Farewell To Former Commissioner Chair Dr. Nana Seshibe
 Commissioner Nana Seshibe (front row, second from left) surrounded by other Commissioners of African Affairs, August 2014.
The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs and the DC Commission on African Affairs are sad to announce the passing of former Commissioner Chair Nana Seshibe on June 19, 2015. Originally from South Africa, Dr. Seshibe was a strong advocate for under-served African immigrants and played a significant role in the establishment of the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs in 2006.
Dr. Seshibe first joined the Commission on African Affairs in 2008 and served until 2014. During her tenure, she led many of the Commission’s initiatives, including the successful effort to establish the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs as a grant-making authority that could provide funding support for African-serving community-based organizations in DC.
Mayor Muriel Bowser issued a condolence letter to the family of Dr. Seshibe and together with the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs and the Commission on African Affairs continues to pray for her family and friends. You can read the Mayor's message here.
Services for Dr. Nana Seshibe will be held today, Friday, July 17, 2015 at Rankin Chapel (2455 6th Street NW, Washington, DC) on the campus of Howard University in Washington, DC, USA. Viewing will be from 11:00am-12:00pm and funeral Services will begin promptly thereafter. Repass at the Blackburn Center, also on the campus of Howard University, will immediately follow services.
Young African ConneXions Annual Summit 2015
 As part of its Youth Development program, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA) invites you to the first-ever Young African ConneXions Annual Summit taking place this afternoon at the Howard University School of Business Auditorium at 3:00pm.
The summit aims to create a platform that will bring together bright minds to have idea-focused peer-to-peer exchanges, and foster interactions between the District’s African immigrant community and young professionals from the continent on topics such as leadership, technology, education, and the importance of creating sustained linkages.
Click here to learn more and RSVP
Mandela Day of Service
 Inspired by former South African President Nelson Mandela’s life and 67 years of public service, MOAA will launch its first-ever Annual Mandela Day of Service in the District of Columbia tomorrow, on Saturday, July 18, 2015. This program is designed to promote community service and civic engagement in the African communities in the District. During the day of service volunteers will conduct a street clean-up and debris removal at Good Hope Marketplace in Ward 8 located at the intersection of Alabama Ave. & Naylor Road SE from 9:00am to 1:00pm.
Click here to learn more and RSVP
Meet MOAA's New Summer Interns!
Yusif I. Bandaogou, Program and Research Intern
Yusif I. Bandaogou moved from Ghana to the US in 2005 and
immediately to pursue education in the IT field where he earned: A+, N+, CMP,
MCSA, CCNA. During his six years of employment with Comcast, he was raised to the
ranks of team leader and also worked for YWCA, St. Louis. In 2014, he did an internship in Ghana with the Commissioner for Human Rights and Administrative
Justice and the law offices of Kullendi@Law. Yusif received his Bachelor degree
in economics from St. Louis University. He is currently a final year law student at
Valparaiso University in Indiana. In the near future, Yusif intends to practice law in DC and has used his internship at MOAA to
learn about the African community and DC Government. Yusif speaks Twi, Hausa, Busanga, and reads and writes Arabic.
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 Tanya C. Donangmaye, Research and Grants Intern
Tanya is a recent graduate from George Mason University; where she received her Bachelors degree in Global Affairs with a concentration in International Development and a minor in Women and Gender Studies. She is driven by her strong commitment to empowering youth, promoting gender equality, serving in public service and identifying key social obstacles that hinder individual achievement, especially as it relates to mental health. Tanya is very excited to join the OAA team as a Research & Grants Intern. She hopes to strengthen her grant writing skills develop new skills relevant to her career path. Tanya is originally from Chad, and speaks English and French.
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 Busola Fajolu, Program Intern
Busola was born and raised in Lagos, Nigeria. He is a published researcher who is currently a Graduate Student of Applied Economics at Johns Hopkins University. He graduated from the University of Lagos, with a Bachelor’s degree in Economics. He has six years experience in banking, trade-finance, audit, and operations. He is fluent in English and Yoruba. His people oriented nature has given him a passion for Development Economics and Public Finance. He has worked on several projects, such as the impact of food insecurity in Nigeria. Busola is committed to promoting Economic Development in Nigeria and Africa. Over time, he has also developed a strong interest in the non-profit sector to empower the needy. As a Program Intern at MOAA, Busola believes he is in the right place to learn about the African community's needs.
