The Rites of Passage Process
Guiding individuals through life's most important transitions.
Understanding the Process
Rites of Passage is a structured, spiritual, and cultural transformational process. It assists men and women, boys and girls, in making a successful entry into a new life stage, or a successful departure from a disturbing life crisis. Participants move through stages of separation, transition, and incorporation, guided by elders and grounded in African-centered values, ritual, and community accountability.
Who Am I?
Participants begin by exploring identity: ancestry, culture, and the African image of self that miseducation has too often obscured.
Why Am I Here?
Through elder-guided study and ritual, participants connect personal purpose to ancestral and community responsibility.
What Is My Purpose?
Participants emerge with a defined role and commitment to family, community, and the ongoing work of reclaiming, restoring, and rebuilding.
2026 HBCU Experience Highlights
The Akron Rites of Passage Institute (AROPI), in partnership with the Akron NAACP, Akron Urban League, Urban Ounce of Prevention, Students With A Goal (SWAG), Akron-Canton Ohio Black Social Workers Association (Akron-Canton OBSWA), Akron National Pan Hellenic Council (Akron NPHC — The D9), and other committed youth and community partners, are excited to invite you, parents, students, and youth leaders, to come learn about one of the most exciting educational and cultural opportunities available for college-bound students in Greater Akron — the 2026 HBCU Experience.
The annual HBCU Experience is designed to expose students and families to the pride, excellence, culture, traditions, and opportunities found at Historically Black Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) through three unforgettable events:
- Black College Football Labor Day Classic Weekend
- Destination HBCU College Fair & Pep Rally
- HBCU College & Cultural Tour
I. Black College Football Labor Day Classic
September 3–6, 2026
Experience:
- Battle of the Bands
- Gospel Concert
- Greek Step Shows
- Tailgating & Family Activities
- Football Game — Albany State University vs. Johnson C. Smith University
Reserve your Labor Day Classic tickets now (pay later) by scanning the QR code on the flyer below. Reservation deadline is July 31, 2026.
II. Destination HBCU College Fair
November 2026
Featuring:
- HBCU admissions representatives
- Scholarships & college readiness workshops
- Live marching bands
- Black Greek fraternity & sorority step shows
III. HBCU College & Cultural Tour
September 28 – October 4, 2026 · Registration & deposit required
Students and parents will visit:
- Alcorn State University
- Grambling State University
- Mississippi Valley State University
- Jackson State University
- Tougaloo College
Families will also experience:
- Mississippi Civil Rights Museum
- National Civil Rights Museum
- Eddie G. Robinson Museum
- Grambling State University Homecoming
- The 100th Anniversary Celebration of the World Famed Tiger Marching Band
Space is limited, so parents and students are encouraged to reach out early to ask questions and learn how to become part of this life-changing experience.
Questions about the HBCU Experience?
For more information, contact:
Terrence Shelton
HBCU Experience Coordinator
Akron Rites of Passage Institute (AROPI)