OAA FrontPage:
Learn About Hou You Can Become a Paid Tester and Advocate for Civil Rights
Friday, August 17 - 10am - 12pm
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Join the DC Mayor's Office on African Affairs, the Office of Human Rights & the Equal Right Center for an information session on becoming a Paid Tester & Civil Rights Advocate.
Community Forum on Immigration: Secure Communities & Deferred Action
Thursday, August 30th - 5:30-9pm
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Join the DC mayor's Office on African Affairs (OAA), the DC Commission on African Affairs (DCCAA), and the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service (USCIS) in a forum to discuss the Mayoral Mandate on Secure Communities in DC, & the Presidential Mandate on Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals.
3rd Annual DC Africa Festival NEW DATE: September 29!!!
Saturday, September 29 - 12pm - 7pm
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The 3rd Annual DC Africa Festival has a NEW DATE!! Join us on Saturday, September 29th 2012 from 12-7pm at Banneker Community Center. Below are more details about the festival, and we hope to see you there!
Fall Internship Opportunities at OAA! Apply NOW!
OAA’s internship program offers hands-on experience and learning opportunities to University students, and young professionals seeking to engage in public service, while primarily serving the District’s African community. OAA interns will be involved in many aspects of the agency’s day-to-day work, participate in the implementation of program activities, and provide support to the staff, while learning about the District’s African community.
OAA's internship positions are, but not limited to the following:
- Program Assistant
- Communication Assistant
- Grant writer
- Outreach Coordinator
- Special Assistant
- Research Assistant
For more information on how to apply, please click here.
Below are testimonies from former OAA interns:
 Olamide Oluwadipe
Up until the time I interned at the Office on African
Affairs, I craved to work in an office environment where there is cohesion,
synergy and passion. What I appreciated the most about the Office on African
Affairs is the manner in which every individual’s contribution is genuinely
valued, celebrated and effectively incorporated into the office's work and
output. When my internship duration was over, I left feeling empowered.
It was truly was hard to say "goodbye" as I had built strong
relationships with the interns and staff there.
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 Timi Mustapha
Working hands on, as an integral part of a small but successful team, OAA helped to broaden my perspective on what “development” could actually mean. As an international service student, development had always has an international focus for me. Effectively, OAA’s mission, projects and people, helped me to understand that service domestically, specifically working to aid African immigrants here, could be just as important.
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What's New With Your Mayor?
Mayor Vincent C. Gray Announces OneCity Action Plan
Mayor Vincent C. Gray’s One City Action Plan, is a comprehensive strategy that describes in specific steps how his One City vision will be achieved. Organized by goals, strategies and actions, the plan provides District residents and business leaders alike with a concrete roadmap to understand and measure progress and hold city officials accountable in the areas that matter most to stakeholders. Picking up on the theme of the Mayor’s 2012 State of the District Address – “Seizing Our Future” – the plan emphasizes the need to harness the tremendous change the District is experiencing to remake and reinvent our city for the next generation.
There are three top goals in the "One City Action Plan:" (1) Grow and Diversify the District Economy; (2) Educate and Prepare the Workforce for the New Economy and (3) Improve the Quality of Life for All."
Mayor Vincent C. Gray Opens Renovated New York Avenue Recreation Center and Playground
Mayor Vincent C. Gray, District officials and community leaders held a ribbon-cutting ceremony at the newly renovated New York Avenue Recreation Center and Playground at 1st and N Streets NW. The center had been closed since 2009, when it was used as a Department of Parks and Recreation (DPR) daycare facility. The Mayor also announced that the DPR will release an RFP for programming at the New York Avenue Recreation Center as well as Randall Recreation Center. DPR is interested in programming contractors who can bring comprehensive, outcomes-based programming to these two sites. The RFP is scheduled to be released in October 2012.
Mayor Vincent C. Gray Announces Study on Improving Safety and Neighborhood Connectivity at Anacostia Metro Station
Mayor Vincent C. Gray, Ward 1 Councilmember Jim Graham, District Department of Transportation (DDOT) Director Terry Bellamy and Adams Morgan business owners and residents today celebrated the completion of the 18th Street Streetscape Project. The 17-month, $6.8 million project completely reconstructed and reconfigured the public space in one of the District’s busiest commercial areas.
