Mayor Bowser reappoints MOAA staff
 On January 2, 2019, Mayor Bowser swore in all her appointees. Director Mamadou Samba and Deputy Director Aly Badra Kaba were reappointed for Mayor Bowser second term.
Mayor Muriel Bowser’s 2nd Term Outlook
 On Monday, January 14, beginning at 4:00 p.m., you are invited to watch my Second Term Outlook event live at mayor.dc.gov/live. This event will be about looking back on the last four years, having honest conversations about our successes and challenges, and sharing strategies for how District agencies can work with the community to improve the lives of more Washingtonians.
Watch on Monday, continue sharing your stories and ideas at dc2me.com, and go to mota.dc.gov to find openings in Mayor Bowser's Administration and to learn more about how you can support the work we're doing to create new opportunities for the residents of the District of Columbia.
When: Monday, January 14, 2019 | 4:00 pm
Where: Gallaudet University Kellogg Auditorium | 800 Florida Ave, NE | Washington, DC | 20002
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March with Mayor Muriel Bowser at the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Peace Walk and Parade!
 Please join Mayor Muriel Bowser and members of the Bowser Administration for the 2019 Martin Luther King Jr. Holiday Peace Walk and Parade!
Join us in honoring a great American hero in the nation's capital of a country that will be forever changed by his legacy. Whether you can march with us or simply be an observer, all are welcome!
We will assemble at 11:00 am at the intersection of MLK Jr. Ave SE and Good Hope Road SEnd the parade is set to begin at 12:00 pm. There will also be Health and Community Fair at the R.I.S.E. Gateway Pavillon 2730 MLK Ave SE from 12- 3 pm.
Connect with Mayor Bowser on social media
Twitter: @MayorBowser | Instagram: @Mayor_Bowser |Facebook: MayorMurielBowser
When: Monday, January 21, 2019 | 11:00 am - 3 pm
Where: Anacostia Park Entrance | MLK Jr. Ave SE and Good Hope Road SE | Washington, DC 20020
RSVP here
2019 Kickoff Happy Hour
 The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs, in partnership with Your Ethiopian Professionals and Young African Professionals, is hosting the “2019 Kickoff Happy Hour” on Thursday, January 17, 2019, at Bukom Cafe. This event will be an opportunity to constructively engage with the vibrant African Millennial and working professionals’ population in the District.
When: Thursday, January 17, 2019
Where: Bukom Cafe | 2442 18th Street, NW | Washington, DC | 20009
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Mayor Bowser Delivers Second Inaugural Address
 On Wednesday, January 2, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser was sworn in as the first woman re-elected to a second term as the Mayor of the District of Columbia. Below is the Mayor’s inaugural address, as delivered.
" Good morning, DC, and happy New Year to each and every one of you. I’d like to thank Chief Judge Blackburne-Rigsby for swearing me in today as she did when I became Ward 4 Councilmember.
Congresswoman Norton, Attorney General Racine, Chairman Mendelson, members of the Council, and family and friends from around the world and around the region - welcome.
Each year, we know, brings a chance for a renewed focus on the people, the values, and the places that matter most to us.
Each new term also brings with it lessons learned from triumph, opportunity, challenge, and defeat."
And with each new term, we have gratitude for God’s grace and mercy and are honored, humbled, and energized to have the support and confidence of our residents."
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Mayor Bowser Breaks Ground on Good Food Markets, Delivering Fresh Food Options to Ward 8
 On Thursday, January 3, 2019, Mayor Bowser broke ground on Good Food Markets, delivering job opportunities and fresh food options to the Bellevue community in Ward 8. Through the Neighborhood Prosperity Fund, an initiative launched by Mayor Bowser, South Capitol Improvement LLC received an $880,000 grant to support the buildout for a grocer tenant as part of the 225,000 square-foot development that includes 195 units of affordable housing and 5,500 square-feet of community commercial space.
“I’m excited that my second term as Mayor of Washington, DC is getting started the right way: by breaking ground on a much-needed new grocery store in Ward 8, increasing access to healthy food options east of the river and creating jobs for local residents.” said Mayor Bowser. “This project represents what we’re going to be focused on over these next four years – tackling the day-to-day challenges that residents face and, in doing so, improving the quality of life for more Washingtonians while continuing to plan for our future and the growth of our city.”
