Follow the Money

Report Details

What is Akoben LLC?

In 2010, Abdul-Malik Muhammad registered Akoben LLC, based in Wilmington, Delaware, with the Delaware Secretary of State. Muhammad is the chief executive officer. He also founded Transforming Lives LLC.

What services does the Akoben LLC offer?

Akoben offers a variety of workshops, consulting and coaching services, and speaking engagements to their clients. The workshops are meant to “stretch thinking, provoke reflection, and stimulate action.” Principles of these workshops include “restorative practices, trauma-informed care, cultural relevancy, and agency and assets.” 

Parents have criticized the workshops and teachings for politicizing education, fomenting students to become activists and “disruptors.” 

What K-12 work has Akoben LLC done?

CALIFORNIA

Palm Springs Unified School District, California

Purchase Order

Palm Springs Unified School District paid Akoben LLC $7,250 to do consulting work during the 2020-2021 school year at four “district sites.”

There was an appearance, according to a tweet.

The contract, called “Building a Restorative School Culture,” included three-part professional development training:

• “Caring for the Educator Restorative Circle”
• “Using our Restorative Practices for This Moment”
• “Going Deeper: RP 2.0”

As part of the contract, Palm Springs Unified School District purchased 100 copies of The Restorative Journey — Book One: The Theory and Application of Restorative Practices by the founder of the consulting firm, Malik Muhammad.

Purchase Order

On Oct. 19, 2019, Palm Springs Unified School District signed a contract to pay Akoben LLC $16,000 for 2019-2020 school year with consulting work at Desert Hot Springs High School and Desert Springs Middle School. The contract title was “Building a Restorative School Culture”

“Akoben will…train and coach “champions” within the school with the principles and skills of Restorative Practices and Trauma Informed Care,” the contract said.

The contract included:

• “Developing a Restorative and Strengths Based Approach Pt. 1, administered to 25 Champions” on Aug. 2, 2019.
• “Champions coaching” on Sept. 30, 2019, and Oct. 1, 2019.
• “Developing a Restorative and Strengths Based Approach Pt. 2, administered to 25 Champions,” on April 28, 2019.
• 25 copies of Muhammad’s book, “The Restorative Journey — Book One: The Theory and Application of Restorative Practices.”

The contract added: “We will use the SOAP model, Work-Study Circle process and in-vivo application to connect and challenge staff to improve along their restorative journey.” “SOAP” stands for “Subjective, Objective, Assessment and Plan.” “Study Circles” are a buzzword in “diversity, equity and inclusion” work, such as in Montgomery County, Maryland. 

Riverside County Office of Education

Contract and Purchase Order

On July 1, 2019, the Riverside County Office of Education signed a contract to pay Akoben LLC $25,200 for “Pupil and Administrative Services,” including six days of workshop and trainings on “Restorative Practices.”

Contract and Purchase Order

On Sept. 20, 2018, the Riverside County Office of Education signed a contract to pay Akoben LLC $29,200 for “Pupil and Administrative Services,” with six days of workshop and trainings on “Restorative Practices.”

Contract and Purchase Order

On Feb. 13, 2018, the Riverside County Office of Education signed a contract to pay Akoben LLC for four days of  (4) days of training on “Understanding the Deeper Why of Restorative Practices,” conduced by lead facilitator Malik Muhammad.

The Riverside County Office of Education tweeted out photos and videos from a panel held with multiple school districts. 

Here is the registration page for three panels, that included Moreno Valley Unified School District, Corona Norco Unified School District, Val Verde Unified School District, Temecula Valley Unified School District and Saugus Union Unified School District.

DELAWARE

Delaware Department of Education

Contract

Delaware Department of Education paid Akoben LLC founder Abdul-Malik Muhammad $6,000 for conducting three one-day training sessions in May and June 2016. The contract noted: “Restorative Practices (RP) training will provide knowledge based information for reducing student suspension.”

