Women's History Month: Aeeshah Clottey (AHC Co-Founder)

March is Women’s History Month. We’d like to take the time to acknowledge the trailblazing women that are within our midst now. Women that have paved the way and dedicated themselves to laying a strong foundation for others to build, grow and thrive. First, we will acknowledge our co-founder and leader of the Attitudinal Healing Connection (AHC) in Oakland, Mrs. Aeeshah Clottey (known by many in the community as Ms. Aeeshah).

Born in Louisiana and the youngest of 12, she grew up picking cotton and being reared by her tenacious older sisters, heroic mother, and hard-working father. At age 15, Aeeshah migrated west to help her elder sisters who had settled in East Palo Alto to work and raise families. It was there that she finished high school, became the valedictorian of her class and got a full scholarship to UC Berkeley. At Berkeley, she became fully awakened to the impact of racism, witnessing how its insidious nature manipulated humanity’s capacity to live in unity. Her spiritual and philosophical evolution and the tumultuous civil rights movement of the 60’s led her to join the Nation of Islam. 

Dedicated to the Black liberation movement, she found that her journey had not ended as she sought truth through books that spoke to higher conscious thinking, awareness, and spirituality. At this point, she was introduced to a set of books, "A Course in Miracles," which connected her to a burgeoning Attitudinal Healing community in Tiburon, CA. This new relationship catalyzed a profound and effective shift in her thoughts and direction. Aeeshah knew there was more to learn and understand—her path led her into an inner journey of healing and a deeper connection to her purpose.  

In 1989, she co-founded AHC with her life partner and husband Kokomon Clottey. Since then, she has traveled the world, supported the development of other Attitudinal Healing Centers globally and written the published books: Beyond Fear, Twelve Spiritual Keys to Racial Healing (revised and published as Color Theory) and Eternal Quest for Happiness.

Through her work, passion, and commitment, she envisions a world where everyone is loved, educated and valued. Her notable projects involve parent and community engagement, workforce development for youth, and teaching the values of being a good neighbor while imparting the benefits of public housing. She is a woman beyond her time with the unique ability to connect with all communities and build an array of diverse allies to support the work of AHC.

AHC Providing Employment Training During the Covid-19 Crisis

In 2016, AHC launched Earn2Learn, a workforce development program designed to connect Oakland youth to local job opportunities. This year, the program is more vital than ever. The unemployment rate has jumped from 2.6% to 7.7% in Alameda county within the last year, and the number continues to rise due to the Covid-19 pandemic.

The program is a much needed resource for the community we serve, primarily engaging Oakland youth ages 16-24. Workshops include resume building, cover letter writing and presentations from local business leaders. This year we also covered workplace safety measures relating to Covid-19. Students are challenged to think deeply about the true meanings of professionalism, integrity, and accountability. 

Zyaire Knighten graduated from Earn2Learn over the summer and has been working at AHC since October, helping with the ArtEsteem Art Kit program. There has been a high demand for art kits and AHC recently fulfilled an order of 7,500 kits for the San Francisco Unified School district in partnership with Flax Art Store. Zhaire has found the work to be rewarding, “We are working on some new art kits that include clay, water colors, construction paper, pencil, pencil sharpeners- I love the work!”

Employment opportunities are not limited to AHC. The Earn2Learn program has partnered with a highly diverse group of Oakland based businesses including: Mandela Foods, Flax Art Store, Sankofa African Arts and Jewelry, Kingston 11 Cuisine and Community Foods Market. The program graduates are able to take the skills they learn through the program to the next phase of their career. Zhaiye has built up her confidence through the program, and plans to attend medical school in the future. “I will recommend Earn2Learn to others,” says Zyaire.

Creating everlasting change.
When you donate to AHC, you are supporting programs like Earn2Learn that create real change in the lives of young people. We hold a vision of sustainable, resilient, and adaptable communities that can thrive under any situation. Make a donation today to help youth thrive by providing access and support for the workforce of tomorrow.

In Memory of Jerry Jampolsky

Attitudinal Healing Principle #11:
Since love is eternal, death need not be viewed as fearful.

