A once-in-a-lifetime return home
The Black Star Homecoming Expedition is the capstone leadership experience of Word is Bond’s three-year Rite of Passage program, Rising Leaders. Ambassadors must complete the first two years of the program in order to be eligible for the Expedition. During the Expedition, ambassadors travel to Accra, Ghana, in West Africa for a two-week immersive international leadership experience.
The Black Star Expedition is a leadership experience like no other that connects ambassadors with their ancestral roots in one of the most historic countries on the continent of Africa. Participants land in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and travel throughout the country, learning about the ancient Ashanti Kingdom, the history of the trans-Atlantic slave trade in the region, and the modern state of Ghana, the first country on the continent of Africa to gain independence from European colonial rule.
The Black Star Homecoming Expedition aims to send 500 Black youth to Africa over the next 10 years. Join us as a cornerstone partner and ensure the Black Stars continue to shine for years to come.
Arriving Home
Community Ambassadors receive a hero’s welcome home with drummers and dancers upon their arrival in Accra, Ghana, at Kotoka International Airport.
The Power of Education
Ambassadors visit urban and rural schools during the expedition, including Wesleyan Girls’ School. This creates an opportunity to learn about the local education system and deliver donated school supplies.
Dialogue with government officials
Ambassadors continue to hone their policy and civic leadership skills with meetings with local government officials, including ministers and directors, including Mr. Kofi “KOD” Okyere Darko, the Director of the Diaspora Affairs in the Office of the President.
Learning untold Black History at Cape Coast Slave Dungeon
Cape Coast Slave Dungeon was the final destination for captured Africans before they were shipped across the Atlantic, never to return home. Over 1.5 million enslaved Africans were held in the dungeons before being sold into slavery.
Learning the story of Kente
Ambassadors travel to the Ashanti region of Ghana, home to Kente Cloth, Ghana’s famous fabric, which originated in the region. This is a hands-on learning experience where ambassadors learn to weave, make dies, and try on traditional fabrics.
Reflecting at the banks of the River
Enslaved Africans were forced to bathe in the Assin Manso river after a gruelling forced march from the interior lands. Community Ambassadors pay homage and reflect at the banks of the river in a special area known as the “River of Return.”
Giving Back
Ambassadors learn a powerful lesson in privilege and opportunity when they visit rural villages in Ghana, where they distribute donated supplies to communities that often lack basic necessities.
The Power of Place
Larabanga Mosque is the oldest Mosque in West Africa. The oral history of how it came to be is a powerful story. Ambassadors visit the mosque, and for our youth leaders who are Muslim, they have the opportunity to pray in a sacred space.
The Black Stars Documentary
The Black Stars Documentary, directed by Twixx Williams and Executive Produced by Word is Bond founder and Executive Director Lakayana Drury, is Word is Bond’s debut film. Premiering in January 2024 to a sold-out crowd at the historic Hollywood Theatre in Portland, OR, the film follows the journey of the inaugural Black Star Homecoming Expedition in 2023.
The Black Stars Documentary is a true community project involving local artists, musicians, and youth voices that inspires Black youth to travel home and see Africa for themselves.
Hand-painted by Word is Bond community ambassador Mathew Baba.
The Black Stars, Official Trailer
The Black Stars, from the Rose City to the Gold Coast, is the coming-of-age story of eight young Black men from Portland, Oregon, who travel to Ghana for a two-week leadership expedition led by the non-profit, Word is Bond, to reconnect with their ancestral roots for the very first time.
The Black Stars, Official Music Video
The Official Music Video for The Black Stars! Featuring local Portland, OR rapper YunginCED and directed by 22-year-old filmmaker Twixx Williams, The Black Stars is an anthem to the youth of Portland.
