African Community Grant - Success Story
Asylum Seeker Assistant Project
(ASAP) was founded in 2016. It is the first and only nonprofit dedicated to
serving the estimated 25,000 asylum seekers living in the Washington D.C. Metro
region with a mission to support the safety,
stability, and economic security of asylum seekers and their families. In 2018,
ASAP was awarded fifteen thousand dollars ($ 15,000) by the Mayor’s office on
African Affairs under the mayor’s African community grant program.
Below is one success stories from an asylum
seeker show casing ASAP’s interventions and impact.
Ms. S was a
business manager in Ethiopia, East Africa. While in the United States, she
learned about ASAP after she applied for asylum. This nonprofit assisted her
enroll in computer classes to improve her IT skills.
Further to
that; ASAP supported her with pro-bono legal representations and also help
stabilize her medical and health condition to enhance her job readiness. She
was subsequently registered with ASAP’s employment program after her work
authorization was approved in January 2018.
As a result, she started to apply for jobs and
attending interviews. ASAP help coordinate an interview for a HR admin
assistant position with Easter Seals in Washington DC.
When asked
about her connection to ASAP; she said; “it is my power cord and every time I come
to ASAP, it gives me a charge to keep going.” Ms. S. was offered a
full-time position at Easter Seals.
In order to
further engage the next generation of advocates; ASAP has created lesson plans
for ages 5 and up to promote refugee awareness and encourage dialogue among
families and stakeholders.
Learn more
African Community Grant - Success Story:
African Women's
Cancer Awareness Association
The African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association (AWCAA),
was established in 2004 as a non- profit organization dedicated to improve
health care delivery and services to African Immigrant women with cancer in the
Washington DC metro area through education, resources and training.
Under the Mayor’s African community grant for 2018; AWCAA
was awarded twenty thousand dollars ($ 20,000) by the Mayor’s Office on African
Affair’s.
The story below is an example of the successes that AWCAA
in partnership with the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs have achieved.
A
48 year Cameroonian Washington DC African resident was diagnosed with breast
cancer in 2017 and was referred to the African Women’s Cancer Awareness
Association by a nurse navigator from George Washington Hospital. .
According
to her; on waking up one day, she experienced blood oozing from her right breast;
immediately she sorts to have an appointment with an Oncologist. The
appointment examination did not reveal any abnormality. Tissue samples were
collected for biopsy which came back positive. On consultation with the
oncologist; a treatment plan was developed for her care.
She consequently underwent double mastectomy
and reconstruction surgery in November 2017. Which became infectious and had to
restart treatment again .Currently, she is undergoing weekly chemotherapy an
also on a five year regimen of tamoxifen
One
of the things she shared is that she is glad to be still alive although she has
lost all her hair and taste of some foods as she undergoes her treatment..
AWCAA is also providing her with counseling
and required supplies she needs for her continued care.
Learn more
Washington Dc, March For Our Lives
 On Saturday, March 24, 2018, the Mayor will join
thousands of Americans from across the country at the March For Our Lives
rally. Hundreds of thousands of Americans who support common-sense gun
regulations - will make their voices heard and our demands known.
Locally, we already have some of the
strongest gun laws in the country. And while we continue working hard to keep
it that way, we also know that our local laws are not enough. Firearms do not
follow state laws - guns travel across state lines and so does the trauma
caused by gun violence.
The time for action is now, and we stand
with all the young people who are leading this national movement in
saying: never again. For our community and communities across
the nation, let's show up on Saturday and then every day after that.
Washingtonians interested in volunteering
on Saturday should RSVP for tonight's orientation HERE.
Mayor Bowser's 2018 State Of The District Address
On Thursday, March 15, 2018, Mayor Muriel Bowser delivered the 2018
State of the District address at the University of the District of Columbia
Theatre of the Arts. See below of the District Address as delivered:
Well, hello, Washington,
DC!
Isn’t it lovely to be here
at our University – the University of the District of Columbia.
I am proud to be here to
deliver my fourth State of the District address.
So let us thank you, Ms. Thompson,
three weeks from giving birth for that wonderful introduction.
And three weeks ago, when
Kooper, her son, was just one day old, we recognized him and his family for
helping Washington, DC become 700,000 residents strong.
And we haven’t been that big
in Washington since around the time that I was born. Now I know that seems like
just yesterday, but really it was just a little while ago.
And to meet Kooper, and to
chat with his mom and dad, I was reminded of a simple truth:
Washingtonians
across the city want very similar things.
