OAA’s African Community Grant Post-Award Meeting
On Wednesday,
June 4, 2014 OAA hosted its first FY2014 African Community Grant Post-Award
Meeting at the Reeves Center (2000 14th Street, NW, 2nd floor). Representatives
from the eight community-based organization (CBO) grantees attended this
informative discussion on grant expectations and evaluation processes. CBO
leaders and OAA staff also shared ideas on future partnerships and
collaboration opportunities. Winta Teferi, Language Access Director of the DC
Office on Human Rights (OHR) gave a brief presentation on the history of OHR and community outreach efforts for OHR’s tenth year anniversary celebrations of
the 2004 Language Access Act.
The African Community Grant Program awarded $100,000
in funding to support projects in priority areas of workforce development,
health linkages, youth engagement, and promotion of arts and culture. This
year’s grantees are: African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association, Citiwide
Computer Training Center, Ethiopian Community Center, Ethiopian Community
Services and Development Council, KanKouran African Dance Troupe, Many Languages
One Voice, Oromo Community Organization, and Peace thru Culture in partnership
with African Diaspora for Change.
Outreach Ambassadors
 The DC Mayor’s
Office on African Affairs launched its
African Business Directory project on Monday June 2, 2014 and has been
working with a team of highly skilled volunteers who have donated their time to
support OAA’s efforts to gain more visibility and access for African businesses
in the District. A special thank you goes to our Outreach Ambassadors:
Bethlehem Eshete, Kamau Grimes, Marta Ali, Marie Noel Meka, Loza Gebrehiwot,
Georgette Hatcheu Takideu, and Kaleab
Mengesha. We have made great progress this first week.
The project will continue for the next two weeks with
telephone and door-to-door canvassing.
If you are a business owner and would like to include your business in OAA’s African Business Directory, please answer the following
7
questions to register, or call 202.727.2291 to speak with our Business
Specialist and AmeriCorps VISTA Member Tsedey Aragie.
Add
Me to OAA's Business Directory
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OAA’s FACEBOOK PAGE HAS IT ALL!
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Mayor Gray Announces Winners of Great Streets Small Business Capital Improvement Grants
 $1.3 Million in Grants Awarded to Small Businesses
Along the District’s Commercial Corridors
Mayor
Gray and Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development Victor L. Hoskins
announced the second round of FY2014 awards for the Great Streets Small
Business Capital Improvement Grants. These investments aim to stimulate
small business creation, expansion, and retention while also creating new job
opportunities for District residents, growing the tax base, and improving
commercial vibrancy along the District’s emerging corridors and in surrounding
neighborhoods.
Read
More
Mayor Gray Celebrates LGBTQ Pride with
Wilson High School
(Washington,
DC) – Today, Mayor Vincent C. Gray celebrated Wilson Senior High School’s LGBTQ
Pride Day with students and staff and celebrated LGBTQ Pride month.
“I
am glad to be an ally of the LGBTQ community, and I’m very proud that we have
been a true leader in advancing causes like marriage equality and transgender
awareness and equality here in the District since I’ve been in public office,”
Mayor Gray said. “I especially celebrate the LGBTQ community today, and I’m
excited – as always – to take part in the Capital Pride festivities this
weekend.”
Read More
Mayor Gray Releases Sustainable DC
First-Year Progress Report
83
percent of Sustainable DC plan’s actions already underway; 6 percent are
completed
(Washington,
DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray and District government agency leaders today
presented the first-year progress report on Sustainable DC, Mayor Gray’s
initiative to ensure the District becomes the nation’s greenest, healthiest,
most livable city.
The
Sustainable DC First-Year Progress Report tracks progress on all 143 actions in
the Sustainable DC Plan, and highlights major accomplishments across District
government and the private sector. It is a result of the Mayor’s Sustainable DC
initiative, first launched in 2011.
Read More
Mayor Gray Appoints M. Jeffrey Miller as
Interim Deputy Mayor For Planning and Economic Development
(Washington,
DC) – Mayor Vincent C. Gray today announced that he has appointed M. Jeffrey
Miller as the Interim Deputy Mayor for Planning and Economic Development
(DMPED). Miller has served as the District’s Director of Real Estate for the
last three years. He replaces Victor L. Hoskins, who will leave June 13 to
become Deputy Chief Administrative Officer for Prince George’s County, Md.