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 Joel Kimona Itonga, Outreach Intern
Joel Kimona Itonga is a Belgian citizen originally from the Republic Democratic of Congo. He left Congo to live as a United Nations refugee in Belgium at the age of 20 years old. From that experience, he developed a strong interest in global organizations and international affairs. Joel speaks French, English, and Lingala, and is currently studying International Studies at the University of Baltimore with a concentration on economics. Joel’s specific interest is on resources and energy impact on a country’s security. During his internship at MOAA, Joel intends to learn more about how DC Government agencies operate, and hopes to contribute to the development of the African community in the District.
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Mayor Bowser Announces Groundbreaking Wind Power Purchase Agreement
On Tuesday, July 14, to demonstrate her commitment to lowering the District’s carbon footprint and saving taxpayer money, Mayor Muriel Bowser announced a 20-year Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) with Iberdrola Renewables, LLC that will supply 35 percent of the District government’s electricity with wind power. This PPA is the largest wind power deal of its kind ever entered into by an American city, and is projected to save District taxpayers $45 million over the next 20 years.
“The District of Columbia is proud to lead the nation in the utilization of affordable, green energy that creates jobs right here at home,” said Mayor Muriel Bowser. “The District is well on its way to achieving the Sustainable DC goal of using renewables to satisfy 50 percent of DC’s energy supply by 2032.”
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Mayor Bowser at Ward 5 FitDC Walk
On Saturday, July 11, 2015, Mayor Muriel Bowser joined Ward 5 FitDC Coach Elena Littles and residents in a 1.5-mile Ward Walk around Brookland. FitDC is a mayoral initiative and commitment to a fresh start in health and wellness in Washington, DC. This initiative encourages residents to live a healthier lifestyle by linking them to nutrition and physical fitness resources in their communities, including FitDC coaches designated to each ward who can offer guidance on making healthy lifestyle choices.This walk also counted as more steps toward the FitDC Billion Steps Challenge, a citywide effort that encourages all DC residents to collectively walk one billion steps
On Saturday, July 25, 2015, Mayor Bowser's Administration will also organize a walk in Ward 2 at 9:00 am at the Jelleff Recreation Center. You can RSVP here..
Mayor Bowser Signs “Sale of Synthetic Drugs Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” Into Law
On Friday, July 10, 2015, Mayor Muriel Bowser, joined by administration officials and members of the DC Council, signed the “Sale of Synthetic Drugs Emergency Amendment Act of 2015” into law. This law will combat the use and sale of synthetic drugs throughout the city by authorizing law enforcement and regulatory officials to take swifter and stronger action against bad acting businesses that sell these illegal products. The law significantly increases the penalties for any business found to be selling synthetic drugs.
“I have issued a fair warning to business owners who continue to sell and distribute these dangerous drugs” said Mayor Bowser. “The new law takes a 'two strikes and you’re out' approach. Beginning today, any business that possesses synthetic drugs will face harsh penalties for the first offense and will lose their license after a second offense. I thank the Council for their swift action and residents from all eight wards for strongly supporting this legislation to crack down on the sale of these drugs.”
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Mayor Bowser Kicks Off First-Ever “AlleyPalooza” Campaign
On Wednesday, July 8, 2015, Mayor Muriel Bowser and District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Leif Dormsjo kicked off the first-ever “AlleyPalooza,” a campaign that will repair or renovate 64 alleys throughout the District - eight in each of the District’s eight wards over the summer.
“The District’s alleys are a vital, yet often overlooked piece of our city’s infrastructure,” Mayor Bowser said. “We want our roads to be safe and reliable and our alleys to reflect the quality of our neighborhoods – and AlleyPalooza shows our commitment to making that happen.”
The District has more than 350 miles of alleys, and DDOT receives several hundred service requests for alleys each year. Alley work is selected based on community feedback including 311 calls and a review by DDOT engineers. The new program, which runs through mid-September, demonstrates the Bowser Administration’s commitment to improving the District’s infrastructure.
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New Report Finds Most Refugees in U.S. Integrate Successfully Over Time
Using previously non-public refugee admissions data from the State Department, a new Migration Policy Institute (MPI) analysis finds that despite the fact that refugees to the United States come from increasingly diverse origins and linguistic backgrounds and that some arrive with low native-language literacy and education, most refugees successfully integrate into the U.S. labor market and society over time.
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Press Coverage for MOAA Grantee The Person Center
Afrikan Post
Annually, thousands of African immigrants come to the United States to make a better life for themselves and their families. A large number of them are refugees seeking asylum to escape violence in their home countries and have been exposed to violence, warfare, sexual abuse and/or torture. Although some have been able to make the transition fairly well, many still suffer from PTSD and need additional social support as well as access to culture specific services. Migration is a traumatic event, hence even those who have not experienced war trauma suffer from migration related trauma, the loss of culture based support systems as well as culturally ascribed social positions and more.
