​The Lamppost Education Initiative (Lamppost) is a non-profit 501c3 charitable dedicated to Islamic education for English-speaking Muslims. Lamppost provides a window into the rich Islamic tradition through the eyes of contemporary American Muslim scholars, intellectuals, activists, and leaders.
We offer to the public: live and pre-recorded webinars, classes, books, essays, and onsite enrichment programs dealing with the topics of Islam, Muslims, and the socio-cultural dynamics of American society. Our contributors offer expert analysis of current events that affect Muslims in the West and offerings in the classical Islamic disciplines. Lamppost features some of the foremost scholars of Islam in America. Scholars like Dr. Sherman Jackson, Imam Zaid Shakir, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, Dr. Khalid Yayha Blankinship, and a host of other scholars and teachers.
 
  Covid-19 increases the importance of our online learning efforts. The pandemic forced us to cancel our annual Conference-The Black American Muslim Conference-as a live event. Many masajid where Islamic classes and teaching occur are now closed and restricted due to this life-altering pandemic. This year we are conducting our Conference as an online event. Once again, Lamppost is featuring some of the most prominent Muslim-American scholars at this virtual event including, Imam Zaid Shakir, Imam Siraaj Wahaaj, Dr. Abdullah bin Hamid Ali, Dr. Jamillah Karim, Imam Fode Drame, Shaykh Khalil Abdur-Rashid, and many others.  This Conference took place on October 16th, 17th, and 18th. More than ever, the Lamppost Education Initiative needs your financial support to provide more online sessions, events, and classes for Muslims in America.

Bismillah

Twenty plus years ago, when we first got married, we sat down to write out our goals. Knowledge and experience was a thread all our goals had in common. We wanted to learn from and experience life, and we wanted the same for our children. Farming and homesteading wasn't forefront in our minds but we both came from families where farming/gardening/homestead type activities were just a part of living (even in the city).

We’ve had a garden wherever we’ve lived (California, Sudan, Kuwait, Qatar, & Mexico). We’ve always educated our children at home and this allowed us to try and teach them some practical life skills/Sunnah along the way, while encouraging them to pursue and practice their own interest (woodworking, horseback riding, fiber arts, leatherworking, animal husbandry, mechanics, cooking, etc). We currently live in Oregon and moved here so that we could live on a larger property where our seven children could have space to grow, meet our needs via the land, and have enough to share with the community.

We’ve yet to find that balance where we can have land and community. We are the only Muslims in our town. We realize as our children mature that being near a Muslim community is very important. We cannot teach them everything. It’s not easy to have a full time job and try and homestead. We do most things here by hand (milking the cow, harvesting hay, digging ponds, building, etc.) which we enjoy but also know that it’s labor intensive. It’s helped us all appreciate hard work and not take things for granted. When we slaughter our own meat, it’s an animal we’ve raised from birth and loved. It brings an  appreciation for that meat that we’d never get from buying it, and it means that we eat a lot less meat! 

As a Black and Mexican family we are blessed to  own our own property and have the opportunity and knowledge to farm and homeschool our children. We get to see a lot of things come full circle here. Even with all our trial and error it’s nice to  know how much grass we need to scythe to have enough hay for the winter. It is comforting to know that the hard work of  canning and dehydrating in the summer can feed us through the cold months. We feel that, through this lifestyle, we continue to gain knowledge and experience that keep us grounded.

Homesteading has included a lot of trail and error, and we learned an immense amount from that. We’ve built, torn down, and moved many gardens, fences and structures. We’ve learned to be a lot more flexible with our vision and timetable. Sometimes we’ve had to slow down or stop when major things happen (like births or moving). We’ve also tried to decolonize our homesteading practices,  which includes studying the knowledge of our ancestors who were caretakers of the earth. We want to revitalize the earth, not deplete it.

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​I am Muti’ah Lennora Joyce Pierrot, as a native of St. Lucia with an ambitious mother coupled with an innovative father. I have always seen opportunity and have always been surrounded by service at an early age. I was, raised in a rural area of St. Lucia, in the town of Bexon. My grandparents were farmers and business owners, which instilled in me a hard work ethic.
Becoming Muslim at the age of nineteen was my introduction to the vastness of Africa as a continent. I studied Midwifery in the countries of Senegal and South Africa, specifically in the cities of Cape Town, Johannesburg and Pretoria. During the completion of Hajj, the pilgrimage at the Kaaba in Madina, Saudia Arabia, was the catalyst to assist me in understanding my purpose.
My current role as Founder and CEO of BABI-BIBS AND BLANKETS INTERNATIONAL along with Manager of the Special Collections at The Ford Motor Company Library/LRC at Tuskegee University, helped catalyze me stepping in the political race for the position of The City Tuskegee District 1 Council member.
 
The life-long learning skills and knowledge that I have gained throughout my didactic progression continues to be the motivating factor for me to become proficient in the field of preserving the history and the legacy of the Global Village. As an educator and business owner who looks at life experience as the building block to empathy. Starting at the grass-root, local level within my district for councilperson was what came to my soul.
 
I stepped out on faith and ran alongside two respected elder candidates who both are rooted in the community, the message that there are younger candidates that needs mentorship as our Village is growing into a new future of constant uncertain changes. I offered myself for service to my community and asked for endorsements on behalf of being the youngest political candidates for my district and the need to support our youth in all areas. My platform was based on the fundamental needs of our community

• Representation with Trusted Integrity 
• Informing the Citizens 
• Substantial Employment Opportunities
• Educational Economic Development
• Quality of Life

 
 
“The Win is in The Ability to Run”, is the foundation of my life. “Youth Guided & Elder Led” is the message of my campaign along with the message for our community. “A Change You Can See” is what we work on daily as a message of collaborative framework within our community. As I am fortunate enough to have a family that is active in supporting me, our work is getting done daily. Thank you to everyone who is a part of the growth in my Village and in all other communities.

