Twenty-one years ago, while attending worship at Agape International Spiritual Center, Akuyoe Graham received a word from God directing her to help at-risk youth.
Armed with faith and encouragement from her pastor, the Rev. Dr. Michael Bernard Beckwith, Graham established the Spirit Awakening Foundation (SAF), a nonprofit charitable arts organization dedicated to “building character and raising self-esteem, one child at a time.”
SAF programs utilize meditation, dramatic improvisation and creative writing to help at-risk children transform their lives, both spiritually and literally.
“What we are doing is taking a stand and creating a space for children and teens and saying no one is unredeemable,” said Graham during a fundraiser on Oct. 29 at Agape. The event, which featured Agape members and guest artists performing the poetry and prose of incarcerated youth, was presented to celebrate SAF’s 21st anniversary and raise finances to continue and expand the SAF curriculum.
Currently, SAF collaborates with the Los Angeles County Office of Education, the L.A. County Probation Department and the office of County Supv. Michael Antonovich to offer its “Unmasking Your Authentic Voice” program at the Los Padrinos and Barry J. Nidorf Juvenile Halls, Scott/Scudder Probation Camp and John Muir High School. The curriculum explores the themes of identity, forgiveness, success, excellence, gratitude and service.
According to the SAF website, “The strength of our program lies in the safe space it creates for students to discover life’s possibilities and the spirit that guides them in achieving their highest purpose. Once students see seemingly insurmountable obstacles as challenges, they recognize that their experience, both good and bad, is a gift that gives them the wisdom to overcome those challenges.
Over the years, hundreds of children have benefitted from SAF’s efforts such as its mentoring program, care packages for youth returning home, employment preparation and community service Saturdays. As for the future, Graham hopes to build a facility to aid newly released incarcerated youth.
“We call it Spirit House, an alternative to incarcerated children, a safe place for them to grow once they are released. We spend all of these resources for kids when they are inside – mentors, teachers, and support. But what happens when a kid is coming down from an addiction or bad habits? We put them right back in the place where they developed the problem. If a child can’t go back to their home, then we will have Spirit House where they can stay for a year or two,” she explained.
“We (SAF) are doing a beautiful work and I feel so blessed to be able to do this work. I do not take it for granted. God goes before me and appoints that which He would have me to do. The beauty of being at Agape and being a student of Dr. Beckwith is where I’m replenished. Otherwise I could not do this work,” added Graham.
Expressing his support, Beckwith said, “Spirit Awakening was born in her (Graham’s) mind at Agape and we’ve been intricately involved from the very beginning. God tapped her to do a mighty work. She is a great creative individual and she used her talents to actually reclaim our children. There is no way I could not help her to do that.”
To learn more, volunteer or donate, visit spiritawakening.org.