The theme of TEDxCrescentSchool is Sankofa.  Sankofa is a word in the Akan language of Ghana that translates in English to "reach back and get it" (san - to return; ko - to go; fa - to look, to seek and take).  It hearkens back to a time when ideas and thinking were passed down through story-telling.  It is often associated with the proverb, “Se wo were fi na wosankofa a yenkyi," which translates to "It is not wrong to go back for that which you have forgotten."

LOOKING THROUGH THE LENS OF SANKOFA – The Batner Bookstore

In 1983, a chemist named Corina Batner was coming to terms with her choices.  She had grown up in a book-loving family, one that had put a premium on education, on thoughtfulness, and on literature.  Corina decided to leave her profession and to open a bookstore.  She wanted to be in an environment where she could discuss Henry David Thoreau and Nora Ephron and Stephen King.  She enjoyed being a chemist, but really she wanted to go back to where she began.

Years later, Corina’s son Yoram took ownership of his mother’s bookstore.  Yoram, too, grew up immersed in storytelling.  When it came time to head out and make his way in the world, Yoram’s path took him right back home.  Of all the opportunities before him, none was as appealing as going back to the stories and books he loved.

Today, The Batner Bookstore is a leading provider of textbooks and educational materials to private schools and to the public.  Helping people find the books they need to be successful is an important part of what we do.  Sometimes, when a parent whom we helped years ago comes in bringing their own children, he or she tells us that it feels a bit like coming back to the beginning.  We tell them that we know exactly what they mean.

For more information on TEDxCrescentSchool, click here. We hope to see you there!