Newsworthy
 The African Diaspora: Beyond Remittance
Ohajuruka, who has lived in the United States for nearly a decade, is one example of the “diaspora-led task force,” a community of Africans living in the U.S. who continue to contribute to their countries of origin. While addressing more than 500 U.S.-based diaspora leaders from the private sector to civil society at the second annual Global Diaspora Forum, U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton called for continued partnerships between these leaders and the U.S. Government, saying “the fact is that the United States has always benefited from the influx of talent and dynamism that diasporas of all kinds bring to our shores.” She adds that they're also the ones most willing to take risks to empower and improve their country of origin. As the country with the most global diaspora, U.S. involvement is strategic.
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 As Americans Embrace Ethiopian Cuisine, its Farmers Grow More Teff
Injera — the Ethiopian staple food that doubles as cutlery — is made from teff, a tiny grain ubiquitous in the Horn of Africa and until recently almost unknown elsewhere. But the teff that Zelalem Injera uses is grown in America. The 25-pound sacks stacked along the wall read “Maskal Teff: An Ancient African Grain. Made in Idaho.” Once solely grown in the rugged Ethiopian highlands, teff is popping up in the windswept fields of the American heartland.
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 Who are Africa's Marissa Mayers?
According to Mayer "women in the workplace and women in technology will be key drivers of global competitiveness and innovation in the future." I truly believe that. Then again, maybe I am biased.
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Community Spotlight
 Student Multiethnic Action Research Team (S.M.A.R.T)
"In 2008, Many Langauges One Voice (MLOV) held a series of community forums with adults in DC, who did not speak English very well. One issue that arose over and over again was the difficulties that children faced as ELL students in DC public schools. As a result, MLOV launced the S.M.A.R.T. program in the fall of 2009 to address these issues," said Carol Tsoi, education organizer with S.M.A.R.T.
Currently, the program has 30 members who show up regularly to monthly meetings; Tsoi, however, hopes that this number doubles by the end of the year. Students at S.M.A.R.T speak a variety of languages, including Amharic, Tigrinya, French, Spanish, Kriol, Vietnamese, Tagalog, and Mandarin.
"Through joining S.M.A.R.T., students receive the political education and tools necessary to achieve quality education for all English Language Learner students in DC public schools," said Tsoi. Members of the program learn to conduct data and field-based research, produce their own media, and more! Through these activites, students gain public speaking skills and project management opportunities.
Through youth organizing, SMART works to solve various challenges that ELL students face, and achieve quality education for all ELL students in DCPS.
The upcoming months will be busy for S.M.A.R.T.; the first event is Friday, August 31 at 5:30 pm. The address is La Casa, 3166 Mount Pleasant Street. Please attend to get involved with S.M.A.R.T.'s campaign.
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Business Square
Looking for Social Investment Opportunities
Fair & Sustainable Advisory Services frequently receives requests from Social Investment Funds looking for new investment opportunities with a social impact in development countries. Are you involved in a Social Business currently in need of an investment in the form of a loan, guarantee or equity investment? Inform us by e-mail and let’s find out if we can link you to one of the Social Investment Funds in our network.
Currently we are looking for investment opportunities in businesses which:
• Have an investment need between 50.000 – 250.000 euro (approximately 60.000 – 300.000 USD).
• Are active in agriculture
• Have a clear and proven social impact
• Are situated in West Africa
Inform us by e-mail upon which we will send you an intake form. The filled-out intake form will be reviewed by us and, if considered promising by us, it will be introduced to the appropriate Social Investment Funds.
Does the above apply to you? Send a short e-mail, indicating the nature of your business, your investment need and your Businesses clear and proven social impact.
Marketing Your Business in DC: Tools and Resources
In order to successfully grow your business, you need to attract and retain a large base of satisfied customers. An effective marketing program can help you achieve this goal. Many think marketing is just advertising and promotions, but it comprises the entire process companies use to gain and maintain a customer base. A successful marketing program can be advantageous for your business to promote awareness of your products and build strong customer relationships. In this edition of the Doing Business 2.0, we will tackle the extensive topic of Marketing. It is a crucial part of running a successful business and we bring DC’s most valuable panel to walk you through the topic.
When: Wednesday, August 15, 2012
Time: 9:00 AM - 10:30 AM
Where: Venable, LLP
575 7th Street, NW
8th Floor, Capitol Room
Cost: $10.00
Orientation for Free Business Counseling
In order to be eligible for free one-on-one business counseling with a Business Development Specialist at the DC WBC, clients must attend an Orientation. Counseling is an engaging, focused and personalized resource. Prospective clients will learn about the Center's services and resources and how the DC WBC can help you achieve your goals. Whether you have been in business for years and are looking to expand or whether you're just starting your business, come find out what the DC Women’s Business Center can do for you! Networking from 6-6:30PM .Snacks provided. Reasonable accommodations will be made if requested at least 2 weeks in advance. Contact Nicole@dcwbc.org for more info.
