The African Beat

February 9, 2018

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In This Issue:

  • MOAA Frontpage
  • What's New with Your Mayor?
  • Rolling in Resources 
  • You Should Go
  • Get Hired 
1

*UPCOMING EVENTS*

1st Ethio-Mixer USA Of 2018 

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The award winning Ethio-Mixer USA hosts its monthly networking event in the District of Columbia at the Uni Bistro. We hope to see you at this unique restaurant tucked between ''Sidamo coffee and tea'' and ''Ethiopic Restaurant.'' 

When: Thursday, February 8, 2018 | 6:00pm - 9:00pm

Where: 403 H Street NE | Washington, DC | 20002

RSVP: littleethiopia@gmail.com

Learn more

Sub-Saharan Africa-Latin America in New South-South 

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Join the Institute for African Studies of the Elliott School of International Affairs at the George Washington University for the Africa Speaker Series: Sub-Saharan Africa-Latin America in New South-South. Since at least the middle of the twentieth century, developing nations around the world have banded together to discuss common goals. 

When: Thursday, February 15, 2018 | 12:00pm - 1:15pm

Where: Elliott School of International Affairs | 1957 E Street Northwest | Room 505 | Washington, DC | 20052

Learn more

Private Tour African Art

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Join Emmanuel Gogo, originally from Ghana (West Africa), for a two hour tour of the Smithsonian National Museum of African Art. Emmanuel will interpret the messages found in the art for the group’s understanding of the richness of the many different African cultures represented at the museum. 

When: Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art | 950 Independence Avenue Southwest | Group meets outside entrance or if cold inside entrance by the door | Washington, DC | 20560

Learn more

Pan-Africanism and Decolonization Today: Lessons from the All African People's Conference

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The Thought In Action Consulting is organizing Pan-Africanism and Decolonization Today: Lessons from the All African People's Conference. Join this deeply educational panel and discussion followed by a feast of West African cuisine in Washington DC, one of several that will culminate into an international conference in Accra, Ghana in December 2018 under the auspices of the platform “Kwame Nkrumah Pan-African Intellectual and Cultural Festival.”

When: Saturday, February 17, 2018 | 3:30pm - 6:30pm

Where: The Festival Center | 1640 Columbia Road Northwest | Washington, DC | 20009 

Learn more

Leading from Within: Leadership in the Community

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Join the Eritrean Diaspora Network (EDN) for Part 3 of EDN's Leadership Seminar Series, "Leadership in the Community". In this seminar will help you discover your community leadership priorities, learn how to navigate community dynamics, network with other diaspora community leaders and members, practice your community organizing and advocacy skills. 

When: Sunday, February 18, 2018 | 1:00pm - 4:00pm

Where: The Watha T. Daniel/Shaw Neighborhood Library | 1630 7th St NW | Downstairs

Washington, DC | 20001

Learn more

Black History Month Trip to NMAAHC

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In honor of Mr. Herndon's love of learning, the Edward D. Herndon Legacy Foundation, Inc. is proud to offer a trip to the National Museum of African-American History and Culture during Black History Month 2018. The charter bus will travel from Harlem, NY to Washington, DC where we will spend the day at the museum that highlights accomplishments and prominent figures throughout African-American history.

When: Sunday, February 18, 2018 | 5:00am - 10:00pm

Where: 1400 Constitution Ave NW | 1400 Constitution Avenue Northwest | Washington, DC | 20560 

Learn more

Unity in Diversity Showcase

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Shakti Foundation for Arts and Culture invites you for the opportunity to perform and share a piece of your heritage at "Unity in Diversity" showcase in DC. "Unity in Diversity: The Culture Project" is a cross-cultural showcase and forum launched in Washington, DC that engages diverse immigrant communities for the purpose of sharing knowledge on different cultures of the world and facilitating partnerships between cultural organizations to increase diversity and acceptance within communities.

