About Our Keynote Speaker

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu is an educational consultant, bestselling author, book publisher, lecturer and mentor. He is also the co-author of SETCLAE (Self Esteem Through Cultures Leads to Academic Excellence), an africentric, multicultural curriculum which is currently being used in schools nationwide.

As president of African American Images, a communications company based in Chicago, Illinois, he conducts over thirty different workshops. His workshops are interactive, empowering, filled with statistics and in high demand across the country. Dr. Kunjufu addresses a variety of audiences including educators, teachers, students, parents, churches and community residents. He is a powerful, informative speaker.

Dr. Jawanza Kunjufu was educated at Morgan State, Illinois State, and Union Graduate School. He has been a guest speaker at most colleges and universities throughout the United States, and has been a consultant to most urban school districts. He has authored over 32 books including national best sellers, Black Students: Middle Class Teachers; Keeping Black Boys Out of Special Education; An African Centered Response to Ruby Payne's Poverty Theory; Raising Black Boys; 200 Plus Educational Strategies to Teach Children of Color; and his latest book titled Reducing the Black Male Drop Out Rate. Dr. Kunjufu has also been a regular Keynote Speaker at the National Association of Black School Educators' annual conference. His work has been featured in Ebony and Essence Magazine, and he has been a guest on BET and Oprah.

Kunjufu, which means dependable and cheerful in Swahili, is a husband, father and grandfather. He is an avid tennis player and has yet to miss one day of work.