There Is No Place Like Home
Welcome to The Daughters of Diaspora Return Home website. A passionate journey shared by 5 women who travelled from Los Angeles to Ghana.
Verneen shares her purposeful homecoming, which follows the author’s five transformative journeys to Ghana, each deepening her connection to purpose, ancestry, and community. From volunteering in villages and honoring a mother’s legacy to leading youth empowerment projects and experiencing cultural rituals, each trip blends service, healing, and personal growth. The narrative highlights the complexities of returning “home” as an African American, celebrating collective memory, cultural exchange, and the ongoing journey of diaspora reconnection. Ghana becomes more than a destination; it is a place of belonging, transformation, and hope for the future.
Verneen Mincey
Lorie James is the founder and CEO of Purpose Youth Foundation. Annual mission trips to Ghana that blend service, cultural exchange, and personal growth for school-age girls and young ladies are a part of their purpose. In 2025, it was their 5th annual trip. She, along with the women in the Daughters of the Diaspora Return Home Anthology, delivered donations and empowering presentations to local schools, explored Ghana’s history and traditions, and participated in a moving naming ceremony welcoming them as “Daughters of the Diaspora.” Lorie shares her passion and traces the 5-year journey that fostered lasting connections and this powerful experience.
Lorie James
Deborah Simmons-Donaldson
A transformative journey to Ghana helped Deborah reconnect with her roots and discover a deeper sense of belonging. Traveling with a group of inspiring women, they experienced vibrant culture, heartfelt hospitality, and the impact of giving back through donations to local schools. Emotional visits to historic sites like Assin Manso Slave River and Cape Coast Castle brought powerful reflections on ancestry, resilience, and the importance of remembering history. The trip culminated in receiving a Ghanaian name, symbolizing acceptance and cultural connection. Inspired, the author founded a nonprofit to support education in Ghana, leaving with a renewed sense of purpose and gratitude for their heritage.
Dr. Linda Hodo
Dr. Linda, journey is a heartfelt story of reconnecting with her African heritage. After years of longing, she travels to Ghana, experiencing a powerful sense of homecoming and belonging. Her visit includes inspiring young women at Kumasi Girls Secondary School, sharing messages about pursuing dreams and self-belief. She, like the other women, shares her experience of healing, cultural pride, and encouragement for others in the African diaspora to explore their roots and embrace their dreams
Iris’s heartfelt narrative chronicles the transformative journey and describes how studying Africana Studies and engaging with influential scholars shaped a personal and communal mission rooted in Africa. She tells the story of an African American educator returning to Ghana, the ancestral homeland, as part of a mission trip with the Purpose Youth Foundation. Inspired by a lifelong quest to connect classroom learning with lived experience. Describing how studying Africana Studies and engaging with influential scholars shaped a personal and communal mission rooted in Africa. The visit to slave dungeons brings a powerful reckoning with history and resilience. Encounters at the W.E.B. Du Bois Centre and with Pan-African leaders highlight the importance of unity and hope. The journey inspires a renewed commitment to bridge cultures, honor heritage, and foster connections between Africa and its diaspora.