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The 30m-Strong Africa Diaspora Likely Sends $160bn Home Every Year: Where Does it Go?
According to the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) the African remittance flows to and within the continent reach $40 billion per year. The 30 million strong African diaspora fuels the continents’ budget to the tune of 5% of its total GDP. Breaking down the official numbers indicates that the remittances received on per capita basis equal about $40. In other words, if the total population of Africa is estimated at 1 billion, each person receives approximately forty dollars per annum.
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Africans Take to Social Media to Combat Negative Cultural Stereotypes
In an effort to protest against negative stereotypical representations of Africa, a group of young Africans on Twitter, organized under the hashtag #TheAfricaTheMediaNeverShowsYou, got together and started sharing powerful and positive images of their continent. From large stadiums to contemporary architecture to high fashion, the campaign has already earned tens of thousands of tweets, and is adding more by the second.
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African Growth and Opportunities Act (AGOA): All You Need to Know
The U.S. Africa Chamber of Commerce will host a workshop oriented toward small and medium businesses engaged with Africa. A panel of experts will break down the complex aspects of AGOA and provide information including background, eligibility, products and resources.
When: Tuesday, July 21, 2015 | 5:30pm-7:30pm
Where: Squire Patton Boggs | 2550 M Street NW| Washington, DC | 20037
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Grow Your Business with Email & Social Media; Simple Marketing Strategy for Small Businesses & Nonprofits
The DHCD Housing Resource Center is hosting a seminar to teach business and nonprofits owners how to implement simple email list and social media strategies to grow their business and outreach efforts.
When: Thursday, July 23, 2015 | 10:00am-12:00pm
Where: DHCD Resource Center | 1800 Martin Luther King Jr. Ave. SE | Washington, DC | 20020
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10th Edition Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum
The Ethiopian Diaspora Business Forum is a business conference which annually discusses business and investment matters relevant to the Ethiopian Diaspora community both in the United States and Ethiopia. This year’s theme is “Exploring Opportunities in Ethiopia’s Untapped Healthcare Industry”.
When: Saturday, August 1, 2015 | 1:30pm-6:30pm
Where: Jack Morton Auditorium | The George Washington University | 800 21st Street NW | Washington, DC | 20052
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Introduction to Data Analysis for Nonprofits
This hands-on training teaches individuals how to analyze and communicate their data. Participants will learn basic excel functions, how to organize a spreadsheet, data filters, data validation, pivot tables, and charts.This class is ideal for those with limited excel experience.
When: Thursday, July 30, 2015 | 6:30pm-8:30pm
Where: Impact Hub DC | 419 7th Street NW | 3rd Floor | Washington, DC | 20004
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FY2016 HIV Facility Based Housing Programs
The Government of the District of Columbia, Department of Health HIV/AIDS, Hepatitis, STD, & TB Administration (HAHSTA) is soliciting applications from qualified applicants to provide Facility-Based Housing (FBH) programs for HIV positive individuals and their families at risk for continued or chronic homelessness needing assistance to access or maintain permanent housing placement.
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations with a demonstrated track record in providing housing and/or services to people living with HIV/AIDS and/or experiencing homelessness. Not-for-profit organizations with strong fiscal management skills and experience. Public housing agencies.
Deadline: Monday, August 3, 2015
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Promote Social Justice for Women, Minorities & Vulnerable Communities
Open Meadows Foundation announces funds to support projects that promote gender, racial, and economic justice. Preference is given to smaller, startup organizations. The projects must be led by and benefit women and girls, particularly those from vulnerable communities.
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations
Deadline: Saturday, August 15, 2015
Contact: Open Meadows Foundation at openmeadowsfdn@gmail.com
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Trafficking Victim Assistance Program (HHS)
The Department of Health and Human Services announces funds to support comprehensive case management services to foreign victims and potential victims of a severe form of trafficking in persons seeking Department of Health and Human Service certification in any location within the United States.
Eligibility: City or township governments, special district governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, state governments, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, private institutions of higher education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small businesses, community-based organizations and DC government agencies.
Deadline: Wednesday, August 19, 2015
Contact: ACF Applications Help Desk at app_support@acf.hhs.gov
District Heat Emergency Information
Residents and visitors in the District can keep cool by staying in shade or air conditioning and drinking plenty of water. When the temperature or heat index reaches 95, residents are encouraged to take extra precautions against the heat. If they do not live in an air-conditioned building, they may take refuge at a District spray park, cooling center, recreation facility, senior center or other air-conditioned building. More information, and locations, can be found at DC.gov or by calling 311.
