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A college-prep elective that supports Black male achievement through culturally grounded instruction and real-world learning.

What’s Included

Crowns Curriculum equips educators with a full suite of culturally responsive, academically rigorous materials designed to engage Black boys and support their growth as readers, thinkers, and leaders.

  • Lesson Plans

  • Facilitators Guides

  • Worksheets (with facilitator copies)

  • Unit Summaries

  • Icebreakers

  • Historic/Primary Source Documents

  • Black History Resources

  • Literature: Books, Articles, Poems

  • Contemporary Media: Videos, Podcasts, KOO Music

  • Projects/Assessments

  • Reading/Writing Supports

“It creates not only a learning environment, but a safe environment for students to challenge themselves”

— Glenn Bell, Program Manager African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative

Why Crowns?

Academic Excellence – Standards-aligned, culturally responsive content that drives student achievement

Student Engagement & Success – Interactive, real-world learning experiences that captivate and empower

Culturally Affirming – Builds strong racial and cultural identity to foster student confidence

Future-Ready – Equips students with critical thinking, leadership, and community-building skills 

Early Impact Data

By the end of the Fall 2024 Crowns Curriculum classes:

100%

of Black boys surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that they:

  • “feel comfortable and safe in their class”

  •  identify “positively” with their race

  • “have a responsibility to improve their community”

90%

of Black boys surveyed agreed or strongly agreed that they:

  • “succeed in cheering themselves up when  something unpleasant is said to them” 

  • “can control their feelings”

Voices from the Classroom

Robert Bishop, Student, Crowns Curriculum

“It helps me understand who I am, my culture, and my background...”

Glenn Bell, Program Manager African American Achievement and Leadership Initiative

“It creates not only a learning environment, but a safe environment for students to challenge themselves”

Emory Walters, Facilitator, Crowns Curriculum

“I believe that Crowns Curriculum should be implemented in all schools...”

Our Team

  • Nia Lundkvist

    Curriculum Designer

  • Matin Abdel-Qawi

    Chief Program Officer