When:  Friday, February 23, 2018

Where: Capital Fringe | 1358 Florida Avenue NE | Washington, DC | 20002

Learn more

2018 Georgetown Africa Business Conference I/O Startup Alley

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The I/O Spaces, Georgetown's McDonough School of Business and the Walsh School of Foreign Service’s African Studies Program are organizing 2018 Georgetown Africa Business Conference I/O Startup Alley. Apply to be an I/O Exhibitor at 2018 Georgetown Africa Business Conference. 

When: Tuesday, February 27, 2018 | 7:00pm - 10:00pm

Where: Georgetown University McDonough School of Business | Rafik B. Hariri Building | Washington, DC | 20007

Learn more

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Program Manager - Statehood Initiatives-
The Office of Federal and Regional Affairs (OFRA) 

The Office of Federal and Regional Affairs is seeking a dynamic community organizer to lead OFRA's Statehood Initiative as the Program Manager - Statehood Initiatives. The selected candidate will lead organizing, social media and engagement strategies to further progress on the District of Columbia becoming the 51st State. 

Click here

Chief Info. Security Officer (CISO)-
Office of the Chief Technology Officer (OCTO)

The DC Office of the Chief Technology Officer seeking Chief Info. Security Officer. The position serves as a Chief Information Security Officer (CISO) for OCTO.  Reporting to the Chief Technology Officer (CTO), the CISO is the most senior information protection officer for the organization.  

Click here

Information Technology Specialist (Systems Administration)-
 Criminal Justice Coordinating Council (CJCC)

The District of Columbia Criminal Justice Coordinating Council  is hiring an Information Technology Specialist. This position functions as Information Technology Specialist (systems Administrator) for CJCC system support operational process, and is part of an enterprise team which administers, develops and maintains the agency's line of business application called JUSTIS. 

Click here

Traffic System Operator-
The District Department of Transportation, (DDOT)

The District Department of Transportation, Operations Administration is seeking Traffic System Operator who will work to analyze, recognize, monitor incidents and potentially emerging incidents that will or could affect major traffic routes.  The incumbent monitors operation and function of the Traffic Management System. 

Click here

Policy Writing Consultant-
Search for Common Ground (SFCG)

The Search for Common Ground is Hiring Policy Writing Consultant. This individual will work with Search’s Global Affairs and Partnerships (GAP) Team, which is responsible for Search’s global policy research and advocacy work. In this role, the Policy Writer produce professional-quality policy content focused on the Democratic Republic of Congo. 

Click here

Program Assistant, Middle East & North Africa (MENA)-
National Endowment for Democracy (NED)

The National Endowment for Democracy (NED), a congressionally funded, private, nonprofit grant making organization that works to support freedom around the world, seeks a Program Assistant. This is an entry-level position on our Middle East and North Africa (MENA) regional program team.

Click here

Global Health Security (GHS) Project Manager for Ghana (West Africa)-
Alter Modus International Corp

The Alter Modus International Corp is seeking Project Manager for Ghana (West Africa). The Project Manager will assist the CDC/DGHP with implementation, monitoring, and oversight of the GHSA portfolio in Ghana and in the West African Region. This includes entities funded through the CoAgs and unfunded entities. 

Click here

Program Manager)
Education for Employment (EFE)  

The Education for Employment (EFE) seeks Program Manager who is a senior member of the Washington, DC based global program team, and reports to the Chief Executive Officer. The Program Manager works in close partnership with EFE affiliates in the MENA region and provides programmatic, strategic, capacity building and fundraising support.

Click here

1

Join the Mayor's Office on African Affairs and the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company as we celebrate Black History Month

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The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs is hosting an evening to commemorate Black History Month celebration on Thursday, February 8, 2018 in partnership with the Woolly Mammoth Theatre Company. The event will feature a panel discussion titled “Religious Identity, Cultural Preservation and Generational Frictions” which will explore conflicting beliefs about Western values and African traditions while unveiling challenges related to immigration, displacement, assimilation and interracial marriage.

