Cultural LInks is an African American, woman owned business founded by social entrepreneur, dancer, educator, and choreographer, Andrea Vonny Lee. She has led over 20 community tours and study trips to Ghana, West Africa and has performed and taught in the US and abroad. Higher education, entrepreneurism, and community service are keyholes to Andrea’s ancestral legacy. A 7th generation college graduate, Andrea holds a Doctor of Education degree (Ed.D.) in Community College Leadership from San Diego State University; M.A.- Secondary Education, B.A.- Dance Performance & Choreography, and Physical Education Teaching Credential w/Dance Emphasis from San Francisco State University. Dr. Lee is the co-creator of "Beyond Self: Global Education for African American Males," an interactive student workshop, which has been featured at multiple A2Mend annual conferences and other statewide student success events in an effort to increase the number of male students of color who study abroad. Her research involves student transformation and the use of African ontology in educational research.
“Making those personal connections with the global community and meeting people from all walks of life through years of travel and research is what inspired me to utilize my expertise to develop a cutting-edge African Diaspora travel and global education-arts company. And I could not do this alone. The C-links family is an amazing collective of host country travel gurus, adventure experts, researchers, tech geeks, and “foodies”. Together, we create and facilitate vacation tours and educational trips to fit our customer’s needs to deliver that transformational experience of a lifetime. And of course, having spent my entire career as a professional artist-dancer, we are proudly committed to presenting arts and culture in everything we do. ”
Dear C-Links Team,Do you know why are our customers return ?It is because of your dedication !Customer Care takes a...
Safo-Kantanka, PgC., MA.Ed., affectionately known as “Teacher Kantanka,” was born in Mampong-Bobeng, Ashanti Ghana. He speaks multiple languages including Twi, Ga, English, and German and is a researcher, journalist, editor, and foreign student program facilitator. He attended Polytechnic, Akrokerri College, Kumasi Workers College, and universities of Dortmund and Heidelberg in Germany. Kantanka’s areas of expertise span monarchical rulership in the Ashanti Kingdom, anthropology, critical pedagogy, Twi language, Asante art forms, religion, history, culture, and tradition. He is a lead researcher for the 2022 documentary on Nana Konadu Yiadom III (Asantehemaa) and has authored several Ashanti history texts including Kente Cloth History and Culture, Xilbris USA, 2017. The son of a master Kente weaver, and master weaver himself, Kantanka helped design the original “Obama” cloth, woven especially for former President Barak Obama during his presidential visit to the Bon Wire Kente weaving town in 2009. Teacher Kantanka began research collaborations with Cultural Links in 2017 with the House of Royal Chiefs to examine the meaning behind Harriet Tubman’s birth name, “Araminta” for the musical production of “Araminta! Harriet Tubman Lives.” He has conducted Cultural Links tours since 2016. More than a tour guide, Kantanka is an international folk artist, dramatist, and curator of African artifacts, photography, and African symbolism. Teacher Kantanka is the spearhead and conceiver behind Ghana’s first community college. His awards include the 2014 MTN Hero of Change and 2008 Grand Medal and has been interviewed by a number of radio and television stations including BBC, CNN, TV1, Royal TV, UTV, GHO, and GBC.
Gaidi services our mid-western region, USA. We’ve nicked-named him “Gadget Gaidi” because he always has everything handy in the realm of IT–converters, solar chargers, batteries, and more! Aside from winning the gold star gadget award, Gaidi Nkruma holds a Master of Science in Traditional Chinese Medicine from the Academy of Chinese Culture and Health Sciences, Oakland, CA. A seasoned video technician, Gaidi retired from UC Berkeley as the Producer/Director of Instructional and Event Technology for the Haas School of Business. While on tour-don’t be surprised to find Gaidi dancing with the villagers. He is a former principal member of Ceedo Senegalese Dance Company, and a playwright too!
Mezgebu Zehirun, M.S., is one of our international student recruiting agents servicing colleges and universities in California. He is a social worker with an expertise in Ethiopian culture and tourism. Join our next tour to Ethiopia and explore the antiquity, tradition, biodiversity and modern innovation that makes travel to Ethiopia a truly authentic and culturally rich experience! Our C-Links team and on-the-ground tour operators will lead you to the magnificent and legendary Blue Nile, ancient monasteries, and rock-hewn churches. This is a great tour for student groups and those seeking investment opportunities in East Africa. Wrap up your journey with an AMAZING East African Safari!
