The JMEC Wawa Aba Youth Collaborative
The Wawa Aba Adinkra symbol, meaning "seed of the wawa tree," signifies hardiness, toughness, and perseverance. It is inspired by the strength and durability of the wawa tree's seed, known for its hardness.
The Wawa Aba Youth (WAY) Collaborative at the Jerome McFadden Educational Center aims to provide youth with the tools to become tenacious, well-informed, and active advocates for themselves and their communities, while simultaneously fostering a love for their heritage and cultural identity. By knowing WHO they are, youth collaborators are equipped to bridge racial divides, build community, and address disparities in wealth, health, and incarceration.
The Strategic Disruptor Initiative
The Strategic Disruptor Initiative (SDI) at the Jerome McFadden Educational Center, LLC aims to bring together diverse community members—youth, young adults, adults, and older adults—to engage in meaningful, healthy discussions and activities that address critical issues such as community engagement, advocacy, juvenile justice, racism, and allyship. Through quarterly events that blend educational opportunities with interactive and practical learning, the program will equip individuals with the tools they need to create positive change in their communities.
Each event will include partnerships with local community-based organizations, providing valuable resources to attendees while fostering a sense of unity and collective responsibility. By offering a variety of engaging events, the program aims to create a space where participants can learn, discuss, and act together for a more inclusive, sustainable community.
The JMEC Training Institute
The Jerome McFadden Educational Center Training Institute (JMECTI) offers high-quality, evidence-based training to professionals and lay people on issues surrounding intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD), learning disabilities, special needs, and trauma-informed care, along with the intersectionality of race, socioeconomic status, and youth involvement in the carceral system. Our purpose is to provide practical knowledge and skills that support better outcomes for individuals with disabilities and trauma histories, empowering professionals, families, and communities to create inclusive, compassionate, and effective care environments.
The institute's trainings are designed to promote awareness, build capacity, and improve the ability of individuals and organizations to provide the highest quality care, education, and services. Trainings also address the importance of cultural competence and sensitivity, ensuring that professionals and communities have the tools needed to work with diverse populations.