The discussion will be followed by a staged play titled “Familiar” by American actress and playwright of Zimbabwean ancestry Danai Gurira. The thought-provoking production sheds a light at the life of a Zimbabwean family that resides in snowy suburb of Minneapolis as they prepare for the wedding of their eldest daughter. When the bride insists on observing a “roora”, a traditional bride-price in which the groom reimburses the bride’s family for their “gem”, it opens a deep rift in the household revealing surprising family secrets, unearths the tensions within the family, and offers a spot-on glimpse into the price paid by people astride two cultures.

When:  Thursday, February 8, 2018 | 6:00pm – 9:00pm      

Where: The Woolly Mammoth Theatre | 641 D St NW, Washington, DC | 20004

RSVP here

February Commission Meeting Announcement

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Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Black History Month with the Release of ‘A Fair Shot: A Toolkit for African American Prosperity’ 

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On Thursday, February 1, 2018, Mayor Bowser officially kicked off Black History Month with the release of A Fair Shot: A Toolkit for African American Prosperity – a first-of-its kind resource for African American residents that provides an overview of the many District-funded programs and services that support Washingtonians in reaching pathways to the middle class.

“By staying laser-focused on spreading prosperity and creating new pathways to the middle class, we have made tremendous progress,” said Mayor Bowser. “However, we know there is more work to do to ensure African Americans in every corner of the District have a fair shot. With this toolkit, we are ensuring that the hardworking residents who could benefit most from the many resources and programs we have available actually know about them. You have been here for DC, and we are going to continue to be here for you.”     

Learn more

Mayor Bowser, DPW and AFSCME, Joined the National Moment of Silence in Observation of Sanitation Workers’ Rights and Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

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On Thursday, February 1, 2018, Mayor Muriel Bowser and the DC Department of Public Works (DPW) joined select cities across the country in partnership with the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees (AFSCME) and the Church of God in Christ to observe a “National Moment of Silence” in honor of the 50th anniversary of the tragic deaths of Echol Cole and Robert Walker, which triggered the historic 1968 Memphis Sanitation Workers Strike, as well as the subsequent assassination of Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.

“Today, we remember and honor the lives of Echol Cole and Robert Walker and stand in solidarity for fair and just conditions for all workers,” said Mayor Bowser. “The fight for racial and economic justice brought Dr. King to Memphis in 1968, and fifty years after his death, it is our commitment to these same values that brings us together today.”

Learn more

At Signing of Women’s Health Care Bill, Mayor Bowser Announces Open Enrollment Extension

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On Wednesday, January 31, 2018, at the bill signing for the Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act of 2018, Mayor Bowser announced that open enrollment for District residents has been extended through Monday, February 5, 2018 at 11:59 pm. Residents now have through Monday, February 5 to go to DCHealthLink.com to shop for, compare, and enroll in affordable, high-quality insurance plans.

Preventive care saves lives and reduces health care costs, said Mayor Bowser. From extending open enrollment to creating forward-thinking legislation that keeps Washingtonians safe from detrimental health care reforms, in Washington, DC, we are committed to ensuring all residents are able to get the care and services they need to thrive and get on the pathways to the middle class. Over the next five days, we are asking the entire community to work with us to ensure all your friends, family, colleagues, and neighbors get covered and stay covered.

Learn more

Mayor Bowser Kicks Off Application Period for 2018 Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program

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On Friday, January 26, 2018, Mayor Muriel Bowser officially kicked off the application period for youth and employers who want to participate in the 2018  Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP). District youth ages 14 to 24 and employers may apply online for MBSYEP 2018 at summerjobs.dc.gov. Applications will be accepted until Saturday, February 24, 2018.