Read more
Mayor Bowser Presents Fiscal Year 2019 Budget Proposal
On Wednesday, March 21, 2018, Mayor Muriel Bowser presented “A Fair Shot,” the Fiscal Year 2019 (FY2019) Budget and Financial Plan, to the Council of the District of Columbia as part of the District’s annual budget process. The $14.5 billion budget proposal includes investments in infrastructure, education, affordable housing, health and human services, economic opportunity, seniors, and public safety.
“This budget is about giving more Washingtonians a fair shot,” said Mayor Bowser.“ From investing in tax credits that make child care more affordable to expanding programs that allow seniors to age in place, the Fair Shot budget will do more to make Washington, DC a place where people of all backgrounds and in all stages of life are able to live and thrive.”
Learn more
Click to edit this placeholder text.
Pledge to #SaveDCTAGSaveDCTAG
 MOAA calls on its
community members to support the Mayor's fight to save the DC Tuition
Assistance Grant program (DCTAG), a program that has helped 26,000 students
attend and get through college. Today, President Trump released a budget
proposal for 2019 that completely eliminates DCTAG. This is grave news for DC.
It means that a college education for thousands of DC students is at risk.
Congress can and should reject this proposal and fully fund DCTAG for 2019 and
beyond.
Please help us save DCTAG by signing the #SaveDCTAG petition Here.
Melwood’s Vocational Support Services, a Model for Change, Sustainability, and Increased Quality of Life
In March, hundreds of social service organizations such as Melwood are highlighting Developmental Disabilities Month aiming to increase awareness of creating a world where people of ALL abilities are fully included. Each year, Melwood impacts the lives of over 2,150 people with differing abilities in DC, Maryland, and Virginia. They benefit from vast services such as employment placement, job training, life skills, and recreation opportunities.
Melwood employs 800 people with differing abilities at over 65 federal government and military contract sites, as well as private sector employers.
Learn more
2018 ANNUAL AFRICAN DIASPORA WOMEN & COLLABORATORS ROUNDTABLE DISCUSSION
Please join the 2018 Annual African Diaspora Women & Collaborators Roundatble Discussion to celebrate
the International women’s day 2018.This year's
theme is to press forward and make progress in achieving gender parity. African Diaspora Women, Diversity & Inclusion Council (ADWDIC) is committed to motivating and uniting women through shared knowledge & to support our communities.
When: Monday,
March 26, 2018 | 3:00 pm – 7:00 pm
Where: Reeve
Center for Municipal Affairs | 2000 14th St NW | Washington, DC | 2009
RVPS: Here
Workshop Wednesdays: Creating with African Textiles
Create your own custom apron out of African textiles with local artist Velma Crawford. Learn about the incredible diversity and richness of African textiles and about the symbolic meaning behind adinkra symbols from Ghana. Then, select your favorite adinkra symbol to create a pattern for your one-of-a-kind design. You can even add a favorite keepsake to make your apron extra special!
This workshop is presented as part of the museum’s series of Workshop Wednesdays. Every first Wednesday of the month, stop by the museum for drop-in classes from trained teachers. Stay for as little or as long as you like to complete your masterpiece. All skill levels and ages welcome; participants under age 16 must be accompanied by an adult. This workshop requires registration and space is limited! Please click here to reserve your spot, and visit here for a full list of upcoming workshops.
When: Wednesday, April 18, 2018 | 1:30 pm – 3:30 pm
Where: Smithsonian National Museum of African Art | 950 Independence Avenue Southwest | Washington, DC | 20560
Learn more
Grounding Global Health Work in African Knowledge: Lessons Learned
Join the IAfS Africa Speaker Series for a lecture led by Dr. Khadidiatou Ndiaye, Assistant Professor of Global Health and Director of the Global Health Communication Program at the Milken Institute of Public Health at The George Washington University. Throughout her lecture, Dr. Ndiaye will discuss how African communication reflects a complex mix of cultural values and traditions spread across the vast continent. This talk will explore how this mix of African values can be used to ground behavior change interventions. Building on lessons learned from several projects, Dr. Ndiaye will also discuss the intersection of global health and culture.
When : Thursday, March 29, 2018 | 12:00 pm – 1:15 pm
Where: Elliott School of International Affairs | 1957 E Street Northwest | Room 505 | Washington, DC | 20052
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, April 6, 2018 by 5:00 pm. Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov.
|