​During these past few months, there has been so many different emotions that we have been experiencing. Some of us are experiencing higher levels of anxiety and fear while others may be feeling higher levels of intuitiveness, reflectiveness and mindfulness. Our personal feelings are susceptible to change depending on our individual experiences, spirituality, and outlook on life.  As we go through making adjustments in our daily lives whether that is with our jobs, family, social interactions, or simply going into public spaces.  It is imperative that we take out moments for our personal self-reflections in order to find balance and take care of our health holistically.
              One of the ways that we can do this is by implementing a self-care routine into our daily lifestyles. The term has become more popular in the last few years as we find our selves being more conscious of our mental states and understanding more how mental health is a vital key to our wellness. Self-care encourages us to maintain a healthy relationships with ourselves so that you may transmit the good energy to others. Indeed self-care as is far from selfish, but rather self-care is a necessity that allows us to become the best version of ourselves for  our well-being and the people around us.  Paying attention to our well-being, is necessary for reinvigorating, restoring and rejuvenating ourselves. Everyone around us also benefits from the renewed energy, peacefulness, and joy that we exhibit internally.
There are so many ways to engage in self-care routines some in which include meditation, reading a book, stretching, taking a nature walk,  or simply soaking in the tub.  I personally try to alternate in which self-care techniques that I engage in. Whichever self-care technique that we choose to engage in allow it is be an intentional catalyst for personal healing and reflection. More than ever we have to engage in these positive acts of self-love.                         

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“According to a 2009 study of standardized testing, homeschoolers scored in the 86th percentile. The results held true even when controlling for parents' income level, amount of education, teaching credentials, and level of state regulation. Research also suggests that homeschooled kids get into college more often and do better once they're enrolled.”(Weller, 2016)

If no one has told you, you are the best teacher for your child.  You are their role model, superhero, and confidant.  As you raise your protege, you always want to be their biggest influence.  I am here to tell you that homeschooling is one of the best decisions you can make for your family if these are your goals.  Your children will only be children for a small portion of their lives, so every moment matters.  Making the decision to homeschool is an investment, that if done right will have a lasting positive impact.  It will give you the flexibility to have that positive influence you are seeking.

Making the Decision:
As a former public and private school educator, I know firsthand the impact parents have on their children's education.  It tends to look something like, the more involved the more likely it is the student will be successful in school  Now how would that look if the parents were the school?  As a matter of fact, Chris Weller of Business Insider stated “According to leading pedagogical research, at-home instruction may just be the most relevant, responsible, and effective way to educate children in the 21st century.”(2016).  This sums up exactly why YOU should be teaching YOUR child.  

Curriculum:
One of the most intimidating things about home school is often what to teach.  Tons of highly educated gurus have already laid out a map of what each student in America should be learning from birth to 12th grade.  You as the purveyor of your child’s school have the authority to choose from the thousands of options available.  Kaylene of Autisticmama.com recommends you consider the following when selecting a curriculum:

• “Consider your child’s learning style
• Consider your teaching style
• Consider your priorities
• Consider your child’s interest
• Consider your realistic time
• Consider your budget
• Check out reviews” (Kaylene, 2017) 

Don’t make this a daunting decision, you know your child better than anyone.  You also know what is most important to teach and not teach your student.  Choose a curriculum that best reflects your spiritual, academic, and social beliefs.  This isn’t rocket science, but it could be.

Our Network:
Makkah International Institute would like to give you peace of mind.  Homeschooling can be overwhelming, and we are here to walk you through every step of the journey.  We offer mentorship to parents who are in need of guidance from professionally trained teachers and experienced homeschoolers.  Additionally we have a preselected curriculum that has been tried and tested.  Families that join the Makkah International Institute Homeschool Network will be able to join us for monthly outings that support the learning goals.  For those parents who do not believe that they have the time or experience to research and vet homeschool curriculum, we are offering online virtual learning that families can access from the safety of their homes.  Whatever it is that you are looking for in a homeschool, we are here to assist.  

Feel Comforted in Your Choice:
When your child is grown, successful, and content, know that you did your best.  You chose what was best for them and would have the best outcomes. In actuality, you only have about a solid 13-14 years to have an impactful impression on your child, afterwards they are typically set in a mold that is who they will be for a lifetime.  Increased positive interactions with parents along with decreased interactions with deviant peers are main factors that predict whether children will engage in problem behaviors such as academic failure, risky sexual behavior, and substance use (Ary, Duncan, Duncan, & Hops, 1999).  If this is not enough evidence to homeschool them then know that your positive modeling will instill good manners in your child.  Furthermore, the Prophet (SAW) stated that the best of us is the one with the best manners (Al Bukhari).  If your child does not learn a single letter sound (which they should), it is OK because what matters most is their deeds which you can influence as their first teacher.  

If you are interested in homeschooling, you are personally invited to join our homeschool network which gives you the option to enroll your child in virtual classes during the pandemic with highly qualified teachers.  Visit http://www.makkahinstitute.org/homeschool-network.html


Ary, D., Duncan, T., Duncan, S., & Hops, H. (1999, March). Adolescent problem behavior: The influence of parents and peers. Retrieved August 22, 2020, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/10087640

Kaylene. (2017, June 13). 7 Simple Steps to Choosing Homeschool Curriculum. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from https://autisticmama.com/how-to-choose-the-right-homeschool-curriculum/]poiuolp;[‘

​Weller, C. (2016, August 20). Homeschooling is the smartest way to teach kids in the 21st century. Retrieved August 19, 2020, from https://www.businessinsider.com/why-kids-should-get-homeschooled-2016-8

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