Sankofa Place
A sanctuary for restoration and renewal.
Sankofa Place is the heart of WCJA - a living, breathing home where healing takes form through community, creativity, and care. It’s where our mission - harnessing the power of community to transform systems-impacted lives - comes to life each day.
The Meaning of Sankofa
The word Sankofa comes from the Akan people of Ghana and is symbolized by a bird with its body facing forward and its head turned back. The image captures a sacred truth: that we must return to our roots, remember what we have left behind, and bring those lessons forward to nurture new life.
At Sankofa Place, a living pet bird greets visitors as guardian and teacher. It embodies the soul of the community - its quiet strength, its watchful love, and its invitation to pause, look inward, and rise again.
Every corner of Sankofa Place invites belonging. Sankofa Place is not just a building - it’s a heartbeat. It is where courage meets care, where healing and leadership intertwine, and where every woman or gender-expansive person can rediscover her strength, her story, and her place in community.
A Sanctuary for Wholeness
Sankofa Place is designed as a haven. Inside, participants find a library for reading and reflection, a healing room for spiritual solace and therapy, and a conference room where community gatherings spark connection and purpose. The kitchen becomes a classroom where participants learn to prepare food and reclaim the nourishment of care.
In the boutique upstairs, women reinvent their lives - selecting clothing for job interviews, exploring personal style, and building confidence for their next chapter. The Hand in Hand Healing Mentoring Project often unfolds here, pairing mentors and mentees for heart-centered conversations that nurture confidence and belonging.
Leadership in Community
WCJA cultivates leadership. The conference space hosts Leadership & Development Academy workshops in advocacy, organizing and the library is a hub for research and reflection. Participants can learn policy basics, explore new careers, and use our computer to connect with resources.
The Academy helps participants find their footing as advocates and educators, preparing them to lead both within Sankofa Place and out in the community.
A Living Bridge to the Wider World
Sankofa Place is deeply connected to the movement beyond its walls. Members participate in gatherings and actions organized by the Justice 4 women Task Force, helping to amplify the voices of system-impacted women in New York and beyond. They also engage with Community + Court Peer Navigation, learning how to accompany others through the legal maze with dignity and clarity.
Through these programs, the work begun inside Sankofa extends outward - into courtrooms, neighborhoods, and policy conversations - turning personal transformation into collective change.