ABOUT CEN
The Community Educational Network (CEN) is a platform for people who aspire to improve the human condition. This website will feature a multitude of people from many backgrounds that can contribute useful information related to their particular expertise.
CEN Team
MEET THE CEN TEAM
Code Advocate
Rashaki Maskani
Rashaki Maskani is an educator of twenty-five years, teaching primarily high school math and an author of perspective writings. He is a husband of twenty plus years, father, and grandfather. Rashaki has a background in sports and recreation, primarily basketball.
Podcast Host
Amen Rahh
Professor Amen Rahh is a retired professor of Black Studies at California State University at Long Beach and a retired professor of Ethnic Studies and Social Science at Compton Community College in Compton California. Mr. Rahh formally served as board member of Compton Community College, board of Compton Unified School District and formally served as Councilperson for the City of Compton.
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In 1970, at age 22, Professor Rahh was appointed the Position of Head Administrator of a reconstituted Black Studies Department at Cal State Long Beach.
Professor Amen Rahh is a husband, father, grandfather, and a mentor/consultant of many individuals who he helped graduate from college and continue to advise currently.
Podcast Host
Joe Hembrick
Joe Hembrick is just another Brother from the neighborhood of Harbor City and Compton California. Joe Hembrick is an educator who taught, served as an administrator and coached in a span of thirty-nine years. He graduated from Compton High School in 1971, attended Los Angeles Southwest College, UCLA, Loyola Marymount University, and California State University Dominguez Hills. He has an AA and BA degree in History, Teaching and Administrative Credentials in Education, and a Masters Degree in Education Administration.
Joe Hembrick has an extensive football coaching tenure from 1976 to 2000. He coached at Los Angeles Southwest and Compton College, and Lynwood and Centennial High Schools, all in California.
Joe Hembrick professes that “all of the so-called academic institutions provided job training, but my Real education was obtained at Eso Won Book Store and from various libraries in Southern California”.
Author/ Website Contributor
Terri Strong
60 year-old native Memphian. 9 siblings. Life-long AME Denomination member. Began Ministry in 2006. Ordained Itinerant Elder, 2011. Pastor of St. Paul AME Church South Fulton, TN. Mother of 2 Andre and Cameron. Graduated from Memphis State University- Bachelors Degree in Business Administration, Payne Theological Seminary-Master’s of Divinity and Regent University-Doctor of Ministry. Retired Sergeant with the Shelby County Sheriff’s Office. Former foster parent. Author of 6 published publications: Seminary Dissertation-Developing A Prison Re-Entry and Disciple-Making Protocol for families in the West Tennessee Region of the Thirteenth Episcopal District of the African Methodist Episcopal Church in Memphis, Tennessee, Wee Wisdom, Inspiration for Life’s Journey, Prison to Priesthood-A CO’s Perspective, Wisdom Personified, and Lynching Lynchism-It’s Time to Heal and What We Must Do.
Author/ Website Contributor
C.J.H. Moore
Raised in Compton, CA. Read the entire Webster's Dictionary by the age of 13. He once pitched a perfect baseball game, but his life was saved by reading Shakespeare, Elizabeth Barrett Browning, Edgar Allan Poe, Langston Hughes, Max Brand and George Elliot. Language arts was the passion that over took basebll and other sports but he found out that language arts was to be practiced, not mastered, so he learned how to follow the art's lead.
Podcast Host/ Website Contributor
Brother Mooco
Brother Mooco is a Baltimore native who adopted the concept of creating a “Care Unit”. He has Care Unit members throughout the United States and recently connected with Rashaki Maskani to add him to the group. He attended the Baltimore city school system, played various musical instruments such as violin, cello, bass, drums, trumpet, trombone, and others. He also was a star athlete in high school in wrestling, football, and lacrosse.
He was a college prospect for football and wrestling but decided to join the US Navy. Honorably discharged from the US Naval system, he began his music career to co-owning a promotional company with his music care unit and did promotions with hip hop icons and legends like Busta Rhymes, PMD of EPMD, Master Ace RA Tha Rugged Man and others.
Realizing had a passion for “KNOWING,” he dove into his studies to learn from the Great Teachers like Doctor Ben, Doctor Clarke, Neely Fuller Jr., Frances Welsing, Amos Wilson, Khalid Muhammad, and Ray Hagins, just to name a few. He started his own businesses, one of them is 1st Maintenance On Wheelz, in which he employed his sons, friends and uncles. He also started Bmore Codified clothing line and is expanding nationwide.
Author/ Website Contributor
Tommy Lee
Tommy Lee “Horne” Muhammad, Tommy Lee, for short, is a professional educator with almost two-decades of professional teaching experience. Tommy Lee has received a B.A. in Black Studies with an Emphasis of English from California State University, Long Beach and received a M.A. in Education Administration from Concordia University, Irvine.
