The Center for Applied Cultural Studies and
Educational Achievement (CACSEA)

Background and History

The Center for Applied Cultural Studies and Educational Achievement (CACSEA) was established in 1989 by the California Departmetn of Education and the California State University System as a statewide educational research and development center dedicated to African American educational excellence.

Since its inception CACSEA has been devoted to applying the ideas and teachings of Dr. Nobles and other African educators and scholars to the improvement of Black education by providing training instituties for African American teachers and teachers of African American children.

Formerly, housed at San Francisco State University, under the auspices of the Black Studies Department, CACSEA is now located at the Institute for the Advanced Study of Black Family Life and Culture, Inc., (The Instititue) in Oakland, California.

Access and Training

Overseen by the Council of Jegnoch (scholars-in-residence), the CACSEA experience includes on-going dialog and consultation between scholars and classroom teachers, cutting edge discussions by renowned educational leaders, and hands-on participatory demonstrations by leading educationsl practitioners as well as African American student presentations.

The CACSEA Professional Development Institute conducts "Mbongi Assemblies" that address the crises of educational failure; provide examples of master teaching, and demonstrate the attainment of educational excellence with African American students. The Mbongi Assemblies include experimental teaching and learning demonstrations divided in the following four fundamental categories:

o Council of Jegnoch (scholars-in-residence)
o Ku kango (educational leaders)
o Bonga Yeko (master teachers)
o Nyansafo (key practitioners)


CACSEA offers a mid-year (December) Orientation Institute for administatore, program directors and professional development trainers and a week-long summer teacher Training Institute in August for classroom teachers and educational administrators.

For institute times and dates contact:

The Institute for the Advanced Study of Black Family Life and Culture
Attn: Ms. Zetha Adeleke
1012 Linden Street
Oakland, CA 94607
Phone: (510) 836-3705