Dr. Elliott is dedicated to uplifting and liberating people by instilling the importance of global education through community involvement and service. He holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership from Argosy University, M.A. in Creative Arts Interdisciplinary Studies, and a B.A. in Music and Black Studies from San Francisco State University. He believes service-learning to be essential for meaningful collaborations with colleges both in the US and abroad and works strategically to align community agencies and industry partnerships to develop practical and real-life experiences for students to improve the teaching and learning process. As founder and artistic director of Black Song and Poetry, Dr. Elliott led a group of 30 students to Ghana, West Africa in 2002 to participate in a choral musical festival at the National Theater. He was a featured presenter at the Kumasi Cultural Centre as part of Ghana’s 2019 Year of Return festivities and recorded original music with his students at the Cultural Links Music Studio in Accra, Ghana. He is founder and co-director of the African American Male Leadership Program (AAMLP); a tenured board member of the California statewide community college organization, African American Male Education Network and Development (A2MEND); past Division Dean of Natural, Social, and Applied Sciences-Contra Costa College; and former Senior Dean of Instruction at Los Medanos College. Dr. Elliott presently serves as Professor of Music at Diablo Valley College where he teaches the History of Hip-Hop Music and Culture, and Introduction to Social Justice. His recent book—Spirit, Rhythm, and Story: Community Building and Healing through Song, involves the power of music and music therapy toward healing communities.
Dr. Elliott is the co-creator of "Beyond Self: Global Education for African American Males," an interactive student workshop, which has been featured at multiple A2Mend annual conferences and other statewide student success events in an effort to increase the number of male students of color who study abroad.
Cultural Links is dedicated to developing future leaders who hold a global awareness mindset rooted in cultural sensibilities. Cultural Links Student Ambassadors are available for student-led workshops and panel discussions.
Topics: “Bringing More Equity to Study Abroad”, “Building Pillars of Success - Transformational Learning through Global Education.”
Amari earned an Associate Arts degree in Sociology from Diablo Valley Community College and is a former Umoja student and member of the African America Male Leadership Program. An alumni of A2Mend (African American Male Education Netowrk and Development), Amari presently attends Clark Atlanta University majoring in Mass Media Arts. Amari is an undergraduate student recruiter with Cultural Links and was a panelist and global education co-presenter at the XVII 2021 Umoja Conference, CA USA.
Halima earned her B.A. in Anthropology and Dance from San Francisco State University, and three Associate Arts degrees (Anthropology, Dance, Social Science, Language Arts) from Laney College, Oakland, CA. She completed a full year of study abroad at the University of Ghana and has studied abroad in Ghana and Cuba. Halima wishes to pursue further education and utilize her knowledge and skills to heal people from trauma through dance. She was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links for the XVII 2021 Umoja Conference, CA USA.
Nkosazana earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Biology with a minor in Spanish from Mills Oakland, She works at UCSF in a biochemistry/biophysics lab as a student intern/lab technician and is studying for the MCAT in preparation of applying to medical school next year. Fun fact: Nkosazana swam from the Bay to Alcatraz Island! In her future, Nkosazana will become one of the few African American women neurosurgeons. Nkosazana was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
Shay received two Associate of Arts degrees (Dance/Philosophy) from Diablo Valley Community College (member of Umoja) before transferring to Mills College, Oakland, CA. Shay earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Ethnic Studies w/concentration in Community Organizing and Planning and minor in Urban Education. In their future, they will be known for their novels and children’s books and their articles will appear in journal publications. Shay was a panelist and global educator co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
Charles graduated from Clark Atlanta University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Sociology. He also earned an Associate of Arts degree in Sociology from the College of Alameda and is a former Umoja student. Charles intends to obtain his social worker licensure and impact lives through his foster youth empowerment programs.
She earned a Bachelor of Art degree in Psychology with a minor in Gender Studies from the University of Central Arkansas. She gained recent employment as a Behavior Specialist working with children on the autism spectrum. Ammar works as a substitute teacher while pursuing a career path in dentistry and cosmetology. She was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
Ayyub is a student at Berkeley City College and participated in the Umoja student program. He is pursuing psychology “to gain a more complex understanding of the human mind and simplify what I learn into practical/philosophical understandings that can be applied to people’s lives.” In his future, Ayyub integrates art, technology, and innovation to inform and educate the public. Ayyub was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
She is a senior at the College of Alameda (and former Umoja student) majoring in Sociology. She leverages resources to feed the homeless and is a model, actress and works as a brand marketer and celebrity stylist for Mills Miller Media. In her future, Mikala plans to graduate from an HBCU, and develop businesses on her land in Africa and the Caribbean. Mikala was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
Aminah earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Film and Digital Media with a Concentration in Production from UC Santa Cruz after transferring from Los Positas Community College. She writes, shoots, and directs film/video projects and is working towards a self-produced television show. Aminah prepares social media content for Cultural Links and is a past paneleist and global education co-presenter at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
LaTisha is an Oakland native, yoga and meditation coach and mother of 3 sons. In the summer of 2021, she graduated from Laney with an AA in Social Sciences. LaTisha is a former Umoja Ubaka student and currently attends SFSU, majoring in Psychology/minor in Africana studies. In her future, LaTisha plans to earn a master’s degree in Psychology to serve the AA community by opening a restorative therapy and yoga meditation center. Ms. Jackson was a panelist and global education co-presenter with Cultural Links at the XVII Umoja Conference, California USA.