Date: Wednesday, September 5, 2012
Time: 6:00 PM to 08:30PM
Closing Date: Sunday, September 02, 2012 at 12:00PM
Location: 727 15th St., NW 8th Floor Washington, DC 20005
Fees: $ 10.00
FastTrac DC Program Encouraging Small Business Growth
Kauffman FastTrac DC is an innovative partnership designed to foster the growth and success of DC small businesses. The program is being launched under Mayor Vincent Gray, Department of Small and Local Business Development (DSLBD) to equip small businesses in DC with entrepreneurial training. Through this program will help entrepreneurs in Washington DC to develop the skills and networks needed to create, manage, and grow successful businesses.
When: August 24 – 25, 2012
Where: The Wardman Park Marriott Washington DC, USA
To learn more, click here.
DSLBD & Clark Construction
Presents Doing Business with
CLARK CONSTRUCTION
Learn from Clark Construction staff experts Project Management (PM) Fundamentals.
DON’T MISS OUT ON THIS FREE COURSE
Project Management: Learn how to thoroughly manage a project utilizing the schedule, submittals, RFIs and other Project Management tools. This course will provide you with a solid overview of the project management function.
Learning Objectives:
· Upon completion of this course, you will learn:
· The role of project management
· The activities involved in project management
· The tools used by project management
· The goals of project management
Who should attend: Construction GCs and Subcontractors
When: Wedneday, August 15th, from 1:00 to 4:00pm
Where: One Judiciary Square
441 4th Street, NW, Suites 1117S & 1114S
Washington, DC 20001
Register Here:
Prince
George’s County, Maryland
BUSINESS MISSION
TO BRAZIL
September 2012
The Prince George’s County Economic Development
Corporation (EDC) is working with U.S. Department of State, Office
of the S/Special Representative for Global Intergovernmental Affairs, to
implement a business mission to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil from September 1-5,
2012. Information Technology (IT) and other technology firms, in
particular, minority or small businesses, will be spotlighted at the three-day RioInfo
Conference (September 3-5).
In furtherance of the U.S.-Brazil Memorandum of
Understanding to Promote State and Local Cooperation, the State Department is
supporting this business mission by arranging meetings with senior government
officials and facilitating business networking opportunities.
Afro-Brazilian participation will be encouraged as will their partnership with
U.S. minority businesses in all sectors.
To learn more about this business opportunity and register yourself, see the link below.
To learn more, click here. Business Planning Process Seminar
Thursday, September 06, 2012 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM
Business planning is usually conducted when starting a new organization or a new major venture, for example, new product, service or program. Essentially, a business plan is a combination of a marketing plan, strategic plan, operational/management plan and a financial plan. Far more important than the plan document, is the planning process itself. This seminar provides an overview of the thought process that goes into the development of a business plan and a discussion of the reasons why. Mr. Milton Goodman has over twenty years of experience in the Executive Level Business Development arena, High Tech Sales and Marketing Industry within the Federal Government and Private Sector environments. He also possesses ten years’ experience in the Technical Sales Management arena within the Engineering and Computer Information Technology environments.
Speaker: Milton Goodman
To learn more and register, click here.
Nonprofit Niche
Live Director Chat
Join us on
Tuesday, August 14th to chat with D.C. Commission on the Arts and Humanities' Executive Director, Lionell Thomas. Do you have a
question about upcoming programs? Log on and ask.
Do you have a
question about a funding application?
Log on and ask.
Have
questions about deadlines, calls to artists,
or just want to be heard?
Log on and be heard.
LIVE
DIRECTOR CHAT
Tuesday, August
14th, 2012
2PM - 3PM
Department of Labor Grants
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations, faith-based organizations and community-based organizations
Funding Opportunity: Department of Labor announces funds to support training and education programs for workers and employers on the recognition, avoidance, abatement, and prevention of safety and health hazards in the workplace.
Funds: $1,100,000
Deadline: 8/10/2012
Grant ID: GD4674
National Endowment for the Humanities Grants
Eligibility: City or township governments, county governments, public and state controlled institutions of higher education, state governments, nonprofit organizations and private institutions of higher education
Funding Opportunity: National Endowment for the Humanities announces funds to support the following formats: interactive digital media; film and television projects; and radio projects. The grant provides funds from $40K to $75K for development and $100K to $800K production projects.