“Jeff
has played a critical role in ensuring that numerous development projects
across the city reach completion in a timely fashion and serve the economic
needs of our residents,” said Mayor Gray. “Elevating him to Deputy Mayor allows
us to continue moving projects forward and completing our key
economic-development goals.”
Read
More
Letter from Africa: Maya Angelou’s broad embrace
In our series of letters
from African journalists, writer and telecommunications policy
consultant Kwaku Sakyi-Addo reflects on Ghana's influence on the US
writer and rights activist Maya Angelou, who lived there for some years
in the early 1960s.
I met Maya Angelou in August 1986. She had come to Accra for
the re-burial of WEB Du Bois at the library established in his honour.
Learn
More
White House Science Fair Features Ethiopian-born Student Felege Gebru
Washington, DC (TADIAS) – President Barack Obama hosted the 2014 White House Science Fair last Tuesday, May 27th highlighting some of “America’s most innovative students” and featuring a variety of projects, including a pedestrian alert system designed for use in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia invented by Ethiopian-born Felege Gebru, 18, and Karen Fan, 17 (both representing Newton North High School in Newton, Massachusetts).
Read
More
DC DMV Limited Purpose Credential Process
On May 1, 2014, the DC Department of Motor
Vehicles (DMV) began issuing a Limited Purpose Driver License and Limited
Purpose Identification Card. The Limited Purpose credential requires a
one-time validation of source documents when applying for your DC Limited
Purpose credential. The driver knowledge and road tests will be required for
all applicants applying for the Limited Purpose driver license. First
time DC applicants must be a resident of the District of Columbia for at least
6 months.
Applicants must have never been issued a social security number,
previously been issued a social security number but no longer be eligible, or
not be eligible for a social security number. Appointments can be made online,
and the hours and locations of our four service centers are available on our
website at www.dmv.dc.gov or by calling 311 (or
202-737-4404).
To help you provide accurate
information, DC DMV has detailed step by step instructions on its website at: http://dmv.dc.gov/page/limited-purpose-credential-step-step-process.
Additional information on how to obtain a Limited Purpose credential as well as
the list of acceptable documents is available on DC DMV’s website.
Metro seeking talent for
'MetroPerforms!' Art in Transit Program, auditions set for Thursday
Metro
is looking for singers, dancers, musicians and poets to entertain at summer
performances outside train stations. Metro's Art in Transit Program is holding
auditions for the "MetroPerforms!" program on Thursday at its
headquarters in Washington. The auditions are first-come, first served and will
be held from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. Performers selected by Metro will get to
demonstrate their talents at selected Metrorail station entrances this summer.
Artists volunteer their time and may also be selected to perform at the Music
on the Mall lunchtime performance series. The performances will begin on June 9
and end Aug. 29. Performers must pass a background check.
Read More
Export Trade
Finance Seminar
For
established businesses currently exporting or looking to export as a way
to grow revenue, you are invited to the U.S. Small Business Administration's
Washington Metropolitan Area District Office's monthly seminar on export
trade finance on June 10, 2014. Each session will consist of SBA
staff providing methods of risk mitigation and creative uses of loan proceeds
under its export loan guarantee programs. SBA’s export loan guarantee programs
can be used to finance a company’s entire export business plan, from making overseas
trips to financing equipment and real estate.
When: June 10, 2014 | 10 am – 12:00pm
Where: US Export Assistance Center | 2800 S. Randolph Street|Arlington, VA | 22206
Read More
African Business Directory Project - Volunteer Recruitment
 To recent graduates, community members, and to all of you data Stewards & data Scientists, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs is currently looking for a team of volunteers to work on a major data collection project in summer 2014.
As OAA’s outreach ambassadors, volunteers will donate their time to support our project by canvassing, telephone canvassing, and/or data mining. Volunteers with bi- or multi-lingual abilities in French and Amharic are especially desired. The data will be used to identify key gaps in access to better utilize services that support the development of the African business community in the District. All volunteers are invited to participate in this legacy project which aims to support the District’s growing African business community.