“The Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program gives young Washingtonians a unique opportunity to learn from other professionals, connect with mentors, and gain meaningful work experience – all while getting paid,” said Mayor Bowser. “While it is only January and summer may seem far away, before we know it, school will be letting out. When summer arrives, we want all our young people to have the opportunity to participate in experiences that set them up for success and keep them safe.” 

Learn more

This Week's District Minute 

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This week’s District Minute features stories about the kickoff of the application period for the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program, the launch of Mayors and CEOs for U.S. Housing Investment, and the UNCF Mayor's Masked Ball. 

Click on the image to view the full video.

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Daughters of African Immigrants Use the Stage to Tell of Two Worlds

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Clockwise from top left: Danai Gurira, Jocelyn Bioh, Mfoniso Udofia and Ngozi Anyanwu. Credit Top left, Elizabeth Weinberg for The New York Times; other photographs by Brad Ogbonna for The New York Times

 

Death rites can be quite elaborate — even after a funeral, there is often a “second burial” with days of lavish celebration to ease the deceased person’s journey to the afterlife. Ngozi Anyanwu knows this because she’s heard about it from her mother and father, who traveled back to Nigeria to bury their own parents. And she knows that, when the time comes, she will have to do the same for her father, who has spent his entire adult life in the United States, but still expects to be buried in the country where he was born. But what does Ms. Anyanwu, a 35-year-old performer and playwright born in Trenton and raised in Bucks County, Pa., know about Nigerian burial customs?

That question, and the puzzle of what it means to be simultaneously connected to and disconnected from the country of one’s family, prompted Ms. Anyanwu to write “The Homecoming Queen,” a new play that opened Monday at the Atlantic Theater Company, an Off Broadway nonprofit. The poignant drama is about a Nigerian-born American novelist who is confronted by her own ambivalent feelings about home and homeland when she returns to visit her dying father. 

Learn more

Google SSA appoints Mzamo Masito as its new chief marketing officer

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Google has appointed Mzamo Masito as its chief marketing officer for sub-Saharan Africa. Masito joins Google from Vodacom, where he held a senior position. He has an MBA from the Gordon Institute of Business Science (GIBS) as well as a post-graduate diploma from UCT. He lectures at the AAA School of Advertising and serves on the GIBS advisory board. He previously held senior positions at Nike and Unilever. Masito says he is excited about working for a company that is so committed to Africa and making a difference in people’s lives.
"I spoke to a number of people before joining, and the consistent theme was Google’s humanity," he adds. "The focus on teamwork, love of its people, and drive to achieve goals – this is why I joined the company. I hope while I am here I can channel my passion for Africa into the work we do."

Learn more

More than ever, American business is committed to Africa

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From the pages of history books to the pages of newspapers, the centuries-old relationship between Africa and the United States doesn’t always make for easy reading. But mixed with that legacy are rich cultures, noble traditions, and people of remarkable potential that have shaped American society. Today, the vibrancy of the people of Africa continues to make a remarkable contribution to our country’s civic life and that of many other nations. 

Africa’s economic contributions cannot be overlooked either. American businesses see extraordinary potential in Africa’s markets and recognize the long-term strategic planning it will take to fully tap into that potential. To do so, Congress and the administration must take action to help U.S. companies compete in African markets.

Learn more

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MBSYEP Applications Open

Online applications for the Mayor Marion S. Barry Summer Youth Employment Program (MBSYEP) will go live at summerjobs.dc.gov. Applications will be available for youth who want to apply for a position as well as employers who want to get involved with MBSYEP.MBSYEP is a locally-funded initiative that provides District youth ages 14-24 with enriching and constructive summer work experiences through subsidized placements in the private and public sectors. In 2015, Mayor Bowser expanded the program so that District residents ages 22-24 can participate in MBSYEP.

Learn more

 DOES's Workforce Development Program: Workforce Wednesday - Train to Compete

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The D.C. Department of Employment Services can help you receive training and prepare for your dream job!