Tommy Lee is an Autodidatician who has spent over thirty-years as an avid observer, studier, and researcher of the cause, effect, and solution of the post-traumatic Victim of Systemic Racism Syndrome that the descendants of America’s former Africans in Bondage experienced, continue to suffer, and have been forced to endure for over four-centuries in the wilderness of North America. His passion to sacrifice for his people is rooted in him being a “Black Panther Cub”—the 1st born son of a former Captain of the San Diego Chapter of the Black Panther Party for Self Defense founded by Huey Newton and Bobby Seale in the 1966. At the tender age of 19-years-of-age, Tommy Lee followed in his father’s footsteps by joining the ranks of the Nation of Islam—a Black Nationalist and Spiritual Organization rooted in Knowledge of Self and working towards universal Freedom, Justice, and Equality.
Currently, Tommy Lee is a certificated English Language Arts Teacher at Compton Unified School District where he empowers students towards the successful pursuit of a career via post-secondary technical and/or vocational skills training. He spends his time serving his people as a Member of the Nation of Islam’s Fruit of Islam and volunteering for a non-profit organization as a Black Male Youth Empowerment Facilitator. He also spends a great deal of his personal time Researching Current Events, contributing towards the collection and expansion of his vast library of conscious reading material, and Writing Prolific Thought-Provoking Essays for future publication.
Podcast Contributor
Ms. J.W.
An Educator that takes passion in self-exploration and on a journey of healing and discovery. She likes to teach, learn, create art, read, and cook--all things good that maintain a flow for thriving life.
Podcast Contributor
Professor Moyofune' Shabazz
Speaks…..As an educator, I’ve spent the past 30 years empowering and standing in for students & mentees by modeling the character of integrity, collaborating and establishing organizations that provide community base resources to black and brown communities, such as Compton, Inglewood, South LA Pasadena, San Gabriel Valley & Long Beach. Loving on youth who have experienced the foster & probation system in LA County.. Showing up for the homeless & at-risk traumatized youth in the area of academics, college career and financial planning. And being a beacon of light for my family my husband, my sons, my daughters and grandchildren.
As a community organizer, this Aboriginal woman has learned the value of unity, sisterhood and the power of networking. Moyofune‘s practice as a servant leader in the community is the framework for what she teaches students how to live a A Royal and healthy life through self-determination realization and the active use of their imagination. As a lifelong learner the professor continues to grow, train and transform in this ever evolving & hostile climate. I am a guardian for the children of the earth. The bringer of light 💡 I carry the torch that lights the path to our future. Light and love.
Author/ Podcast Contributor
Lynda Shorter
Lynda Shorter is curator, and educator specializing in Black Inventions and the positive impact Black Inventors have made in America, and throughout the world. She believes in living and loving life to its fullest with passion and purpose. She has served on numerous boards and
committees to help make a difference in the world. She served past president of Dawn Breakers Toastmasters, President of Black Newcomers Network in Decatur GA; a dedicated mentor of a
program dedicated to children with incarcerated parents of incarcerated parents. She earned while earned an MBA after becoming a published author., children, and co-founder of WATTS
(Women Aspiring together to succeed, a graduate of Leadership Long Beach, among serving on other boards and committees to help make a difference in the lives of Black Americans. Lynda is a graduate of Leadership Long Beach, a former President of the Black American Political Association of California, and past Vice President of the Meru Kenya, sister city committee for the city of Long Beach California.
Podcast Contributor
Brother DX
Derrick (Brotha DX) Bell with Dr. Vegan Inc. is a metaphysical and spiritual mystic shaman from “Black Wallstreet” Tulsa, Oklahoma. Currently residing in Georgia, he has a strong passion for Health / Wellness, and Entertainment. As a talented professional musician, DJ, lyricist and producer, Brotha DX continues to influence the music scene making impactful contributions to the community and the world. While perfecting his skills as an herbalist and natural healer, Brotha DX also partnered with CBD American Shaman brand to provide CBD and THC products that assist with ailments such as pain, stress, insomnia, focus, and anxiety. In 2014 he released a book entitled “Genesis City Park”, giving guidance on meditation and moral values. From Hollywood to Atlanta, Brotha DX brings a multitude of knowledge and experiences uniquely designed to enhance our human existence.
Author/ Podcast Contributor
Teze Jones
Teze Jones is an author, speaker, and performer. She enjoys encouraging youth and adults as a volunteer with the State of Florida Department of Corrections. Her messages are relatable, based on scriptural principles, and delivered very candidly. Ms. Jones captivates with her warm demeanor, comforts with her sincerity, and entertains with her unique sense of humor. Transparency is vital in her mission to inspire and entertain.