Application: Volunteer application
Deadline: Extended to June 11, 2014
Labor Laws Update on
Governance of Employees
In
order to hire qualified employees, companies must consider a wide variety of
traits, such as skill level, job flexibility, and experience. However, finding
talent is only the first step in the recruitment process. Companies must also
understand the relevant labor laws concerning the governance of employees. The
panel will cover legal topics, resources available to entrepreneurs
from the local Government as well as tips and advice from a local business
owner, Tom Harrington, Principal ofThe Employment Law Group.
When: Wednesday | June 11, 2014 | 9:00am - 10:30am
Where: Venable, LLC |575 7th St NW 8th Floor |Washington, DC 20004
Learn
More
National Endowment for the Humanities:
Digital Projects for the Public (NEA)
National Endowment for the Humanities
announces funds to support projects such as websites, mobile applications,
games, and virtual environments that significantly contribute to the public's
engagement with humanities ideas.
Eligibility: City or
township governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher
education, state governments, and nonprofit organizations, private institutions
of higher education, community-based organizations and DC government agencies.
Deadline: 6/11/2014.
Funds: Awards
available up to $100,000
Contact: National Endowment for the Humanities at publicpgms@neh.gov
Website: www.grants.gov
Grant
ID: GD5486
Read More
Department of Health and Human Services:
National Abandoned Infants Resource Center (HHS)
Department of Health and Human Services
announces funds to support a National Resource Center to enhance the capacity
of programs designed to serve abandoned infants, young children, and their
families, particularly infants and children infected with Human
Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immune Deficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS),
perinatally exposed to HIV/AIDS, or perinatally exposed to a dangerous drug;
and also enhance the capacity of any child-serving program that serves infants
or very young children who are at risk of abandonment or maltreatment.
Eligibility: City or township
governments, county governments, independent school districts, public and state
controlled institutions of higher education, state governments, nonprofit
organizations, public housing authorities, private institutions of higher
education, for-profit organizations other than small businesses, small
businesses, community-based organizations and DC government agencies.
Application Deadline:
6/9/2014.
Funds: $1,060,000 available
for awards
For more information contact AFC Applications Help
Desk at app_support@acf.hhs.gov
Community
Economic Development
Community Economic Development (CED) is
a federal grant program funding Community Development Corporations that address
the economic needs of low-income individuals and families through the creation
of sustainable business development and employment opportunities.
CED's projects create employment
opportunities that lead to increased self-sufficiency for low-income
individuals through a variety of activities, such as: Capital expenditures such as the
purchase of equipment or real property. Allowable operating expenses; and Loans or equity investments.
Read More
African American
Mayors Association
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: Friday, June 13, 2014 at 1:00 PM – Saturday, June 14, 2014
at 2:00 PM
Where: National League of Cities | 1301 Pennsylvania Ave NW| Suite
550 | Washington, DC | 20004
Learn More
International
Association of African Non-Governmental Organizations IAAN 2014 Summit on
Social Accountability
On August 5th 2014, Presidents of all
African countries will converge in Washington DC for President Obama’s African
Leadership Summit. The International Association of African Non-Governmental
Organizations (IAAN) has been given the honor to host the Social Accountability
Summit. Please join us for this impactful event. Participants will include;
African Presidents, Governors, First Ladies, Private Sector, NGOs/CSOs, the
Clergy and the Youths. The topics include: accountability and leadership,
transparency for better accountability, social accountability and the private
sector and many more.
When: Thursday, August 7th-,2014|10:30 AM – 4:00 PM|Friday,
August 8th, 2014|10:30 AM – 3:00 PM
Where: Washington Marriott Hotel|1221 22nd St.|Washington
DC|20037
Learn More
DC Tuition Assistance
Grant Program (DC TAG)
DCTAG assists D.C. residents with out-of-state
tuition by paying the difference between in-state and out-of-state tuition up
to $10,000 a year for 6 years, with a lifetime maximum of $50,000.
Undergraduate students who choose to attend private colleges and universities
in the D.C. metropolitan area, including any private Historically Black
Colleges and Universities (HBCUs) are eligible to receive a grant for up to
$2,500 a year, with a lifetime maximum of $12,500. The maximum annual award for
two year community colleges is $2,500, with a lifetime maximum of $10,000.
