African Storytelling Reimagined
African Storytelling Reimagined
Ada Ari’s school visits provides students with an authentic and interactive exploration of culture. Each session is customized to meet the needs of the schools and students. At a high level, the program can offer these experiences listed below. Ada connects with each school to customize each visit.
Toddlers
For my toddler friends, the program offers plenty of opportunities to move about. This includes dancing, touch-and-feel with authentic artifacts, and an interactive story time.
Primary
At elementary schools, my sessions are culturally immersive and engaging for students of all grade levels. Each session is customized to best meet the attendee's needs and includes learning an African dance, geography lessons, cultural discovery through engaging with authentic artifacts, and much more.
Secondary
My middle and high school programs are my most customizable, as I tailor each session to the unique focus of the school. For this age group, I’ve designed programs that range from exploring my immigration story to sharing my journey as an author and entrepreneur. These stories highlight how I overcame fear to build a successful brand rooted in African culture and tradition—something I nearly gave up on due to fear. This personal journey resonates with students as they reflect on their own dreams and potential.
In addition to my story, I offer an authentic exploration of Africa’s diverse regions, diving into culture, history, economics, and more. These sessions are highly interactive, allowing students to engage with artifacts, create music, customize fashion, and imagine themselves in various cultural scenarios. It’s not just about learning—it’s about discovering how far their own potential can take them when they don’t let fear stand in the way.
"Ada Ari's visit to our school was incredible! Ada demonstrated her ability to adapt the information and activities she shared to a variety of grade levels, and her presentation was engaging and hands-on. Our students and staff enjoyed Mrs. Ari's visit very much, and we would love to have her return to our school in the future." - Mike Remshik Interim Principal, St. John Neumann Regional Catholic School
"I was impressed with [her] ability to interact and engage with children of all ages. It is rare for a storytime-like program to keep both older and younger kids interested, and [she was] able to do it with ease. The setup of the program was perfect, combining music, facts, storytelling, interactive elements and crafts." - Maranda L. Schoppert Head of Children's & Teen Services, Germantown Library - Montgomery County Public Libraries
"The reading was so fun and engaging - for both kids and parents alike." - Jessica Callahan, Co-Owner, Where the Wild Things Play
"I’ve never seen a storyteller rock a story like Ada Ari." - Ellen Przybocki, Owner - The Original Playhouse