Funds: $1,000,000
Deadline: 8/15/2012
Grant ID: GD4672
Humanities Council of Washington, D.C. Grants
Eligibility: The Humanities Council is seeking proposals for innovative and informative humanities projects that will benefit the people of Washington, DC!
Funding Opportunity: Major Grant ($1501 to $5000) proposals require a preliminary application which can be submitted online. The Preliminary application is due on August 3rd, and the final proposal is due August 31st.
Small Grant (up to $1500) proposals are due on August 31st. Small grants are a great way to fund project planning, research, or preliminary field work in advance of a major project
Funds: $1,500 - $5,000
Deadline: 8/3/12 and 8/21/12
Grant ID: GD4677
Susan G. Komen Global Race for the Cure Grants
Eligibility: Nonprofit Organizations
Funding Opportunity: Susan G. Komen Global Race for
the Cure announces funds to support high-impact breast cancer programs in the
National Capital that address the priorities described in Komen's 2010
Community Profile, a needs assessment of Washington, D.C., and seven
surrounding counties. The program has three funding priorities:
Screening/reducing fragmentation; Provider education; and Public education.
Funds: $1,000,000
Deadline: 8/24/2012
Grant ID: GD4694
Open Society Foundations Grants
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations
Funding Opportunity: Open Society Foundations announce
funds to implement one or more of the mechanisms described in the 20 Mechanisms
for Addressing Torture in Health Care, a manual describing 20 anti-torture
practices to fight torture in global or international health care settings.
These mechanisms advance existing advocacy efforts to address torture in health
care and ensure government accountability.
Funding Range: $10,000-$15,000
Deadline: 9/1/2012
Grant ID: GD4692
Department of Transportation Funds
Eligibility: Public and state controlled institutions of higher
education, nonprofit organizations, private institutions of higher education
and community-based organizations
Funding Opportunity: Public and state controlled
institutions of higher education, nonprofit organizations, private institutions
of higher education and community-based organizations
Funds: Up
to $183,000 is available for one award
Deadline: 9/3/2012
State Single Point of Contact: This grant is subject to
"Intergovernmental Review" under EO 12372. Please go to http://opgs.dc.gov/spoc.asp for further information.
Grant ID: GD4688
United Planning Organization Grants
Funding Opportunity: United Planning Organization
announces funds to support community based organizations to provide programs
and services that promote self-sufficiency and/or improve the conditions of
low-income residents living in poverty.
Funds: $2,710,000
is available for 12 awards
Deadline: 8/30/2012
Range: up to $420,000 for each award
Grant ID: GD4691
Christopher and Dana Reeve Foundation Grants
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations
Funding Opportunity: Christopher and Dana Reeve
Foundation announces funds to provide critical life-enhancing and life-changing
programs and services that improve physical and emotional health. Special
consideration is given to nonprofits that serve returning wounded military and
their families, and to those that provide targeted services to diverse cultural
communities.
Funds: up
to $25,000
Deadline: 9/4/2012
Grant ID: GD4693
Institute of Museum and Library Services
Eligibility:
City
or township governments, independent school districts, public and state
controlled institutions of higher education, state governments and nonprofit
organizations
Funding Opportunity: Institute of Museum and Library
Services announces funds to develop the knowledge, skills, and abilities of the
library and archives workforce to meet the information needs of the nation. The
program supports the following funding categories: Projects Grants ($50K to
$500K), Collaborative Planning Grants (up to $50K), and National Forum Planning
Grants (up to $100K).
Funds: $12,469,520
is available for 33 awards
Deadline: 9/24/2012
Range: $50,000-$500,000
Match: A
match is required
Grant ID:
GD4689
National Endowment for the Humanities Funds
Eligibility:
City or township governments, county governments, special district governments,
public and state controlled institutions of higher education, state
governments, nonprofit organizations and private institutions of higher
education.
Funding
Opportunity: National Endowment for the Humanities
announces funds for small grants to support the planning stages and encourage
the development of innovative projects that promise to benefit the digital
humanities.
Funds:
$60,000
Deadline:
9/25/2012
Contact:
NEH
Office of Digital Humanities at or odh@neh.gov
Grant
ID: GD4690
Ford Foundation Grants
Eligibility: Nonprofit organizations and community-based organizations
Funding Opportunity: Ford Foundation announces funds to support and expand the community of filmmakers and media makers around the world who are focused on creating documentaries with "passion and purpose" but who often lack funding to realize their visions or reach audiences. This is a five-year, $50 million initiative to help and support a new generation of filmmakers whose works address urgent social issues.