Eligibility: Proof of
U.S. citizenship or legal U.S. residency; a minimum of 12-month D.C. residency
prior to the initial application; good academic standing as defined by the
postsecondary institution; no current default status with any federal student
loans; enrollment in an Associate's or Bachelor's degree seeking program; and no
older than 25 years of age at the time of application (first-time applicants,
DCTAG only).
Deadline: June 30th
Funds: Up to
$10,000 a year for 6 years
Contact: Office of the State
Superintendent of Education at (202) 727-2824
Learn More
International
Faith-Based Conference
The Caribbean African Faith-based Leadership
Conference (CAFBLC) is inviting you to our inaugural Annual International
Conference and Awards Reception. This event will be held in partnership with
several African and American civic/ faith based organizations and the National
Caribbean American Legislative committee.
When: Tuesday| June 24th, 2014| 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
Where: Organization of American States |Corner of 17th
Street and Constitution Ave., NW| Washington, DC|20006
Learn More
Department of Education: Scale-up Grants -
Investing in Innovation (DOE)
Education announces funds to support expansion
of projects supported by strong evidence of effectiveness at the national
level. In addition to improving outcomes for an increasing number of high-need
students.
Eligibility: Nonprofit
organizations and Local Educational Agencies
Deadline:
June 24th
Funds: $19,000,000 available
for two awards and a match is required
Contact: Joyce Mays at joyce.mays@ed.gov
Website: www.grants.gov
Grant ID: GD5480
Non-Profit 2.0 Unconference
Are you working in the nonprofit community? Are
you an online advocacy guru, a fundraiser, or grassroots organizer? Perhaps you
manage a communications team and want to take a deeper dive into social media
but you're a little old school. We invite nonprofit staff and do-gooder
consultants from a diverse array of fields to come join us at NonProfit 2.0. NonProfit
2.0 is more than just a conference on the next generation web. It’s a next
generation conference in format that focuses on disrupting social change.
When: Thursday, June 26th, 2014|8:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Where: 1800 Massachusetts Avenue NW |Washington, DC|20036
Learn More
Power Up With Protein Event
Sister to
Sister: The Women’s Heart Health Foundation is hosting a Power Up with Protein
Event where materials and blood pressure screenings will be provided to attendees
at this local DC event.
When:
Tuesday, June 10, 2014 |10:30 am
Where:
Cabot Community Tour | YMCA National
Capitol | 1711 Rhode Island Avenue, NW | Washington, D.C | 20036
Learn more
Mind & Meditation: Introduction to the Art of
Living
The Sri
Sri Center for Peace and Meditation is hosting a free community service
initiative to introduce people to breathing & meditation techniques that
have a calming effect on the mind and reduce stress. In this 60-minute
interactive session, participants refresh, rejuvenate, and develop insight on
how to reduce negative emotions such as anger, regret, sadness, anxiety and
fear, which eat up our energy and time. This workshop is also an introduction
to the Art of Living Course.
When: Every
Tuesday | 7pm-8pm
Where: Sri Sri Center
for Meditation and Peace |2401 15th St. NW | Washington, DC | 20019
Learn more
Alliance for Health Reform Briefing: Health Centers at the Launch of the Coverage Expansion
The coverage expansion under the Affordable Care Act brings new
pressures and opportunities for health centers, including the potential
to serve newly-insured patients while continuing as a cornerstone of the
primary care safety net for the uninsured.
This briefing
will reveal new findings from The Commonwealth Fund’s 2013 Survey of
Federally Qualified Health Centers, examine perceptions and realities of
health center capacity to ensure access to newly-insured and
still-uninsured patients, and highlight system improvements health
centers have made to improve outcomes and efficiency at lower costs.
Read
More
HHS releases new data and tools to increase transparency on hospital utilization and other trends
Data can help improve care coordination and health outcomes for Medicare beneficiaries
With
more than 2,000 entrepreneurs, investors, data scientists, researchers,
policy experts, government employees and more in attendance, the
Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) is releasing new data and
launching new initiatives at the annual Health Datapalooza conference in
Washington, D.C.
The Centers for Medicare & Medicaid
Services (CMS) is releasing its first annual update to the Medicare
hospital charge data, or information comparing the average amount a
hospital bills for services that may be provided in connection with a
similar inpatient stay or outpatient visit.
