Back row (L-R): James Thomas, Olufemi Viltz, Bro. Marvin, Baba George, Sister Phylis, Shujaa Baker
Front row (L-R): Baba Malcolm, Sister Phylis’ son (Sean?)

Founded in 2009, TARPIE began as an extension of the Long Beach Study Group *(LBSG), which was started in 1988 by Olufemi Viltz, Max Viltz, and Anjail Musadiq after they visited Kemet (Egypt) with Dr. Ben (Josef ben-Jochannan) and Ashra Kwesi. As they departed, Dr. Ben told them to “Go home and start a study group to share what you learned…” – and they did exactly that.

TARPIE cofounder, Kwesi Osafo, was a NASA engineer who joined the LBSG soon after it was organized. When TARPIE cofounder (and former NASA engineer), Shujaa Baker, arrived in 2006, the LBSG had been meeting every Thursday night for (18) years to discuss or study African history and culture, with few exceptions.

In 2009, LBSG cofounder, Olufemi Viltz, and co-director, James Thomas (a retired engineer), allowed Kwesi and Shujaa to lead the group. Inspired by Prof. Tony Browder’s tomb excavation work in Kemet called the ASA Restoration Project, they reorganized as The African Restoration Project and coordinated study groups and cultural activities in Long Beach, Los Angeles, and Pomona, CA every week for more than a decade. Their shared experience as engineers contributed to a combined focus on African history, culture, and S.T.E.M. from the start.

*- Officially organized as the African Cultural Research and Study Group of Long Beach

Bro. Abdullah, Kwesi Osafo, Dr. Earl 5X Grant, Prof. Mathu Ater, Shujaa Baker

Current Structure

Today, TARPIE is led by co-directors, Shujaa Baker and Akhir Rashad. Shujaa is a longtime design engineer and Akhir is a machinist and independent programmer, and video game developer. They work with a team of six talented women and men from a variety of professions. The group still meets weekly to develop their active projects and to coordinate periodic cultural events and activities in the Inland Empire, the greater Los Angeles area, and online.

The original Long Beach Study Group still meets every week on Wednesday 6-8pm at the African American Cultural Center Long Beach, 4321 Atlantic Ave. They can also be found on YouTube.

Dedication

We give continued thanks to the Long Beach Study Group, Shades of Afrika (Long Beach), KRST Unity Center (Los Angeles), and The African American Museum of Beginnings (Pomona) for being partners in this work.

We also pay continuous tribute to the memory of James Thomas and Kwesi Osafo for their scholarship, committed work, their love for Black people, and their faith in us again becoming the best possible version of ourselves. May the good they helped create last forever…

Our second project is based on a children's book series we created titled – "STEM 'n 'Nem" – to advance literacy and an interest in S.T.E.M. education and careers through uplifting stories that reflect Black S.T.E.M. excellence while applying the Seven Principles beyond Kwanzaa.

This series is designed to inspire Black children and adults to adequately prepare themselves to increasingly become the morally grounded S.T.E.M. professionals of the present and future. In every story, we link the Seven Principles with other Black holidays and occasions while encouraging strong family and community bonds, an accurate understanding of history, and ethical mastery of S.T.E.M.

Mastering all the disciplines of science, technology, engineering, mathematics, and manufacturing is a key step in assuming and maintaining control of our own communities – and creating the world we want to live in. So let's continue the work started by our elders and ancestors, and build on it…

Our Book Collection

Our first book introduces the series and main characters.

Our second book addresses and corrects myths about the Juneteenth holiday in a way that applies the Seven Principles.

Our third book explains the origins and purpose of Labor Day and its significance for Black people while emerging changes in labor markets and the future of work based on A.I., robotics, and digital currency.

The Afrikan Restoration Project

Working to restore what it means to be fully African and human to become the best possible version of ourselves….

WHO WE ARE

The Afrikan Restoration Project / Inland Empire (TARPIE) is a community organization with an almost twenty-year history of coordinating cultural events, study groups, and S.T.E.M. (science, technology, engineering, and mathematics) based activities in the Inland Empire and greater Los Angeles area.

WHERE WE BEGAN

Founded in 2009, TARPIE began as an extension of the Long Beach Study Group (LBSG), which was started in 1988 by Olufemi Viltz, Max Viltz, and Anjail Musadiq after they visited Kemet (Egypt) with Dr. Ben (Josef ben-Jochannan) and Ashra Kwesi...

ORGANIZATION OBJECTIVES

Our first objective is to promote the Seven Principles of Kwanzaa as a “Black job” or a daily code of conduct for Black communities everywhere – every single day – not just during Kwanzaa.

CURRENT STRUCTURE AND DEDICATION

Today, TARPIE is led by co-directors, Shujaa Baker and Akhir Rashad. Shujaa is a longtime design engineer and Akhir is a machinist and independent programmer, and video game developer.

ORGANIZATION PROJECTS

We are convinced the principles have their greatest value when put “IN MOTION” through our best collective work which includes merging the Seven Principles with modern technology to increase people’s engagement with the Seven Principles beyond Kwanzaa.