Four United Planning Organization (UPO) vans will be canvassing various areas throughout the city for persons suffering from heat related stress and provide transport to one of the Cooling Centers. Persons in need of transportation to a Cooling Center are encouraged to contact the hyperthermia hotline at 1 (800) 535-7252. The UPO will also provide water to those being transported.
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FitDC Ward Walk At Jelleff Recreation Center in Ward 2
As part of Mayor Boswer Administration's FitDC initiative, and its 1 Billion Steps Challenge, local residents will be getting together for great neighborhood walks all over the District. Friends and neighbors will gather for this walk in Ward 2, along with representatives from the Department of Health, who will also be there to provide free healthy food Demos.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2015 | 9:00am - 12:00pm
Where: Jelleff Recreation Center | 3265 S Street NW | Washington, DC | 20007
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Free Prostate Cancer Screenings
Men between the ages of 40 and 70, without a history of prostate cancer, can get a free prostate cancer screening, including a digital rectal exam and Prostate-Specific Antigen (PSA) blood test.
When:Third Friday of Every Month - 8:30am -11:30am
Where: MFA Ambulatory Care Center | 22nd and I Streets NW, Washington, DC | 20037
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DC Youth Mental Health First Aid Training for DC Faith Communities
This eight hour public education training program introduces participants to the unique risk factors and warning signs of mental health problems in adolescents, builds understanding of the importance of early intervention, and teaches individuals how to help an adolescent in crisis or experiencing a mental health challenge.
When: Saturday, July 18, 2015 | 9:00am-5:00pm
Where: Pennsylvania Avenue Baptist Church | 3000 Pennsylvania Ave. SE | Washington, DC | 20020
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Free CPR, AED and First Aid Training for African Immigrants
CitiWide Pre-Vocational Center is offering Free CPR AED and First Aid Training to African Immigrants who live in Washington, D.C. The training will be done by a Registered Nurse who is licensed and certified by the American Heart Association. The training will also prepare individuals to respond to emergencies. Preregistration is required.
When: Beginning Saturday, July 25, 2015 | Offered every other Saturday | 10am-2:00pm
Where: 1818 New York Avenue, NE | Suite 116 | Washington, D.C. | 20002
Contact: akutta@mycitiwide.com or info@mycitiwide.com | or call (703) 304-8108 or (202) 667-3719
Free Job Skills Classes for Residents - Columbia Heights Recreation Center
The District Department of Human Resources (DCHR) and the Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) have teamed up to expand DCHR's free job skills classes for DC residents. DCHR will offer a free Resume Writing and Interview Skills course. Participants will learn valuable interview tips and how to create an eye-catching resume. In addition, participants will receive information about other career resources and programs offered by DCHR.
When: Saturday, July 25, 2015 | 11am-1:30pm
Where: Columbia Heights Recreation Center | 1480 Girard Street SW | Washington, DC | 20009
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Film DC Incentive Fund
The DC Office of Motion Picture and Television Development (MPTD) is now accepting applications for the Film DC Economic Incentive Fund. The Fund offers cash rebates for qualified productions in the District.
Contact: Call MPTD (202) 727-6608, or email FilmDC.Incentive@dc.gov
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Computer Training and Job Readiness
ConnectDC is partnering with local non profit Byte Back to provide free computer training to District residents and help them find jobs. They offer three levels of courses ranging from: basic computer skills, Microsoft office for individuals seeking administrative positions and computer certifications for students interested in information technology careers.
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The Right Choice Campaign
On Friday, July 10, 2015, Mayor Muriel Bowser signed into law emergency legislation aimed at preventing the sale of synthetic drugs in the District of Columbia. The law authorizes the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD), the Department of Consumer and Regulatory Affairs (DCRA), and District government as a whole to take swifter and stronger action against businesses who sell these illegal products.
District business owners are encouraged to participate in the Mayor’s #WePledgeDC campaign by signing a pledge not to participate in the sale of any form of synthetic drugs. More than 150 businesses across the District have already signed the pledge promising that they will not sell synthetic drugs. Look for the sticker below in participating stores and businesses.
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Want Your Event Featured in the African Beat?
'The African Beat' is distributed to over 7,000 subscribers every other Friday. If you would like your event to be featured in our calendar, please submit the following details: what, when & where, and provide a link to where readers can go for more information. Submission deadline for the next edition is Wednesday, July 29, 2015 at 5:00 pm (Send all materials, along with any questions, to (oaa@dc.gov).
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