David Hartfield-Dyels

Welcome home.

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If you are a single parent reading these words between shifts, after bedtime, or in the quiet ache of “how am I going to do this?”, this University and Academy was built with you at the center, not the margins. You are not an exception; we’re trying to squeeze into a traditional system. You are the reason this institution exists.

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I was raised by a single parent, and I have watched, up close, the quiet heroism it takes to hold a family together when resources are thin but love is overflowing. I have seen the late‑night tears, the early‑morning resolve, the constant choice to get back up one more time for the sake of your children. At Shirley G. Dyels Ohemaa University and Academy, we honor that story as a place of power, not shame. Here, you are Ohemaa, a queen‑parent, a leader, the steady heart of your household.

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This University and Academy is more than classes and log‑ins. It is a community designed around your life:

• Courses you can take in short, powerful bursts, on your phone, at your pace.

• Programs that speak directly to your reality: resilience, money, micro‑credentials, side‑hustles, leadership, and entrepreneurship.

• A learning culture that says, “Your lived experience is not a deficit; it is your greatest asset.”

We believe three things about you:

1. You are already a leader. You negotiate, organize, advocate, and create every day just to keep your family moving. We are here to provide language, structure, and opportunity to support the leadership you already practice.

2. You deserve abundance, not just survival. Education, skills, and business training are tools to help you build stability, dignity, and opportunities for you and your children.

3. Your transformation is generational. When you rise, your children watch. They see what is possible. They inherit a different story.

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As you explore this site, you will see courses like Ohemaa – Remembering Who You Are, Entrepreneurial Mindset for Single Parents, Financial Literacy & Family Wealth‑Building, and Small Business & Side‑Hustle Foundations. Each one has been crafted to do more than deliver information; it is designed to restore confidence, open doors, and move you one step closer to the life you envision for your family.

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I invite you to see this University and Academy as a sacred partnership: you bring your courage, your story, and your determination; we bring structure, knowledge, and unwavering belief in your potential. Together, we can transform “I’m just trying to make it” into “My children and I are building a legacy.”

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Thank you for trusting us with your dreams and your time, two of the most precious resources you have. On behalf of our entire team, welcome to Shirley G. Dyels Ohemaa University and Academy. We are honored to walk this journey with you.

With deep respect and hope,

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David Hartfield‑Dyels
President, Shirley G. Dyels Ohemaa University and Academy