluten-free, diary-free cookbook (The Rites of Passage Meal Treasury), and a novel (Fatinah & the Gold Adornments) Shemora's philosophy on life is Sankofa, “Strong roots, strong future.” Learn more about her and her work at www.passageinstitute.com
Kujichagulia is Self Determination "To define ourselves, name ourselves, create for ourselves and speak for ourselves."
Sankofa is an Akan word from Ghana meaning reach back and get it.
Extended Bio
Shemora Sheikh lives a life rooted in education, culture, ethos, scholarship, family, friends and entrepreneurship. Living in Gambia, Senegal, Pakistan and stateside in Wisconsin, this ten year resident of Tulsa brings a world view and international flair to entrepreneurship. As director of Rites of Passage Learning Center, Shemora is a dedicated leader, educator and instructor specializing in Special Needs Learning, Homeschooling, Consulting and Cultural Development. Meeting the specific needs of parents seeking alternative educational resources is a primary function of Rites of Passage Learning Center. Shemora’s specialized knowledge, skills and experience in special needs learning, and parenting a child with Autism has made her an invaluable contact for child care centers, schools and parents. Her background in cultural psychology empowers learning, understanding and practicing the behaviors, beliefs and values passed from generation to generation.
As with any successful entrepreneur there are never enough hours in the day. Shemora finds making a list, allowing time with friends and turning to prayer works in meeting deadlines and controlling the stress of balancing business, family and her many extracurricular activities. Her long list of interests, talents and skills include Headwrapping Extraordinaire/Wrap Star, graphic design, website building, Gluten-Free Dairy Free Cooking, Food and Diet Coaching, Belly Dancing, Women’s Health and Wellness, Moorish Arts, Henna, Yoga and jewelry making. She is also a writer, editor and author of both The Rites of Passage Meal Treasury Cook Collection & Fatinah & The Gold Adornments.
Self-sufficiency, a respect for nature and honoring indigenous ancestors is something Shemora practices every day and includes in her educational programs and consulting sessions. Families, parents, women and children benefit from Shemora’s passion for improving the lives of others. Summa Cu Laude in August 2002, and carrying a 3.7 to 4.0 grade point average from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Shemora’s passion is evidenced in her personal learning journey. She has a Certificate of Mastery in Child Development, CDA Child Development Associates Credentials, and a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Race and Ethnic Studies and credits toward a degree in Secondary Education. Shemora’s experience as educator includes ten years as a teacher – two as a Kindergarten teacher, three as an Infant and Toddler teacher, three as a Middle School Teacher and two years as a High School teacher. Her vast experience includes Peace Academy, Blossom Child Care Center, Day Schools, Divine Savior Holy Angels School and Sister Clara Mohammad School. Shemora has been a Child Care Director for over two years and is a NAEYC and Oklahoma Child Care Association Member. She is also active in Nubian Heritage Arts.
Always improving and growing in knowledge and statue, Shemora attends Oklahoma Child Care Association Conferences, Dibels Training, Smart Board Training A+Essentials (multiple intelligences, climate and arts integration) and Child Care Resource Training (infection control, transitions and routines). Other education includes Tulsa Technology Center’s Caring for the Child with Autism (I,II,III), University of Oklahoma College of Continuing Education’s Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers, Tulsa County Family Child Care Association Training and Appelbaum Training.
Shemora’s philosophy on life is Sankofa, “Strong roots, Strong Future.” She defines it this way: Sankofa is a word originating from the Akan language of Ghana meaning “reach back and get it – and the Asante Adinkra symbol represented by a bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back, or a stylized heart shape (thus the Rites of Passage Learning Center logo). The egg in the bird’s mouth represents the gems or knowledge of the past upon which wisdom is based. It also signifies the coming generation that will benefit from that wisdom. The symbol is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates to, "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The Akan believe that the past illuminates the present and that the search for knowledge is a life-long process. The pictograph illustrates the quest for knowledge, while the proverb suggests the rightness of such a quest as long as it is based on knowledge of the past. Shemora’s favorite book is The Quran, a manual for life and the word of God, “it is rhythmic and full of mathematical miracles”. Learn more about Shemora, The Rites of Passage Learning Center, and her books at http://www.moorishrites.com.
