OAA News and Events 6.10.11

Mayor’s Office on African Affairs      
List Serv
June 10, 2011
                                                                                                                                                     
AT-A-GLANCE:

You Should Know:
 

• Calling all DC Area African Bloggers! OAA is looking for you!
•  OAA seeks vendors, performers, and volunteers for the 2nd Annual D.C. Africa Festival!
•  CALABASH TIME: Learn techniques to play traditional kpanlogo drum, a-go-go bell, and  marakesh shaker.
•  The Afro-Brazilian Arts & Cultural Heritage Festival 
•  
  You Should Go:  
•  Dawn of a Substantive New Era: African Community and Prince George's County Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships
•  Sisterspace And Books Presents Kola Boof (Author, Poet, Activist)
•  5th Annual AIRF Awards Ceremony and Youth Talent Showcase
•  OAA Invites Community Leaders and CBOs to a Brown Bag Discussion About Grants and Funding!
•  Financial Management Seminar: An inside look into the Commercial lending process
• Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic
•  2nd Annual DC Africa Festival: “One City, Many Voices: Showcasing Africa’s Cultural and Economic contributions to the District of Columbia”

 
 
                                                                                                      
You Should Know:
To submit your event or job announcements, please send it to Oaa@dc.gov by 2:00 PM Thursday!
 Calling all DC Area African Bloggers! OAA is looking for you!
 
A new feature of this year’s Africa Festival will be the African Blogger Exhibition:  OAA will wants to showcase the active African blogsphere in the area. In OAA’s “Blogger Village,” bloggers will be able to showcase Africa-related blog topics, promote their blogs, and network with one another. If you are a blogger and are interested in participating in this event, please send your contact information as well as a link to your blog to OAA@dc.gov.
 
 
OAA seeks vendors, performers, and volunteers for the 2nd Annual D.C. Africa Festival!
 
The Mayor’s Office on African Affairs (OAA) is hosting the 2nd Annual D.C. Africa Festival. Following the success of last year’s event, we are pleased once again to showcase and highlight African culture and communities in the District of Columbia. The event will be held on July 16, 2011 at Takoma Recreation Center (4th & Whittier/Van Buren) from 12-6pm. This festival will be free and open to the public.
 
This year our theme will be “One City, Many Voices: showcasing Africa’s cultural and economic contributions to the District of Columbia.” This year, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs will kick off a new initiative: We Count! : A survey of African-owned business, organizations and residents of the District of Columbia. The information we collect will be used to improve our overall community outreach efforts and to heighten our presence in the District.
OAA invites vendors, performers, and community-based organizations who would like to have a table to contact the office. If you are interested, please email your name, the contact information for business or organization, and the items that you would like to sell. Please send your email with the subject line:  DC AFRICA FEST 2011 VENDOR/PERFORMER/COMMUNITY BASED. Please send this information to OAA@dc.gov.
 
OAA also invites those who are interested in volunteering for the event to send your name, phone number, and email address to OAA@dc.gov. Please send your email with the subject line: DC AFRICA FEST 2011 VOLUNTEER.
 
CALABASH TIME: Learn techniques to play traditional kpanlogo drum, a-go-go bell, and marakesh shaker
 
What:    BRING YOUR CALABASH - GHANAIAN RHYTHMS and SONGS with KWEKU
 

Info:    BRING YOUR CALABASH is an exploration of the unique rhythms and songs of Ghana, West Africa brought to you by Ghana's own Kweku Owusu. These rhythms originate from the Ga and Asante tribes of Ghana who live along the coast. The rhythms form the basis for traditional hi-life music, and are played for festivals of all kinds.

     

You will learn techniques to play traditional kpanlogo drum, a-go-go bell, and marakesh shaker. Kpanlogo drums are available first come, first served. Feel free to bring your own conga (most similar to kpanlogo) or djembe drum.