Rochester City School District

Contract

On Sept. 9, 2020, Rochester City School District agreed to pay Akoben $9,750 to “Facilitate Board Retreats” throughout the 2020-2021 fiscal year.

Contract

Rochester City School District agreed to pay Akoben $6,500 for a one-day board retreat on Feb. 22, 2020, to “focus on communication and development.”

Contract

On Oct. 11, 2018, Rochester City School District agreed to pay Akoben $25,000 for a services related to “Restorative Practice.”

Contract

Rochester City School District increased the fee to Akoben by $15,000 to a total amount of $20,500 for Leadership Academy of Young Men on Feb. 16, 2018.

Contract

Rochester City School District agreed to pay Akoben $5,500 for a two-hour “Gender-Based Trauma – Trauma Resiliency Workshop for Students” on Feb. 14, 2018.

Contract

Rochester City School District paid Akoben $5,000 for a keynote speech and half-day “Leadership Academy for Men” on Oct. 4, 2017.

MARYLAND

Cecil County Public Schools 

Spreadsheet of Totals 2018-2021

Request for Proposal

On May 18, 2018, Cecil County Public Schools issued a Request for Proposal: “Consultant to Implement Restorative Practices Protocols.”

Contract

On July 17, 2018, Cecil County Public Schools agreed to pay $96,000 to Akoben to “Implement Restorative Practices Protocols” from July 10, 2018, through July 9, 2019.

Contract

Cecil County Public Schools agreed to pay $213, 600 to “Implement Restorative Practices Protocols” from Aug. 28, 2019, through June 30, 2020.

Contract

On March 3, 2021, Cecil County Public Schools agreed to pay $87,600 to Akoben to “Implement Restorative Practices Protocols” from March 8, 2021, through June 15, 2021.

Contract

On July 12, 2021, Cecil County Public Schools agreed to pay $215,400 to Akoben for its services to “Implement Restorative Practices Protocols” from July 1, 2021, through June 30, 2022

Howard County Schools, Maryland

Total: $47,800

Contract

On Aug. 22, 2017, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay Akoben $1,000 for three workshops.

Contract

On Aug. 22, 2017. Howard County Public School System agreed to pay Akoben $1,000 for three workshops per day for two days.

Contract

On Sept. 26, 2017, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $2,800 to Akoben as a “Professional Learning Training Consultant” on Aug. 30, 2017, for an “Introduction to Restorative Practices.”

Contract

On Oct. 10, 2016, Howard County Public School System agreed to Akoben $2,000 for its founder to be the keynote speaker for an event that ran from July 19, 2016, through July 20, 2016.

Contract

On Nov. 17, 2017, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $2,800 for two sessions of a “Parent Information Presentation” on Oct. 26, 2017, at Mt. Hebron High School.

Contract

On Dec. 12, 2017, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $11,200 in “Encumber Funds” for “future speaking engagements throughout the 17-18 school year.”

Contract

On April 17, 2018, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $2,000 to Akoben for training, called “Saving Our Boys of Color,” for staff and students.

Contract

On Aug. 15, 2018, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay Akoben_$1,800 to be the keynote speaker for an event from July 25, 2018, and July 26, 2018.

Contract

On Oct. 10, 2018, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $2,100 for a one-day “Professional Development Full Day Training for Training.”

Contract

On Feb. 12, 2019, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $18,900 in “Encumber Funds” for “Restorative Practice Trainings” for the 2018-2019 school year.

Contract

On Sept. 8, 2020, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $3,000 to Akoben to run one school session and two virtual sessions on the topic of “Building a Restorative School Culture.”

Contract

On Jan. 7, 2021, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $2,000 to Akoben for “Training and Coaching” and “Building a Restorative School Culture” on Nov. 16, 2020.

Contract

On Feb. 17, 2021, Howard County Public School System agreed to pay $1,000 to Akoben for “Building a Restorative School Culture Presentation” on Dec. 2, 2020, for “Professional Learning.”