Read More
SBA Launches Growth Accelerator Fund
The U.S. Small Business Administration is launching a $2.5 million
competition for accelerators and other entrepreneurial ecosystem models
to compete for monetary prizes of $50,000 each to fund operating
budgets. To award the prizes, applicants will be judged by an expert
panel that will consider each applicant's stated mission, founding team
members and business goals among other core components.
The application
deadline is August 2, 2014.
Learn
More
Free promotion for child and youth events
 One City Youth's DC Gov website calendar of
events (Upcoming Events) is a free way for organizations and agencies of all
kinds—nonprofits, government, places of worship, local, federal—to promote
events for children, youth, and their families. Appropriate for the
calendar are festivals, programs, trainings, contests, scholarships, concerts,
and volunteer opportunities, just to name a few.
It’s easy to
submit information. Email details to onecityyouth@dc.gov.
Guidance on what information to submit is accessible from the OCY home page.
Learn More
Ethiopian Students Organization to give away Prizes to Class
of 2014
Ethiopian Students, is inviting 2014 college and high school
graduates to register for a chance to win prizes. The drawing will take place
on Sunday June 29th and prizes include in-kind gifts from local area businesses. In order to participate, 2014 graduates must register
online at Ethiopianstudents.org.
Learn More
Reducing
America’s Student Debt
Americans are
almost a trillion dollars in student debt. There are stories of students
graduating with $100k-200k in student debt, only to find themselves unemployed
after graduation. Poor and middle class parents are willing to risk losing
their house, car, credit, and peace of mind to fund an education for their
child. Unfortunately, even if those children get the job of their dreams, if
that child has an untimely death, that parent is now responsible for the
student debt. We are here to educate you on scholarships, grants, and
navigating college!
Read More
Accelerating Entry into African Markets
The Industrial
Development Corporation (IDC) is one of the largest wholly African development
finance institutions, partnering on projects across the continent. It has over
$20 billion in assets and has funded projects in over 20 African countries. One
of its roles is to serve as a funding partner on projects involving
partnerships between African and foreign firms on the continent to mitigate
risk and accelerate implementation.
When: Monday, June 9th, 2014 | 9:30
AM - 12:30 PM
Where: 401
Ninth Street NW| Suite 900| Washington, D.C. | 20004
Learn more
Free Summer Teen
Language & Cultural Workshops
For Students between the ages of 12 and 17
years old.
Arabic Language and Culture
Summer Workshop
When: June 16th to June 20th,
2014|10:30am - 12:30pm
Where: Smithsonian National Museum of African
Art|950 Independence Avenue SW| Washington, DC|20560
Registration is free, but required. Applications due
on May 16, 2014.
Also Swahili Language and Culture
Summer Workshop
When: July 28th to August 1th,
2014|10:30am - 12:30pm
Where: Smithsonian National Museum of African
Art|950 Independence Avenue SW| Washington, DC|20560
Registration is free, but required. Applications due
on July 14, 2014.
Please contact Glenn
Ojeda for further information on how to apply, OjedaG@si.edu, 202-633-4638
Learn more
DC Government Speaks Your Language
 The DC
Office of Human Rights will be hosting DC Government Speaks Your Language, a
dialogue and resource fair. The event will include a group discussion on
language access which requires pre-registration and a resource fair that will
be open to the public with various activities such as government and community
services, health screenings, games, and giveaways. The event will give
District residents the opportunity to learn about their rights and influence
how the government serves them in their language.
When: Saturday,
June 21, 2014 | 10:00am - 4:00pm
Where:
Raymond Recreation Center | 3725 10th St
NW | Washington, DC | 20010
RSVP
Deadline: 202-727-0892 or
languageaccess14@gmail.com by June 19
Learn more
African
Immigrant Caucus
The Metro-DC African Immigrant Caucus,
which was launched in November 2013, is a growing network of African immigrant
institutions that have come together to effect change through the power of
numbers. Composed of community, clergy, and business leaders, the group believes
that African immigrants in the diaspora need a voice in the political system.
Candidates running for office in Maryland will be in attendance at the affair
in order to speak to the African community and hear the African community’s
issues.
When:
Sunday, June 8, 2014 | 3:45 pm
Where:
Jesus House DC | The Redeemed Christian
Church of God | 919 Philadelphia Avenue |Silver Spring, MD
Learn more
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 21, 2014 at 5:00pm (Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov).
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