Sakinah Shakoor Riley is a native of Charleston, SC where she was heavily influenced by her parents' artisan work in jewelry, fashion, music, and dance. She received a BA in English from Saint Augustine's University in Raleigh, NC and a Med in Education from UNC Charlotte. She has taught for 17 years and is currently an English Language Arts teacher at a local Early College program where she uses the combined knowledge from her parents, formal education, and travels to her students and her community to not only recognize but appreciate cultural diversity. Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to work both in and outside of the classroom that enhances cultural experiences, through her African drum and dance camps, programs, and workshops. 

 
 She has taught for 17 years and is currently an English Language Arts teacher at a local Early College program where she uses the combined knowledge from her parents, formal education, and travels to teach her students and her community to not only recognize but appreciate cultural diversity.
 
Throughout her career, she has been dedicated to work both in and outside of the classroom that enhances cultural experiences, through her African drum and dance camps, programs, and workshops.