Knowledge of SELF Curriculum- Middle School Student Workbook

The Knowledge of SELF (Social Empowerment Learning Framework) is a groundbreaking, culturally responsive curriculum designed to develop emotionally intelligent, socially aware, purpose-driven youth. Built on five core competencies-SELF Conscience, SELF Governing, Social Conscience, Aspirations, and Good People Skills-this curriculum equips students with the mindset and tools needed to excel academically, socially, and emotionally in a rapidly changing world.

Since its launch in 2022, the Knowledge of SELF Curriculum has transformed learning spaces across Indiana and beyond, empowering students to understand who they are, where they come from, and the greatness they are capable of achieving. Through reflective activities, critical thinking prompts, literacy-based writing tasks, and identity-centered lessons, students learn to strengthen their character, improve decision-making, develop resilience, and foster healthy relationships.

This curriculum is intentionally crafted for today's youth, providing educators, mentors, and community leaders with a structured resource that builds confidence, leadership, cultural awareness, and a strong sense of purpose. Designed with clarity, rigor, and relevance, the Knowledge of SELF Curriculum nurtures the next generation of thinkers, innovators, and world-changers.

Aligned with NERD Youth Services' mission to uplift youth through mentoring, education, and social empowerment, this curriculum stands as a transformative tool for changing lives one lesson at a time.

Whether used in classrooms, after-school programs, mentoring groups, or community settings, the Knowledge of SELF Curriculum helps students unlock their potential by mastering the most important subject of all-themselves.

Cedric A. Washington is an internationally recognized educator, speaker, and author whose work challenges traditional narratives in education and youth development. As the visionary behind The Miseducation of the Negro in the 21st Century and creator of the Knowledge of S.E.L.F. (Social Empowerment Learning Framework) Curriculum, Washington has become a leading voice in redefining how young people-particularly Black youth-understand identity, purpose, and academic excellence.Born and raised in Gary, Indiana, Washington brings authenticity and passion to every aspect of his work. He has spent more than a decade designing culturally relevant instructional systems that blend social-emotional learning, critical consciousness, and real-world literacy. His book The Miseducation of the Negro in the 21st Century builds upon Carter G. Woodson's foundational text, reframing it through a contemporary lens that speaks directly to today's learners, educators, and parents.Washington is the founder and executive director of NERD Youth Services, Inc., a nonprofit dedicated to educational mentoring and community empowerment. Under NERD's umbrella, he launched Project UPLIFT, a mentoring initiative focused on college and career readiness, mental health, and leadership development for underserved youth. His dynamic speaking engagements-spanning conferences from Chicago to Amsterdam-connect global educators and change-makers around the themes of focus, self-awareness, and cultural intelligence.As the founder of Who Lives Like This?! Publishing, Washington now empowers emerging authors to own their narratives and publish works that inspire, educate, and uplift. His mission is rooted in a belief that education must be liberatory-centered on knowledge of self and service to others.Through his books, curriculum, and public speaking, Cedric A. Washington continues to blaze a trail of purpose, equipping a new generation of learners, teachers, and leaders to transform classrooms, communities, and culture.