 

Michael Kweku Owusu is an artist and craftsman from Accra, Ghana who has spent the last 10 years of his life studying traditional West African drumming, building traditional drums, and working with impoverished children in the Arts Center - a constructed community where some of Ghana's most talented artists and craftspeople live and work. In 2007, Kweku founded Drumming Up From Poverty, whose mission is to unite talented artists and craftspeople to develop and share their artistry while building support for street children. Kweku supports this mission by teaching the traditional rhythms and songs of his country, and selling his hand carved drums.

 
 
When: MONDAYS for 7 weeks: May 9- June 20.
 
Time: 7-8:30 p.m.
 
Where: the New Sewell Music Conservatory, 712 Kennedy St NW. 10 minute bus ride from Takoma Station (62 bus) or Ft Totten Station (E2 bus).
 
Cost:     $20 per session, check or cash

Contact: vibrationking@yahoo.com or call 202-375-9110

 
The Afro-Brazilian Arts & Cultural Heritage Festival
 
The Afro-Brazilian Arts & Cultural Heritage Festival [http://www.afrobrazilfest.com] is a week-long event held June 7-12, 2011 in Washington, DC celebrating the vibrant Afro-Brazilian cultural heritage. The festival is brought to you by CapoeiraDC and Sambart Entertainment in partnership with the Brazilian Embassy and Consulate. The event features Capoeira, Samba, Maculele, Maracatu, Go-go, and West African dance and music performances and workshops; visual art exhibits; award winning documentary film screenings; panel discussions; and culinary demonstrations and tastings. Cultural arts access is one of the central pillars of CapoeiraDC's mission, thus the majority of the festivals activities will be free to the public.

'Like' the festival on facebook http://www.facebook.com/afrobrazilfest
 
You Should Go:

Friday, June 10, 2011

What:    Dawn of a Substantive New Era With Rushern Baker African Community and Prince George's County Strengthening Public-Private Partnerships "Making a Good County Great"

Info:    Join in Support of a Historic Milestone The African Community and Prince George's County Public Private Partnership of Essence

    For details on the Substantive, Pace Setting Program, go to:

http://continentalafricancommunity.org/PrinceGeorges.aspx

Where:Prince George's Ballroom

2411 Pinebrook Avenue, Landover, MD 20785

Time:    6pm

Reservations: 240-706-6885

Sunday, June 12, 2011

What:    Sisterspace And Books Presents Kola Boof (Author, Poet, Activist)

Info:    Kola Boof will be interviewed by Ajowa Ifateyo and Takada Harris.

Audience Q and A session will follow the interview.

Kola Boof is the author of several novels and poetry collections, including Flesh and the Devil and Nile River Woman. Her writing has appeared in Harper's and the story collection, Politically Inspired. Her autobiography, Diary of a Lost Girl, was published in 2006.

Time:    2:00 p.m. to 4:30 p.m.

Where:    Martin Luther King, Jr. Memorial Library

901 G Street NW, The Great Room, A-5

Subway stops: Metro Center and Gallery Place/Chinatown

 

Contact:SISTERSPACE AND BOOKS

3717 Georgia Avenue, NW

Washington, DC 20010 (Petworth Metro)

202-829-0306

WWW.SISTERSPACEDC.COM

Sisterspace1515@yahoo.com

Sunday, June 12, 2011

What: 5th Annual AIRF Awards Ceremony and Youth Talent Showcase

Info:     Please join the African Immigrant and Refugee Foundation and the students of the         Catching Up Program as they celebrate their accomplishments of the 2010-11 school year! The 5th Annual Awards Ceremony will honor and showcase the talents of students from Blair High School, Springbrook High School, Cardozo High School, White OakMiddle School and Eastern Middle School. We will be joined by a distinguished guest speaker Henok Tesfaye, and other distinguished leaders in our community. Acclaimed singer Loide Jorge will perform, and refreshments will be served. Please join us!!

When: 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.

