ABOUT M.A.M.A

How MAMA got Started

While studying in the Village of Koako in Tamale
(Northern Ghana) , a chief asked Mr. Humphrey,
"Why don't African Americans feel that it is necessary to come to Africa, are they ashamed of us?" What disturbed Mr. Humphrey most about this question was that he realized that most of the volunteers he saw in Ghana were from Canada , Germany , and Holland ; very few were African American. Upon returning to Atlanta , he was inspired to address the social and cultural voids in the African American community, particularly in the youth. In so doing, he also became acutely aware of other areas of need in the Black community. To this end, MAMA was created and collaborative relationships were formed with numerous service providers in Atlanta .

 

MAMA PHILOSPHY

MAMA believes that it is unreasonable to expect positive change in anyone without first impacting the mindset of individuals and families, the backbone of communities. Communities impact societies and societal norms govern the world. Communal health and well-being are grounded in a strong sense of family and family stability begins with individual awareness of obligation and responsibility to family and community.
The MAMA philosophy is holistic-to thoughtfully blend education and African culture into a single actualization. MAMA believes that people in general should know and appreciate their own culture as a basis for exploring and understanding others. Thereby using the strengths of cultural mores to learn and facilitate academic, emotional, and spiritual excellence for self and community.
a basis for exploring and understanding others. Thereby using the strengths of our cultural ways of learning to facilitate academic, emotional, and spiritual excellence.

MAMA'S TEAM
 


Machi Amaga, Executive Director and Founder

I was born in 1977 in the United States of America, I was raised
in a military (Air Force) family that traveled and lived in Europe and the United States. While attending college at Tuskegee University, studying psychology I became interested in fostering
a greater sense of racial identity, learning more about African customs, culture and traditions. In 2000 I made my first trip to Africa were I learned about the culture and customs of the many tribes in South Africa.

I started my own business (AlphaBody) in the health industry
in 2001 as a personal trainer and in 2004 I became Clinically Certified with the American Board of Hypnotherapy and the International Association for Counselors and Therapist. I opened my practice (Orion Institute, Inc) in Atlanta GA, giving Seminars and workshops on the mind and mental potential as well as practicing as a Hypnotherapist. In 2005 I founded Meet Africa Movement for Americans MAMA. It is my vision to reintroduce, connect, and submerge Africans in America into African Culture by creating opportunities to Volunteer and participate in our many education programs.

 
 

Maisha Humphrey, Founding Member

I was born on the edge of the Kalahari Desert, in Gaborone Botswana. I have lived between Africa and the United States,
but primarily was raised in Africa. I spent most of my elementary school days between two countries; Botswana the county of my birth and Lesotho. I attended middle school in the United States but returned to Africa and attended high school in Cairo, Egypt.
I received two bachelor's degrees, one in chemistry and the other in biology from Tuskegee University in 1999. I am currently one credit away from receiving my master's degree in public health from Emory University.

My goal is to attend medical school and practice holistic medicine that is created and geared towards our people. Currently I am focused on our business and working on my thesis. Africa is my place of birth and my home, they say home is where the heart
is and my heart belongs to Africa. My love of Africa has driven me to share the power, beauty, and pride that I have of our mother continent.

While my parents have always instilled a sense of black pride,
I never understood the significance or the importance of having sound racial identity until I had my own children. Having my children has given me a greater desire to know more about my traditions, customs, and culture so that I can pass them along
to my children (the future generation).