On December 29, 2020, Jerry Jampolsky, the founder of Attitudinal Healing, died. Jerry was 95 years old.

Jerry developed the 12 tenets of Attitudinal Healing and the first Attitudinal Healing Center in Tiburon, CA, working with children who had life-threatening illnesses. Along with his talented and dedicated wife, Diane Cirincione, Jerry has influenced people all over the world in the powerful healing concepts of Attitudinal Healing for inner peace, forgiveness, and love.

As a student of a set of books written by Helen Schucman, entitled “A Course in Miracles”, and influenced by the 12-steps of AA, Jerry set forth to draw from the wisdom of these philosophies.

He extracted simple abstract ideas that one could apply to their various forms and beliefs of love and fear for inner awareness and wholeness.These guides have set the platform for fully living and training one's self to let go of painful, fearful thoughts; to choose peace over conflict and love over fear.

In 1989, my mother, Aeeshah Clottey, with her husband Kokomon Clottey, co-founded the Attitudinal Healing Connection in Oakland. Their quest? To use Attitudinal Healing to address the issues of racism, poverty and violence. She met Jerry in 1975 at A Course in Miracles Introduction at JFK University. I was six years old when I met Jerry. I remember his warmth, light and beaming smile.

My mother and Jerry had since developed a deep relationship influenced by these tools for letting go and healing. She held his hand and joined with Diane, Kokomon and a global community, breathing life into Attitudinal Healing, sparking the miracles of creativity and making an indelible impact on humanity.

The powerful concepts of Attitudinal Healing, originally developed by Jerry Jampolsky, have taken a life of their own. His work and teachings have set forth a legacy.

Thank you, Jerry! You will continue to live and be remembered through your dream.

Amana Harris
Executive Director, AHC

Identity, Strengths & Weaknesses

The ArtEsteem program is moving full steam ahead at Hoover Elementary School! The current project focuses on themes of identity. The youth are designing masks that reflect different aspect of their personality, and in essence, how they see themselves. This process has brought some thought provoking discussions to the classroom. Students were challenged by being asked critical questions such as, “What have you learned about your identity?” and “What are your strengths?”

This project will go on throughout the school year, and we’re excited to show you the completed pieces on May 18th at ArtEsteem’s 21st Annual Exhibition! The event is happening right here at AHC, catch the details on our event page.

Masks from different cultures, for inspiration.

From left: Mask inspiration, Mr. Eddie helps out, student writes down her strengths.

Students work on developing their narrative, and help each other along the way!

Student thinks about her identity.

MBK Rising! Mural Launch

Lead Mural Artist Andre Jones (pictured on the left) was more than excited to have the likes of Mayor Libby Schaaf (pictured in the middle) and longtime community champion and AHC Executive Director Amana Harris (pictured on the right) by his side on his co-designed works of art.

This year just keeps on glowing for the city of Oakland and AHC. MBK Rising!’s successful launch marked another joyful experience to our 2019 as we completed two inspiring murals on the lively walls of Martin Luther King Jr’s Elementary School. Both murals focus on the importance of learning and education that are best achieved when working together as a community.

Dedicated to bringing art back into the STEM model, MLK Elementary School Principal Ms. Groves joined forces with the talented and experienced mural artist Andre “Natty Rebel” Jones and AHC Executive Director Amana Harris to add some life back into the school atmosphere.

Principal Groves (pictured on the left) poses proudly with Councilwoman Barbara Lee (pictured on the right).

The sun covered us all morning into the afternoon as we painted our hearts out for the community and for the MBK Rising!. We left no stone unturned and no (designated) wall unpainted-- and that’s exactly how we planned it to be.

- February 20th, 2019

ABOUT MBK:
In 2014, President Obama launched My Brother’s Keeper and issued a powerful call to action to close opportunity gaps facing boys and young men of color. The initiative sparked candid dialogue and action around the country to help more of our young people reach their dreams, regardless of their race, gender, or socioeconomic status.

Featured artists (Tim Bluitt and Isabel) share a few smiles and pointers with the Honorable Mayor Libby Schaaf.