Culture Restoration Project describes culturally focused programs serving Wilmington youth; seeks advocacy and funding

Alicia Watson, executive director of Culture Restoration Project Inc., presented the nonprofit’s program portfolio to the Wilmington City Council Education, Youth and Families Committee on March 12, 2025, highlighting culturally based arts and leadership programs designed to build a sense of identity and civic responsibility among students in kindergarten through 12th grade.

Watson said Culture Restoration Project served more than 600 students in 2024 and that, “about 95 of those students were in the city of Wilmington,” language that was recorded in the transcript; the phrasing in the presentation was ambiguous about whether that meant 95 students or 95%. Watson said the organization’s annual goal had been 300 students and that reaching 600 represents sustained growth since 2021.

Key programs Watson described include: - Beyond Those Bars (BTB): a project‑based program for grades 3–12 that pairs cultural education with songwriting, recording in a mobile studio, professional mixing and a music video. BTB has derivatives that focus on beat‑making/production and a selective Youth Artist Development track that supports a small number of students to produce a six‑song project, a music video, professional photos and distribution on streaming platforms. - Sankofa Rites of Passage: a 9–12 month African‑centered development program that teaches life skills, cultural pride and civic responsibility; Watson said two boys’ cohorts are underway. - Knowledge of Self: a curriculum with pre‑ and post‑assessments (facilitators score responses on a 0–5 Likert scale) intended to deepen students’ cultural self‑awareness and purpose. Watson reported that 97.7% of participants reached a score of 3 or higher on the post‑assessment (which the organization defines as an “adequate level” of knowledge of self). - Power Up (formerly Culture Keepers): a virtues‑based enrichment program for younger children. - Panya (restorative) circles and Sankofa drum corps: community healing circles and African drumming training for ages 5–8 taught by master drummer Baba Kamal of Griots by Umoja.

Watson outlined two annual events: Malcolm X Day at the Mitchell Center for African American Heritage and a Kwanzaa celebration (the 2024 event drew about 300 attendees). She said the organization has responsibility for Kwanzaa from elders who led the event previously and wants to expand the winter and summer anchor events into larger city draws, including an African festival in collaboration with Dr. Haditha Shabazz.

Programs run in schools and community centers the organization partners with, including Kuumba/Kaumba (as referenced in the presentation), Thomas Edison, The PAL, Hicks‑Anderson (summer), and Maurice Pritchett (a contract signed to start March 24 to finish the school year). Watson said the nonprofit expects to obtain a building on the North Side (a corner property at Second and Monroe, an old church) that will allow expanded programming and parent classes; she said renovations will take roughly 18 months and the facility will not be immediately open to the public.

Watson told the committee the group assesses cultural knowledge via pre/post workbooks and a facilitator‑scored scale; she cited a shift in responses from brief location answers (e.g., “Northside”) to deeper statements of lineage and family history after program participation. Watson urged council advocacy, funding and help with visibility, saying many schools and families are unaware of programming despite high demand. Committee members responded with congratulations, questions about cohort selection and program length, and offers of advocacy and partnership; several members emphasized school administrative challenges and the need to coordinate services and stable school leadership.

Members of the public asked about photography and workforce opportunities in the BTB artist development program; Watson said photography could be added and that the artist development track provides paid opportunities and workforce training on contracts and professional engagement.

Watson closed by urging adults and institutions to unify around consistent messages for youth and by asking elected officials to support expansion and the planned facility.