The African Beat
District of Columbia sent this bulletin at 12/15/2017 04:24 PM EST
On Thursday, May 18, 2017, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA) hosted its 1st Job Fair for multilingual constituents after four consecutive job readiness workshops. During the Job Fair, job seekers came and met with employers including District government agencies and community partners alike seeking multilingual speakers to join their team.  MOAA and COAA's "Know Your Rights" Town Hall
On Wednesday, May 31, 2017, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs(MOAA) and Commission on African Affairs (COAA) hosted a "Know Your Rights" Town Hall. The town hall featured speakers such as Ernest Chrappah, Director of the Department For-Hire Vehicles DFHV who discussed regulations for Taxicabs, Uber and Lyft drivers; Peter Newsham, Police Chief of the Metropolitan Police Department (MPD) who gave insightful information on public safety information as well as Betsy Cavendish, General Counsel of the Executive Office of the Mayor who gave a presentation on Mayor Bowers's Immigrant Justice Legal Services grant program for the African, Latino and Asian Pacific Islander communities. MOAA Hosted Its Third Annual Young African ConneXions (YAX) and Mandela Day of Service On Friday, July 14, 2017, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (MOAA) in partnership with Howard University, the UNESCO Center for Peace and the Commission on African Affairs hosted its third annual Young African ConneXions Summit (YAX) themed Strengthening Diaspora Partnerships. The Summit was held at the Howard University School of Business Auditorium as part of MOAA's Community and Youth Engagement Outreach program. Following the annual Young African ConneXions Summit, MOAA hosted its third annual Mandela Day of Service on Saturday, July 15, 2017. The agency was joined by volunteers at the Anacostia Park Skating Rink on 1800 Anacostia Drive, Washington, DC 20003, for 67 minutes of community service to commemorate the life and legacy of Nelson Mandela. Please visit our Facebook page to view pictures of the events #YAX2017 and Mandela Day of Service Mayor Bowser Swears in New Members of the Commission on African Affairs The Mayor's Office on African Affairs introduced newly sworn Commissioners include Noel Karl Lebondzo Gandou and Abdoul Niang. Comission on African Affairs A serves as an advisory group to MOAA and the Bowser administration on issues impacting the African community. Commission meetings are held on the first Wednesday of each month at the Reeves Center located at 2000 14th Street NW Washington, D.C.African Heritage Month Kick Off Hosted by the Commission on African Affairs On Thursday, August 31, 2017, the Commission on African Affairs and the entire team of the Mayor's Office on African Affairs hosted a Happy Hour to launch September as the month of celebration of African Heritage in the District. COAA and MOAA took advantage of the opportunity presented by the gathering to interact with members of the community and highlight the services provided by the advisory group and the agency. African Diaspora Heritage Talk Series, Hosted in Partnership with the National Museum of African Art MOAA Hosted its Awaited 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration
On Wednesday, September 06, 2017, the Mayor's Office on African Affairs, the National Museum of African Art and members of the African diaspora community hosted African Diaspora Heritage Talk Series as we celebrate African Heritage Month. Docent-led tours kicked off the evening, followed by a community discussion featuring artists and cultural entrepreneurs. The discussion revolved around the preservation and retention of cultural heritage through arts and crafts, technology, language, visual arts, and creative economies.  On Thursday, September 28, 2017, the Mayor's Office on African Affairs hosted the 8th Annual DC Africa Celebration at the University of the District of Columbia Theater of the Arts, to commemorate African Heritage Month in the District of Columbia as part of its multicultural awareness program. Over 450 members of the public attended the event that was designed and organized to showcase the value of multiculturalism, and support community-building Mayor’s Office on African Affairs Welcomes New Grant Management Specialist On Monday, Ocotber 2, 2017 Mr. Sandy Campbell joined the team at MOAA as the new Grant Management Specialist. Originally from Bo, Sierra Leone Sandy spent part of his educational and professional life in his homeland where he taught briefly and worked for seven years for the City Council of Freetown in different capacities. As part of his career enhancement; he accepted an offer of award from the Edward Shapiro Fellowship to study for his Master’s degree in Economics at the University of Toledo, Ohio where he has also served as a graduate teaching assistant. Following his graduation he continued his career with the City Council of Freetown and then later pursued a career with Plan International, a non-profit organization where he served for five years as a Grants Manager. Sandy, a father of two sons, has been a resident of Washington DC for nearly four years now, a city he refers to as “Diverse and Active”. FY18 African Community Grant Post Award Orientation
On Wednesday, November 15, 2017, Mayor’s Office on African Affairs conducted the FY18 African Community Grant Post Award orientation. The recipients of the grants supported by Fiscal Year 2018 funding have been awarded to CBOs who serve the city’s most vulnerable community members and offer support and programs in the Mayor’s priority areas of workforce and economic development, health and human services, youth engagement and education, and the promotion of African arts, culture, and the humanities. Grants were made in amounts between $10,000 and $20,000. The Fiscal Year 2018 African Community Grant Awardees can be found here MOAA's Director, Mamadou Samba Joins AUC's Chairperson Moussa Faki in a Discussion on Strengthening Partnerships
On Wednesday, November 15, 2017,The Mayor's Office on African Affairs' Director Mamadou Samba joined AUC's Chairperson Moussa Faki and other prominent members of the African Diaspora in a discussion focused on the need to strengthen partnership between Africa and the District. Director Samba echoed Mayor Bowser's priorities of creating jobs and economic development and encouraged all stakeholders to continue to invest and to grow new industry sectors in DC through a series of incentives and benefits in order to diversify our economy and create new jobs for DC residents. The event was attended by approximately 80 members of the African community and DC residents. MOAA Pays Tribute to a Community Champion and a Shero Amelia Missieledies February 14, 1956 - November 21, 2017 Want Your Event Featured in the African Beat?'The African Beat' is distributed to over 8,000 subscribers every other Friday. If you would like your event to be featured in our calendar, please submit the following details: what, when and where the event will take place. If available, please provide a link to direct readers to more online information. The African Beat will resume electronic publication in February 2018. Please send all inquiries and posts to oaa@dc.gov. The Mayor's Office on African Affairs Wishes You Happy Holidays and a Happy New Year 2018! |
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