As with any successful entrepreneur there are never enough hours in the day. Shemora finds making a list, allowing time with friends and turning to prayer works in meeting deadlines and controlling the stress of balancing business, family and her many extracurricular activities. Her long list of interests, talents and skills include Headwrapping Extraordinaire/Wrap Star, graphic design, website building, Gluten-Free Dairy Free Cooking, Food and Diet Coaching, Belly Dancing, Women’s Health and Wellness, Moorish Arts, Henna, Yoga and jewelry making. She is also a writer, editor and author of both The Rites of Passage Meal Treasury Cook Collection & Fatinah & The Gold Adornments.
Self-sufficiency, a respect for nature and honoring indigenous ancestors is something Shemora practices every day and includes in her educational programs and consulting sessions. Families, parents, women and children benefit from Shemora’s passion for improving the lives of others. Summa Cu Laude in August 2002, and carrying a 3.7 to 4.0 grade point average from the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater, Shemora’s passion is evidenced in her personal learning journey. She has a Certificate of Mastery in Child Development, CDA Child Development Associates Credentials, and a B.S. in Sociology with a minor in Race and Ethnic Studies and credits toward a degree in Secondary Education. Shemora’s experience as educator includes ten years as a teacher – two as a Kindergarten teacher, three as an Infant and Toddler teacher, three as a Middle School Teacher and two years as a High School teacher. Her vast experience includes Peace Academy, Blossom Child Care Center, Day Schools, Divine Savior Holy Angels School and Sister Clara Mohammad School. Shemora has been a Child Care Director for over two years and is a NAEYC and Oklahoma Child Care Association Member. She is also active in Nubian Heritage Arts.
Always improving and growing in knowledge and statue, Shemora attends Oklahoma Child Care Association Conferences, Dibels Training, Smart Board Training A+Essentials (multiple intelligences, climate and arts integration) and Child Care Resource Training (infection control, transitions and routines). Other education includes Tulsa Technology Center’s Caring for the Child with Autism (I,II,III), University of Oklahoma College of Continuing Education’s Early Learning Guidelines for Infants and Toddlers, Tulsa County Family Child Care Association Training and Appelbaum Training.
Shemora’s philosophy on life is Sankofa, “Strong roots, Strong Future.” She defines it this way: Sankofa is a word originating from the Akan language of Ghana meaning “reach back and get it – and the Asante Adinkra symbol represented by a bird with its head turned backwards taking an egg off its back, or a stylized heart shape (thus the Rites of Passage Learning Center logo). The egg in the bird’s mouth represents the gems or knowledge of the past upon which wisdom is based. It also signifies the coming generation that will benefit from that wisdom. The symbol is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates to, "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten." The Akan believe that the past illuminates the present and that the search for knowledge is a life-long process. The pictograph illustrates the quest for knowledge, while the proverb suggests the rightness of such a quest as long as it is based on knowledge of the past. Shemora’s favorite book is The Quran, a manual for life and the word of God, “it is rhythmic and full of mathematical miracles”. Learn more about Shemora, The Rites of Passage Learning Center, and her books at http://www.moorishrites.com.
“We must go back and reclaim our past so we can move forward;
so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.
We should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us,
so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.
Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of,
can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.”
http://www.uis.edu/africanamericanstudies/students/sankofa/
so we understand why and how we came to be who we are today.
We should reach back and gather the best of what our past has to teach us,
so that we can achieve our full potential as we move forward.
Whatever we have lost, forgotten, forgone or been stripped of,
can be reclaimed, revived, preserved and perpetuated.”
http://www.uis.edu/africanamericanstudies/students/sankofa/
