About Afrika
My work is shaped by years of experience as a teacher developer and instructional coach, where I supported educators in growth, reflection, and transformation. That same posture of deep listening and thoughtful inquiry now grounds my work in spiritual direction.
I am the author of Open Windows, Open Minds: Developing Antiracist, Pro-Human Students and the forthcoming Sowing Shalom: Soul-Anchored Practices for Racial Healing and Nurturing the Beloved Community (InterVarsity Press, May 2027). My TED-Ed Talk, Four Ways to Have Healthy Conversations About Race, has reached over a million views and reflects my commitment to creating spaces where honest, humanizing conversations can take place.
I received my spiritual direction training through Kairos University’s Listening People to Life program. I am a member of Spiritual Directors International and North Carolina Institute for Spiritual Direction and Formation. I am also an alum of New Life Fellowship’s School of Formation and Transforming Center’s Transforming Community 20.
How I accompany you
Through Soul Compass, I offer a grounded, spacious, and attentive presence.
Our time together may include:
- Deep listening and reflection
- Noticing where God is present and moving
- Gentle questions that invite clarity and honesty
- Silence and stillness
- Prayer, if desired
This is not coaching, counseling, or advising. I won’t tell you what to do. I will walk with you as you discern what God is already unfolding within and around you.
Stories of Transformation
At Soul Compass, every journey is unique. It is a privilege to accompany people as they listen for God’s presence with honesty, courage, and hope. Here are a few reflections from those I’ve had the joy of journeying alongside.
Spiritual Direction
“My sessions with Afrika gave me a safe space to work through feelings that I had carried for years. Her attentive presence helped me accept my past while reminding me that God’s love remains steadfast. She helped me believe that Jesus Christ truly loves me and is not disappointed in me. That truth finally took root in my heart and became a cornerstone of my healing. Even after completing the School of Formation, I continue to meet with Afrika because our time together helps me remain attentive to God’s presence in my life.”
— Fabian
“What has been most meaningful has been the quality and surprise of Afrika’s questions, as well as what is brought up and out during our conversations. She recognizes God at work in ways I don’t see. Spiritual direction has impacted my relationship with God, myself, and others by helping me learn to pause in a sacred space rather than impulsively react when I begin repeating patterns that diminish the grace of God in my life.”
— Val
“I sought out spiritual direction because I wanted to experience more of how God speaks and leads. Having someone to share the weight of listening for and discerning God’s voice in my life has been a tremendous gift. It relieves the pressure to have a companion with a heart that is attentive to God and desires to see His purposes come to fruition. It is also deeply comforting to partner with a woman of color in the contemplative prayer space because we can relate at certain levels of experience without having to explain them. Spiritual direction has confirmed for me that God is still speaking, and I am grateful for the ways He continues to lead me deeper into His presence.”
— Rosalyn
“What I continue to need is a place where I can genuinely be held, and be given room for contemplative moments that are intentional and accompanied, especially the space to lament and grieve well. Afrika offers that with real spiritual fortitude, noticing where God is already present in both my weight and my light. She also restores agency by asking unforced, meaningful questions that support what is happening in the moment, rather than pressing, coaching, or forcing a response. You can see that her beautiful smile, joy and desire to offer spiritual direction definitely flows from how spiritual direction has shaped her own life and formation. I’m so grateful that our paths have brought us here.”
— Cynthia
Retreats and Guided Experiences
“The Glen was a perfect venue for the formational ministry Afrika offers through the Sowing Shalom retreat — a true sense of soul hospitality. I experienced a deep sense of safety and belonging with Afrika and the other retreat participants. What a gift to reflect on the Spirit’s movement in me and in the Church as we seek racial healing together. I’m grateful for the opportunity to participate in this life-giving work.”
— Mary
“I was thankful for Afrika’s leadership on such an important topic. She created a space that felt safe, warm, and inviting, and that invited us to reflect on our lives with openness and curiosity. The content was rich, and I left excited to continue reflecting more deeply on my own story of racial healing.”
— Raquel
“Afrika’s approach keeps Jesus at the center of the journey of racial healing, creating space for individual and collective transformation. I look forward to having more conversations with Jesus about my personal healing and my role in the social change ecosystem.”