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Mayor Bowser Kicks Off 2019 by Introducing Legislation to Support DC Values and Announcing Key Appointments
 On Monday, January 7, 2019, Mayor Muriel Bowser kicked off 2019 by introducing legislation that will support the District’s efforts to build safer, stronger neighborhoods, expand opportunity, and give all residents a fair shot.
Sexual Assault Victim’s Rights Amendment Act of 2019
The Sexual Assault Victim’s Rights Amendment Act of 2019 builds on the Mayor’s 2017 legislative proposal by incorporating feedback from victims/survivors, advocates, and subject matter experts to strengthen the introduced policies and improve outcomes for victims/survivors of sexual assault. The updated SAVRAA 2019 creates a definition of sexual assault counselors that mirrors the definitions of domestic violence counselor and human trafficking counselors already in DC law; requires additional training for advocates working with youth who are victims of sexual assault; clarifies confidential communications between sexual assault counselors and sexual assault victims; creates the opportunity for the provision of coordinated SANE exams in other locations throughout the District; and expands membership of the Sexual Assault Response Team (SART) to include all community-based organizations providing advocacy services.
Ghost Guns Prohibition Amendment Act of 2019
The Ghost Guns Prohibition Amendment Act of 2019 will prohibit the registration and possession of undetectable ghost guns in the District of Columbia. Specifically, the legislation defines a “ghost gun” as a firearm that, after the removal of all parts other than a receiver, cannot be detected by a metal detector; establishes the corresponding definition of a receiver; prohibits “ghost guns” from being registered; and prohibits the possession of a ghost gun.
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Ilhan Omar sworn in to Congress, becomes first Somali-American representative
 On Wednesday, January 2, Through a barrage of selfies, squeals of excitement, exclamations of “alhamdillah” (God is great in Arabic), nearly 100 people gathered in a conference room in Washington D.C. to welcome Freshman Rep. Ilhan Omar before she was sworn in to Congress on Thursday.
Surrounded by her father, her sister, and her immediate family, Omar made her way through a throng of supporters from the Somali community, representatives from mosques in Minnesota and elsewhere, and groups who have helped her campaign from the start in Minneapolis.
Many of her supporters were Somali-Americans who said they were excited to welcome the first Somali-American to Congress and a hijab-wearing, mother of three with a bold agenda.
Omar has spoken openly about her four years in a refugee camp as a girl, and about her experience as an immigrant in the United States.
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AU’s plan of building a real Wakanda for the African diaspora gets a jumpstart
 It might have been a wish in the early months of 2018 when the highest-grossing superhero film of all time “Black Panther” depicted a rich and technologically advanced African nation of Wakanda that was the envy of the rest of the world.
It is nearly a wish come true as the African Union is close to starting the construction of a real Wakanda which will be built, run and operated across the continent by the African diaspora.
Dubbed the Wakanda One Village Project, it will consist of five African Centres of Excellence in each of the five regions of the continent which will serve as nerve centers for development bearing state-of-the-art healthcare facilities, hotels, industrial homes, shopping centers among others.
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2019 TASSC International Open House
 You are invited to the Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition (TASSC) annual celebration that will be held on February 9, 2019, at 4121 Harewood Rd NE, Washington DC 20017 from 1 pm to 4 pm. TASSC is a nonprofit organization based in the United States that works to end the practice of torture internationally and to support the survivors of torture and their families. TASSC is concerned not only with the prevention of torture but also addresses its aftermath, the individual survivor, family, community, and society.
There will be food, music, and stories. Feel free to invite family and friends.
When: February 9, 2019 | 1:00 pm - 4:00 pm
Where: 4121 Harewood Rd NE | Washington DC | 20017.
Please RSVP by February 4, 2019, by emailing Colleen@tassc.org or replying directly to this email.
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2019 Multilingual Education Fair of DC
 Please come with your friends and family to the DC Language Immersion Project Multilingual Education Fair for the DC region. Co-sponsored by the key education institutions of the District, the fair features 70 exhibitors covering 17 languages to allow you to explore and deepen your linguistic and cultural skills, and learn about careers where languages are crucial.
When: Saturday, January 26, 2019| 10:00 am - 2:00 pm
Where: Gallaudet University | l. King Jordan Student Academic Center | 800 Florida Ave NE, Washington | DC | 20002
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Grants Available through Office of Partnerships and Grants
Office of Partnerships and Grant Services the clearing house for the Government of the District of Columbia’s grant programs. There are over 21 available grants.
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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, January 23, 2019 by 5:00 pm. Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov.
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