Funds: $10,000,000
Deadline: Open
Contact: Ford Foundation
Grant ID: GD4677
Leadership
Exchange
The Center
for Nonprofit Advancement’s Leadership Exchange gives leaders a rare
opportunity to turn their focus inward. The series provides a safe space for
our most accomplished leaders to share experiences that spark continued growth
and help to address every day challenges.
Next Level
Communications
In this
dynamic and interactive four-part series, the Center for Nonprofit Advancement
has assembled a team of seasoned experts to assist nonprofit executives to
galvanize their skill sets as communicators, forge powerful new strategies as
spokespeople and capture the attention of key constituents.
Sign up for the Office of Partnerships and Grants Services "Funding Alerts":
The Office of Partnerships and Grants Services (OPGS) works to enhance the capacity of District government agencies, community and faith-based organizations, and nonprofits to identify, apply, and secure resources that advance the Mayor's top public policy priorities.
To read the newest funding alert, please click here. We encourage you to sign up to receive the funding alerts directly to your e-mail, by following the link below.
Rolling in Resources
The Sullivan Summit
The Sullivan Summits are organized by The Leon H. Sullivan Foundation and held biennially in an African nation to highlight key issues and best practices, stimulate discussion, define opportunities, promote private enterprise and foster high-level strategic partnerships.
The Biennial Leon H. Sullivan Summit is the embodiment of Leon Howard Sullivan’s dream to re-connect the nations and people of Africa with a displaced Diaspora spread out across the world. His concept was simple – knowledge of heritage and history is innately strengthening. Without a sense of history and ancestry, Africa’s lost sons and daughters cannot truly be free to reach their highest potential. This dream and the awe-inspiring reunion is realized every 2 years through the historic gatherings of the Sullivan Summit.
ECC Amharic Language Program: Fall Semester
Reserve your seat in class today by submitting your registration form and class payment!
LIMITED SPACE AVAILABLE! Please register by Monday, September 3rd, 2012.
Who should study Amharic:
- Do you work with or are you studying topics involving Ethiopian immigrants? Would you like to better communicate with one of the largest immigrant communities in the greater Washington, DC area?
- Are you the parent of an Ethiopian child and would like to be able to communicate with him/her in Amharic?
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Are you tired of understanding only parts of conversations when relatives or friends converse in Amharic?
- Do you want to take a class with peers your age?
- Or are you simply looking for something new and unexpected to learn?
Whatever motivates you to study the Amharic language, when you enroll in the ECC’s Amharic class, you will find yourself part of a unique educational experience!
Class Fee:
All Classes, 30 total instructional hours: $210
Non-Refundable Registration fee: $15
Total: $225
Keep America Beautiful Recycle-Bowl Contest:
Recycle-Bowl is a free competition and benchmarking tool for k-12 school recycling programs to promote waste reduction activities. School recycling programs across the nation compete in a race to collect the most recyclables. This contest is open to both public and private schools. Last year, Kimball Elementary School in Ward 7 was a winner and received a $1000.00 prize.
Africans Against Cancer: 8th Annual 5K Walk-a-Thon
Join AWCAA and OAA for the 8th annual 5k Walk-A-Thon. Join the global fight against breast cancer, and bring a flag to represent your country of origin.
The Walk-A-Thon will take place on Saturday, September 15, 2012. Register now, at the link below!
For more information and registration, click here. AARP Experience Corps
AARP Experience Corps District of Columbia is looking for academic mentors who enjoy working with children and who are willing to volunteer 5 to 15 hours per week tutoring students who are struggling to read. If you are ready to help a child improve his or her reading skills, please contact: Stephanie Endsley at 202-434-6495 or sendsley@aarp.org
Want to submit something to the Newsletter? Here's how!
Submitting events and resources to the OAA newsletter is simple. The newsletter is distributed to over 4,000 subscribers every two weeks on Friday - the next newsletter will be sent out on Friday, August 3rd, 2012.
Think of where your event or resource might go - is it something people would like to attend? Then it would go in the You should go! portion of the newsletter. If it is a business-related event, it would go in the Business Square, and so on.
Please include the following event details: what, where, when, and provide a link to more information. We cannot include any events AFTER the newsletter deadline, which is Wednesday at 5pm, until the next newsletter. Therefore, please ensure your submissions are in the Wendesday 5pm deadline.
Send all materials, along with any questions, to oaa@dc.gov. |
