Today we’d like to introduce you to Isaiah “Zaybo” Thomas.
Thanks for sharing your story with us Isaiah. So, let’s start at the beginning and we can move on from there.
Born and raised all over Miami (From Opa-Locka to Coconut Grove), I grew up playing football which allowed me to meet people from all over the county. I graduated high school from Turner Tech while playing football for Miami Norland (turner tech doesn’t have any sports and students can play for their home school). In high school, I started to develop a passion for giving back and assisting others. I begin tutoring and working as a summer camp counselor at Teen UpWard Bound Inc. I went on to attend FAMU where I studied Social Science Education. FAMU changed my life forever. My freshmen year of college was full of ups and downs. While being a 4.0 student, I had to grow and deal with a lot of issues outside of the classroom. I lost a close friend Jarrett “J-Slida” Lewis at the end of our freshmen year in Tallahassee. That same year, a group of us started Miami Boyz Pool Party. We went on to turn the initial event into a weekend of different events and community service bringing the hottest talent out of Miami to Tallahassee.
After graduation, I returned home where I begin teaching Civics and U.S History. While teaching, I made a decision to be active in my community, I assisted Teen UpWard Bound in starting their CDF Freedom school program where I served as the site coordinator for four years. I worked with the Dream Defenders canvassing and conducting a listening project to help community members come together and better their own neighborhoods while holding elected officials accountable. During this time, a group of comrades and myself started Root Collective. We begin having turkey drives, back to school drives, and family days where we brought community members together. Along with community organizing, I have curated niche social events with The Artklub.
Last year, I started the Jarrett Lewis Foundation in honor of my friend I lost in college. With proceeds from Miami Boyz Weekend, we have used the Foundation to give out book scholarships to youth from Miami attending FAMU and we have sponsored the TUB Titans AAU basketball program.
Has it been a smooth road?
No, it has not been a smooth road and I don’t expect it to be a smooth road. I understand overcoming adversity builds character and will mold me into the person I want to become. Throughout my life, I have dealt with the lack of resources, institutionalized racism, and negative stereotypes to get to where I’m at now.
Tell us about your company. What do you do, what do you specialize in, what are you known for, etc. What are you most proud of as a company? What sets you apart from others?
I’m most proud of being an active member of the village. I believe strongly in the African proverb “It takes a village to raise a child”. I’m currently a 7th-grade Civics teacher and co-owner of The Roots BlackHouse (@ROOTSBLACKHOUSE). I believe my passion to genuinely love and teach our kids is what set me apart from others. In the last three years, my students have scored the highest scores in our school’s feeder pattern. At the Roots BlackHouse, we have created one of the only full-fledged printing centers in the Liberty City area while creating a safe space thats “unapologetically black”.
https://www.miamiherald.com/news/local/education/article72003167.html
What has been the proudest moment of your career so far?
The proudest moment of my career has been my students surpassing academic expectations and learning that they can be the change they want to see in their community or handing out scholarships to students from my neighborhood that is attending my alma mater.
Contact Info:
- Address: Roots Black House
5505 nw 7th ave
Miami, FL 33127 - Website: rootscollectivemarket.org
- Email: [email protected]
- Instagram: @zaybo777
- Facebook: Isaiah Thomas
- Twitter: @zaybo777
Suggest a story: VoyageMIA is built on recommendations from the community; it’s how we uncover hidden gems, so if you or someone you know deserves recognition please let us know here.