Visit the American Job Center Headquarters NE, Washington, DC 20019 on Wednesday, February 7, 2018 at 9:30 am in the Community Room to learn about American Job Center services and register for FREE industry recognized occupational skills training.

Prior to attending the event, please visit www.DCNetworks.org to create your profile and upload your resume.

DOES can assist you with training in the following industries:

  • Emergency Medical Technician (EMT)
  • Project Management
  • Information Technology
  • Commercial Driver's License
  • Healthcare
  • Administrative Services
  • Paralegal
  • Welding
  • Transportation
  • Hotel & Hospitality
  • Construction Trades
  • Automotive Technician

Learn more

Open Enrollment Extended Through February 5, 2018

On January 31, at the bill signing for the Defending Access to Women's Health Care Services Amendment Act of 2018, Mayor Bowser announced that open enrollment for District residents has been extended through Monday, February 5, 2018 at 11:59 p.m.

Residents now have through Monday, February 5 to go to DCHealthLink.com or call (855) 532-5465 to shop for, compare, and enroll in affordable, high-quality insurance plans. 

Learn more 

Metro’s Fiscal Year 2019 Budget

Metro requests your feedback on the budget proposed for Fiscal Year 2019. To balance Metro's budget for the coming fiscal year, Metro is seeking additional funding from District of Columbia, Maryland and Virginia governments while continuing to take actions to cut costs and increase business revenues. Metro's Fiscal Year 2019 Budget focuses on a better ride for you.

As part of the budget, Metro's Capital Improvement Program invests $1.3 billion in funding safety improvements, rebuilding the Metro system and improving reliability of the current rail and bus networks. It also funds the deployment of new trains and buses, station upgrades and other important improvements. Comments will be provided to the Metro Board for consideration prior to adopting the budget. You are encouraged to comment by 5:00pm on Monday, February 5, 2018. The link  through which you can provide feedback is Provide comment online.

Learn more

Extended Deadline for FLAS Fellowships Applications

The Center for African Studies (FLAS) at Howard University is accepting applications for the Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships. There are options for Academic Year programs and Summer programs. The deadline for FLAS Fellowships has been extended to Thursday, February 15, 2018.
The Center for African Studies provides Foreign Language and Area Studies (FLAS) Fellowships through funding from the U.S. Department of Education Title VI program. FLAS Fellowships support students taking African languages (Amharic, Arabic, Somali, Swahili, Wolof, Yoruba and Zulu) and area studies coursework. The fellowships support intensive for-credit study of an African language and to promote the development of competency in African Studies either in the United States or abroad.

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Community Emergency Response Team (CERT): Winter 2018 Basic Training

Serve DC’s Community Emergency Response Team (CERT) volunteer program trains citizens to be better prepared to respond to emergencies in their communities. When emergencies happen, CERT members can provide critical support to first responders, immediate assistance to victims and can help organize spontaneous volunteers at a disaster site. CERT members can also help with non-emergency projects that help improve the community safety.

CERT training is free and open to anyone who lives, works or congregates in the District of Columbia. Classes include: Disaster Preparedness; Fire Safety; Medical; Operations and First Aid; Search and Rescue; Disaster Psychology and Terrorism.

When: February 13, 15, 20, 22, 2018 | 5:45pm - 9:00pm

Where: 2720 Martin Luther King Junior Avenue Southeast | OUC Media Room | Washington, DC | 20032

Learn more

General Vendor Workshop

The DC Office of Contracting and Procurement is hosting a General Vendor Workshop to discuss how to get started doing business with the District. In these sessions, participants are given an overview of how to register in eSourcing, selecting commodity codes, and an overview of the procurement process. 

When: Thursday, February 22, 2018 | 1:00pm - 3:00pm

Where: One Judiciary Square Building | 441 4th Street, NW | 700 South | Washington, DC | 20001

Learn more

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 newsletter, 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, February 14, 2018 by 5:00 pm. Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov.