OAA Director Featured in Adventist Healthcare’s Local Leaders in Health Equity Initiative in Honor of National Minority Health Month
During National Minority Health Month in April, Adventist Healthcare’s Center for Health Equity and Wellness featured several local leaders who are making a global impact on improving health equity. “As a healthcare professional, I am passionate about connecting African immigrants living in the District of Columbia to the healthcare services that are available to them and measurably improving their lives. The nation’s capital is one of the few jurisdictions in the country with an entity that specifically addresses the needs of the African immigrant community. Hence, the DC Mayor’s Office on African Affairs is an important resource for educating African immigrants and reducing cultural and linguistic barriers to accessing vital health and social services.”—Ngozi Nmezi
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OAA to Partner With the American Immigration Lawyers Association and the Ethiopian Community Center for Citizenship Day 2014
 The American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA) will sponsor "Citizenship Day 2014," a single-day workshop with sites around the country providing assistance to lawful permanent residents eligible for naturalization.
When: Saturday|April 26, 2014 |10:00 am - 2:00pm
Where: Ethiopian Community Center| 7603 Georgia Avenue NW|Suite 100| Washington, DC|20012
Remember, this is a FREE service! The attorneys volunteering for the day are all members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association (AILA), and will be assisting attendees with preparing their citizenship applications (if deemed eligible) on site. This event is co-sponsored by the DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs.
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Mayor Gray Thanks DC Inspector General Charles J. Willoughby for His Service After Being Informed of His Retirement
Mayor Vincent C. Gray today thanked the District’s Inspector General, Charles J. Willoughby, for his nearly nine years of service after Willoughby informed him of his intention to retire. “I want to thank Charles for his service to the people of the District of Columbia since 2005 and wish him well,” Mayor Gray said. “The position of Inspector General has an important role as an independent watchdog of the District government, and I look forward to nominating a new Inspector General in the coming weeks".
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Mayor Gray to Release First-Year Progress Report for Sustainable DC Plan
WHAT/WHO: Mayor Vincent C. Gray, District Department of the Environment (DDOE) Director Keith A. Anderson, and Office of Planning (OP) Acting Director Ellen McCarthy, will review progress that District government agencies and community partners have made in implementing the Sustainable DC initiative to make the District the nation’s greenest, healthiest, most livable city. The Mayor will also encourage District residents to take actions at home, school or work that help further the effort’s goals.
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Mayor Vincent C. Gray and CBS RADIO Washington, DC Announce New Broadcast Endeavor in the Capitol Riverfront
Mayor Vincent C. Gray and CBS RADIO Washington, DC Senior Vice President and Market Manager Steve Swenson today announced the completion of a 15-year lease to relocate CBS RADIO’s six local stations to 1015 Half Street SE in one of the District’s newest up-and-coming neighborhoods – the Capitol Riverfront. The building is two blocks from Nationals Park and just south of the US Capitol. CBS RADIO’s newest broadcast facility will include a nearly 33,000-square-foot floor plan that includes offices, a street-level studio facing L Street SE (where the stations will have the ability to do live broadcasts visible to passersby and visitors), and a performance space where local and national recording artists can host live shows and unique experiences for listeners.
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Mayor Gray Launches ‘500 Families. 100 Days. Quality DC Housing Now’ Campaign
Effort Aims to Move Families out of DC General Shelter into Better, More Permanent Housing
Mayor Gray joined the Community Partnership for the Prevention of Homelessness (TCP), The Transitional Housing Corporation (THC) and the Coalition for Non-Profit Housing and Economic Development (CNHED) Thursday for the official launch of the “500 Families. 100 Days. Quality DC Housing Now” campaign. The effort is the centerpiece of the Mayor’s Crisis Response Plan to address the demand for housing for homeless families by increasing the stock of affordable housing rental units that landlords and developers make available.
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FY 2015 Budget Town Hall Meetings
Chinenye Ogwumike, a Nigerian-American, Selected as First
Overall Pick in The Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) 2014
Draft
Chinenye Ogwumike, a 6-foot-4 Nigerian-American basketball player has been selected as first overall pick by the Connecticut Sun in the 2014 Women's National Basketball Association (WNBA) draft. The WNBA is a women's professional basketball league in the United States. Chinenye is following in the footsteps of her elder sister Nneka, who was drafted by the Los Angeles Sparks two years ago.
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Mengestu Offers Different Take on Immigrant Tale in Novel ‘All Our Names’
Ethiopian-American novelist Dinaw Mengestu says he wanted his new novel “All Our Names” to break from the traditional immigrant tale. “On the most cliched level, our idea of the immigrant narrative is … the person who comes to the U.S. is happy to be there, gets a job, gets a car, gets a house. And then they go through the (process) of success,” the author said during a recent interview. “I’ve always been curious about the immigrants who don’t want to necessarily be there … plenty of people end up in other countries because they have to, because that’s their way of surviving. … People who come to their new country not because this is their dream but because their nightmare has become true.”
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Djiboutian President to Visit White House on May 5
President Barack Obama will meet with Djiboutian President Ismail Omar Guelleh at the White House early next month. The White House says the May 5 visit by the third-term president of the East African nation recognizes the strategic partnership between the U.S. and Djibouti. Djibouti plays an important role in preventing conflict, promoting regional stability and countering extremism.
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America is Still The Land of Opportunities For Black Africans - But Not Their Kids
By Allison Schrager
Nearly 20 years ago, a friend of mine left a farm in West Africa and came to America alone. He worked his way through college by doing manual labor and acquired a few ivy-league degrees. Today he works at a hedge fund and is a member of the illustrious 1%. He’s also afflicted with the concerns of the first-world elite: He worries about his ability to afford the “right” private schools for his future children, how competitive it will be for them to get into a good college and land a prestigious job. I often point out he did well with much less—his elementary school didn’t even have walls and the only qualification necessary to teach at his primary school was having gone to primary school.
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Ex-Im Bank Signs $100 Million Agreement with PTA Bank
Fred P. Hochberg, chairman and president of the Export-Import Bank of the United States (Ex-Im Bank), and Admassu Tadesse, president and chief executive of the Eastern and Southern African Trade and Development Bank (PTA Bank), signed a$100 million memorandum of understanding (MOU) at a conference hosted by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce at the GE "Garage".
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One-On-One Business Counseling Session: The Office of Tax and Revenue (OTR)
At this session the staff from The DC Office of Tax and Revenue's (OTR) will provide assistance with navigating through the regulatory environment. Respresentatives from OTR will provide consultation regarding types of tax liability, documentation required for registration of businesses, forms, and filing due dates, as OTR's mission is to collect the proper amount of tax due to the District government and correctly account for all revenue, while minimizing the burden on taxpayers and cost to the government.
When: Tuesday|May 6, 2014|3:00 - 3:30 pm
Where: DCRA Small Business Resource Center|1100 4th Street SW|2nd Floor| Washington, DC|20024-4451
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One-On-One Business Licensing Instruction (BLD)
At this session the staff representative from DCRA’s Business Licensing Division (BLD) will provide assistance with navigating through the regulatory environment pertaining to business licensing. During this session, representatives will assist customers in understanding the when and how of business licensing (to include renewals and certification request). This opportunity is geared towards those citizens and businesses authorized to conduct business in the District of Columbia.
When: Tuesday|May 6, 2014|3:30 - 4:00 pm
Where: DCRA Small Business Resource Center|1100 4th Street SW|2nd Floor| Washington, DC|20024-4451
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DC Tech Afrique
With the confluence of low-cost, high-speed internet and access to mobile telephony, the Africa region is increasingly producing companies that are active contributors to global technology innovation. Whether its in the humanitarian and emergency response domain(Ushahidi) or commercial (iRoko Partners, Jumia, MPesa), or the entrance of leading companies such IBM, Microsoft, and Google who have set up offices on the continent, tech innovation has firmly become part of the African narrative. Come join DC Tech Afrique for three days and three events, where you will experience what the continent and Diaspora innovators have to offer.
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 DC Womens Business Center Orientation for Free Business Counselling - May 2014
In order to be eligible for free one-on-one business counselings with a Business Development Specialist at the DC WBC, clients must attend an Orientation. Counseling is an engaging, focused and personalized resource. Prospective clients will learn about the Center's services and resources and how the DC WBC can help you achieve your goals. Whether you have been in business for years and are looking to expand or whether you're just starting your business, come find out what the DC Women’s Business Center can do for you! Networking from 6-6:30PM. Snacks provided. Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. Contact: Florence@dcwbc.org for more info. To book this event online, please click on the blue title and register via the eventbrite link. The class fees are not refundable, but they are transferable to future training sessions.
When: Tuesday|May 13, 2014|6:00 - 8:30 pm
Where: DC Women's Business Center|NCRC Building| 727 15th Street NW| 8th Floor| Washington, DC|20005
Department
of Housing and Urban Development: Housing Counseling Training Grant
Department of Housing
and Urban Development announces funds to support programs that will provide
training activities designed to improve and standardize the quality of
counseling provided by housing counselors. Must be a nonprofit
organizations and community-based organizations.
Deadline: 4/5/2014.
Funds: $2,000,000 is available for 4 awards.
Contact: Housing Counseling at housing.counseling@hud.gov
Department
of Education: Training and Information for Parents of Children with
Disabilities.
Department
of Education announces funds to support programs that will ensure that parents
of children with disabilities receive training and information to help improve
results for their children. Must be nonprofit organizations. Deadline:5/27/2014.
Funds: up to $6,645,988 is available for 24 awards.
Contact:
Carmen Sanchez at Carmen.Sanchez@ed.gov
Basic Center Program (HHS)
Department of Health and Human Services announces funds to support programs that will provide an alternative for runaway and homeless youth who might otherwise end up with law enforcement or in the child welfare, mental health, or juvenile justice systems. Eligibility: City or township governments, county governments, special district governments, state governments, nonprofit organizations, public housing authorities, community-based organizations and DC government agencies
Deadline: 05/12/2014
Funds: $18,166,163 for 116 awards up to $200,000
Contact:ACF Help Desk at app_support@acf.hhs.gov
FY20 14 Services for Victims of Human Trafficking (DOJ)
Department of Justice announces funding to provide services to victims of human trafficking in two different program areas: 1) comprehensive services for all victims of human trafficking, and 2) specialized services for victims of human trafficking. Funding under both program areas also will support efforts to increase the capacity of communities to respond to human trafficking victims through the development of interagency partnerships, professional training, and public awareness activities. Eligibility City or township governments, county governments, special district governments, state governments, nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations, community-based organizations and DC government agencies.
Deadline: 05/15/2014
Funds: $500,000 available for 10 awards up to $20,000
Contact: Mary Atlas-Terry at (202) 353-8473 or Mary.Atlas-Terry@usdoj.gov
6th Annual 2014 Mental Health Summit Celebration
Theme “Tools For a Mentally Healthier Workplace''
Leading experts in the industry will share their thoughts and ideas on a wide range of mental health topics including:
♦ Gaining access to treatment;
♦ What it means to have peer workers in a clinical setting;
♦ Medicaid billing for peer support workers;
♦ Prevention techniques; and
♦ Confidentiality issues
When: Tuesday, May 13, 2014, 12:00 pm—4:00 pm
Where: Saint Elizabeth Campus Auditorium | 1100AlabamaAvenue, S.E., | Washington, DC | 20032
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2014 District of Columbia Million Hearts Meeting
Highlighting the ABCS and local strategies for improved blood pressure control, moderated by Bruce Johnson meet the national leaders and local Champions facilitating a million hearts conversation: Kendra Gaskins, project director American Medical Group Association, Janet S. Wright MD, FACC, Executive Director, Million Hearts, Lawrence
J. Fine, MD, DrPH, FAHA, National Heart Lung and Blood Institute,
National Institutes of Health, and others as a member of panel discussion.
When: Wednesday | May 21, 2014 | 8:30 am - 12:00 pm
Where: Walter E. Washington Convention Center | 801 Mt Vernon Pl NW|Room 151 A&B| Washington,
DC | 20001
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Nick Cannon Leads 8th Annual DC Walk to End Lupus Now
More than 5,000 people gathered Saturday on Pennsylvania Avenue in D.C. to participate in the 8th annual DC Walk to End Lupus Now. The walk, hosted by the Lupus Foundation of America's DC/Maryland/Virginia chapter, has raised more than $230,000 so far. These funds provide invaluable free patient services to more than 80,000 people living with lupus in the D.C. region, including the 19th annual DC Lupus Summit that will take place on May 3 at George Washington University.
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Second Wave of Flu Hits; Northeast Region Hardest Hit by Influenza B Strain
Here’s a fighting tip for anyone who managed to duck the flu’s first punch: Watch out for the next one. Many communities are experiencing an increase in flu, part of a
second wave that is hitting some regions of the country particularly
hard, health officials say. The most affected region is the Northeast —
New England, New York, New Jersey and Connecticut — health officials
said. Some parts of the Mid-Atlantic also are seeing increased flu
activity.
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May 1 Enrollment Deadline for Public and Charter Schools
As you know, this coming school year (2014-15) DCPS and DC public charter schools are participating in My School DC, the common lottery system for public school choice in the District of Columbia. To learn more about My School DC, click here. The Round 1 deadlines for grades PK3-12 have passed. Families can access their results through their online MySchoolDC.org accounts. They will need their username and password to access. Families also received their results via US mail. If families applied in Round 1 and their child was matched to one of their school selections, families have until Thursday, May 1 to enroll at the school, in person, or lose their seat at that school. To learn what is required for enrollment, click here.
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13th Annual Fair Housing Symposium
The
13th Annual D.C. Fair Housing Symposium seeks to educate general
advocacy professionals on issues relating to fair housing and their
relevancy to their respective constituencies. This year's symposium
will focus on four critical trends in modern housing discrimination
practices: negligence of housing Accessibility features, Source of
Income discrimination, Steering, and discriminatory
practices in Digital Advertising. This symposium will be a forum for
persons of all professional backgrounds who provide advocacy within
private, non-profit or government sectors to gain critical information
and increase their toolbox of resources to help
individuals and families to recognize housing discrimination.
When: Tuesday| April 29, 2014|10:00am
- 3:00pm
Where: Mt. Vernon Place United
Methodist Church|900 Massachusetts Avenue NW| Washington, DC|20009
Registration is free, but required.
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more
Commission on the Arts and Humanities FY 2015 Grants for Individuals & Organizations
DCCAH staff members are available to help develop grant applications through group and individual technical assistance. DCCAH will conduct free workshops for participants to learn useful information about the agency’s funding opportunities and how to submit a grant application.
When: April 8, 2014 - May 1, 2014
Where: DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities | 200 I Street, SE|Washington, DC|20003 and Marshall Heights Community Development Organization (MHCDO)|3939 Benning Rd NE|Washington, DC|20019
Contact Alexxis Hooks at Alexxis.Hooks2@dc.gov or call 202-724-5613.
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DC Vulnerable Population Coalition Kick-Off Luncheon
Serve DC is pleased to inform you of the recent launch of the Vulnerable Populations Community and Healthcare Coalition (VPCHCC), and to invite you to represent your organization in the upcoming VPCHCC community stakeholder meeting. The VPCHCC Community Stakeholder Meeting.
When: Tuesday| May 6, 2014| 10:00am - 2:00 p.m.
Where: FHI 360 Conference Center|1825 Connecticut Ave, NW| Washington, DC|20009
The coalition, an initiative developed by Serve DC in partnership with the District Department of Health/Health Emergency Preparedness and Response Administration (DOH/HEPRA), seeks to identify healthcare preparedness and response strategies to meet the unique needs of vulnerable populations in the District.
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A Conversation with Family Members about Services for Adults with Developmental Disabilities in the District of Columbia
The Georgetown University Center for Child and Human Development is
partnering with the DC Developmental Disabilities Administration to
learn how services provided by the agency match up with your cultural
beliefs and practices.
When: Thursday | May 8, 2014 | 6:30 – 8:00 pm
Where: Martin Luther King Library | Room A-9 | 901 G St. NW | Washington, DC | 20001
If you require interpretation services or other accommodations, please
call 202-687-8907 no later than May 1, 2014
If you are planning to attend, please call 202-687-8544
Need Help Recruiting Young African Males for STEM Program
The Small Business Transportation Resource Center program at The Enterprise Center is looking to recruit 100 young black males (ages at 13 -18) for a program taking place in DC. The program will take place on Monday, May 5th at 10am at the DOT DC Headquarters. It is a Mentorship, Empowerment, Careers and Small Business Day for young men of color focused on STEM. Lunch will be provided.
If interested, please have them contact Craig Campbell at 215-243-4104 or Tiffany Spraggins at 215-243-4103
Want Your Event Featured in the 'African Beat'?
'The African Beat' is distributed to over 6,000 subscribers every other Friday. If you would like to submit your event to be included in our calendar, please submit the following event details: what, when, & where, and provide a link to where readers can go for more information. Submission deadline for the next edition is Wednesday, May 7, 2014 at 5:00pm (Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov).
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