Where:Silver Spring Civic Center

1 Veterans Place

Silver Spring, MD 20910

Purchase tickets online at Brown Paper Tickets.
General public tickets: $35*
*CUP alums please contact us for a discount code!
*Additional ticket prices will be offered online for those generous donors who wish to show their support to this extraordinary program.

Please share the link to purchase tickets with your friends: http://www.brownpapertickets.com/event/175896

If you can't make it, please consider making a tax-deductable donation at http://airfound.org

Tuesday, June 14, 2011

What:    Small Business Brief Advice Legal Clinic

Info:    Meet 1-on-1 With a Lawyer for Free!

Presented by the D.C. Bar Pro Bono Program and the Enhanced Business Information Center (e-Bic)

If you are an existing or aspiring small business owner, meet one-on-one with attorneys at this brief advice legal clinic. You can get answers to questions about business formation, contracts, leases, taxes or any other legal matters related to running a small business. Even if you do not have specific questions, come and tell us about your business for general advice. The attorneys may be able to address issues before they become problems! Please bring any documents relevant to the issues you wish to discuss.

    Language translation services are available upon request.

When:    5 pm – 7:30 pm

Where:    Enhanced Business Information Center (e-BIC)

Martin Luther King Jr. Memorial Library 901 G Street NW

Basement Floor: Room A-1

Closest Metro: Gallery Place

Contact: This is a walk-in clinic; however, if you wish to pre-register, call 202-737-4700, ext. 3357.

Tuesday,June 21, 2011

What:OAA Invites Community Leaders and CBOs to a Brown Bag Discussion About             Grants and Funding Opportunities!

Info:    The Mayor's Office on African Affairs (OAA) and the Office of Partnerships and Grant         Services (OPGS) invites community leaders and community based organizations for discussion     on various topics:

• identifying and securing local and federal funding sources and opportunities

• utilizing District resources including OPGS and the Grant Information Resource Center (GIRC)

• forming partnerships with other community based organizations in order to increase grant eligibility

Where:Office of Partnerships and Grant Services (OPGS)

300 E Street, NW

Washington, DC 20001

Time:    12 -2 pm

RSVP to OAA@dc.gov by Tuesday, June 14, 2011.

Contact: (202) 727-5634

June 21st, 2011

 
What:  Financial Management Seminar: An inside look into the Commercial lending process
 
Info:   What are the factors bank lenders consider when analyzing a commercial loan request?

Learn how to prepare a loan application, including required financial statements and business and operational plans.  This session is for both start-ups and existing business owners who are planning to approach a bank for commercial loan financing. Other topics will include credit scores and various types of collateral. Handouts should include SBA or bank personal financial statements and a PowerPoint on cash flow projections and the 5Cs. 

 
 
Time: 9:00 – 10:30am
 
Where: 506 9th Street, N.W. Washington, DC 20004
 
Reservation: to mlindsey@dcchamber.org or call 202-624-0607 for more information.
 

 

Saturday, July 16, 2011
What:     2nd Annual DC Africa Festival

Info:    This year our theme will be “One City, Many Voices: Showcasing Africa’s Cultural and Economic contributions to the District of Columbia.” The event will feature: A Parade of Flags, A Bead-Making Craft Section, A Flag Making Station, Face Painting Station, Live Art Canvass, Entertainment, Embassy Showings, An African Bloggers Exhibition, A Fashion Presentation, African Storytelling, Drum Jam Session, Art Vendors and Food Vendors. This year’s festival will promote the positive legacy of the African community by highlighting: talent, social and networking media, social entrepreneurism as a tool for the betterment of Africans in the Diaspora and Africa’s capability to compete in the global market. Additionally, the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs will kick off a new initiative: We Count! : A demographic survey of African-owned businesses, organizations and residents of the District of Columbia

    This event is free of charge and open to the public.

Where:    Takoma Community Center
    300 Van Buren Street, NW
    Washington, DC 20011

When:    12 pm- 6pm

For Info about Vending, Volunteer, and Entertainment Opportunities email: OAA@dc.gov