FW: Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs Meeting
Belay, Zerihun
FYI,
If there are people who would like to attend the Mayor’s Commission on African & Caribbean Immigrant Affairs meeting this coming Wednesday, February 8, 2012 at 6pm feel free to join us. Please read below for more information
Thank you so much
Zerihun Belay, MBA
General Manager
Parkway Corporation
150 N. Broad Street
Philadelphia, PA 19102
Phone: 215.640.3810
Fax: 215.636.9596
Email: ZBe...@parkwaycorp.com
From: Anjali....@Phila.Gov [mailto:Anjali....@Phila.Gov]
Sent: Monday, February 06, 2012 10:21 AM
To: Anjali....@phila.gov
Cc: vanessa1...@yahoo.com
Subject: Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs Meeting
Good morning Members and Friends of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs,
Below is the agenda for our monthly meeting this Wednesday, February 8, 2012. Please take note the location will be at the African American Museum of Philadelphia in honor of Black History Month. Thank you very much and we hope to see you on Wednesday evening.
February 3, 2012
To: All Members, Mayor’s Commission of African and Caribbean Affairs
From: Stanley L. Straughter, Chairman, and Honorary Consul of the Republic of
Guinea
Subject: Commission Meeting, Wednesday, February 8, 2012
When: Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Where: City Hall
Council Chambers Room 401
Broad & Market Street
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Time: 6:00 pm – 8:00 pm
The 2012 year has already started with the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs engaged in a number of major initiatives for our constituents. In January, we commemorated the tragic earthquake that destroyed Haiti on January 12, 2010. The African and Caribbean Business Council hosted a major initiative on trade at the Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce with four Ambassadors participating. Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell and Kevin Dow, Chief Operating Office of the Commerce Department addressed the sold out audience. The Commission in collaboration with the Wharton SBDC, hosted a workshop in the African Diaspora Marketplace Business Plan Competition. Thanks to Director, Dr. Therese Flaherty, the Wharton SBDC is providing technical assistance to individuals in the preparation of a business plan.
February is Black History Month and to commemorate the contribution of black people to the United States, the Commission’s meeting for February will be hosted at the historic African American Museum in Philadelphia (AAMP). AAMP under leadership of one of our members, Ms. Roma Risco Benson, is President this great cultural institutions in Philadelphia. It’s an honor to hold the commission meeting at the AAMP again. AAMP is celebrating its 36th anniversary this year. The details will be announced soon. I hope you wil take time to see the wonderful exhibits during our meeting.
Several special guests will join us this month with an interest in forming a partnership with the commission. The guests include:
Ms. Joi M. Hopkins, MSWAssociate State Director, AARP. Ms. Hopkins is responsible for the AARP multicultural outreach. I have talked with her about the possibility of working with our community to develop initiatives for seniors within the African and Caribbean immigrant community. The AARP has many programs such as healthcare, financial education, etc. for seniors.
Reverend Bruce Lewandowski , CSR, Vicar for Cultural Ministries, Archdiocese of Philadelphia. Father Lewandowski has been invited to provide information of the multicultural initiatives supported by the Archdiocese of Philadelphia. The recent data suggests that the fastest growing community of the Catholic church around the world is Africans.
Mr. Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW Director, American Red Cross Emergency Service Program, has been invited to discuss the programs offered by the organization available to African and Caribbean families that have been confronted with a disaster. You might recall that the Red Cross was one of our partners in the Haitian Relief Initiative.
The Honorable Dr Alston Meade, Honorary Consul for Jamaica will join us to discuss the proposed activities planned for Philadelphia to celebrate the 50th Anniversary of their Independence. Dr. Meade has shared with me the fantastic activities being proposed by the community. I have asked him to share these activities with the full body.
The African National Congress (ANC) of the Republic of South Africa is celebrating its 100th Anniversary this year. We want to commemorate the historic work of the ANC and to our South African brothers living in the greater Philadelphia region from South Africa who have struck a major blow from racism, oppression and injustice for humanity.
This year, is the 50th Anniversary the Independence of Jamaica. Congratulations to our Jamaican community and we look forward to participating in the many activities being planned in Philadelphia this year. Also, we want to send our most sincere congratulations to her Excellency Portia Simpson-Miller, newly elected Prime Minister of Jamaica. In collaboration with Dr. Alston, Meade, Honorary Consul, the Prime Minister will be invited to Philadelphia this year.
Our brothers and sisters in the Liberian community are to be congratulated for the election and inauguration of her Excellency Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf as President of the Republic of Liberia. This historic election will contribute to the exciting economic growth taking place in Liberia. In 2012, the commission signed an MOU with the Mayor of Monrovia. As a follow up, the commission is organizing a consortium with colleges and universities in the Philadelphia region to help in the rehabilitation of the education system in Liberia.
As you know, 2012 is a Presidential election year. Many of us are beginning to organize and volunteer our efforts towards the elections. I hope you are giving consideration to the electoral process. Also, in Philadelphia, there are several local elections you should be aware of and I hope you plan to be engaged in the elections. From time to time, Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell will invite the candidates to the commission meeting.
Don’t forget that Dr. Camille Ragin at the Fox Chase Cancer Center will begin the first meetings of the Consortium for cancer prevention in mandatory populations (CCMP) in February. This project was developed in collaboration with the commission and many healthcare providers. If you or your organization has not signed an MOU with Fox Chase Center, please take time to do so.
Councilwoman Blackwell, Chair of the City Council Committee on Education, continues to meet with the School District of Philadelphia and the leadership of charter schools in Philadelphia. She will speak about education and our children in the school system. All children and their families will be impacted by the proposed changes taking place in the system.
Finally, don’t forget to sign up your project for the African Diaspora Market Place (ADM). All projects should be registered on the ADM II website. You could win up to 100,000 in cash and technical assistance for your business idea or expansion in Africa.
Don’t forget to organize your community to register to vote in the local and presidential elections of 2012 and Happy Black History Month.
Sincerely,
Stanley L. Straughter, Chairman
Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs
City Hall Room 408
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Tel: (215) 817-9887
Email: SLStra...@verizon.net
Commission Meeting Schedule 2011
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Wednesday, March 7, 2012
Wednesday, April 11, 2012
Wednesday, May 9, 2012
Wednesday, June 6, 2012
Wednesday, July 11, 2012
August: No Meeting
Wednesday, September 12. 2012
Wednesday, October 10, 2012
Wednesday, November 7, 2012
Wednesday, December 12, 2012
AGENDA
When: FEBRUARY MEETING CANCELLED
Where: African American Museum in Philadelphia
701 Arch Street
Philadelphia, PA. 19106
Time: 6:00 pm to 8:00 pm
Opening Remarks
Stanley L. Straughter, Chairman and Honorary Consul The Republic of Guinea
Dolores Mohammed, Vice chairman
Honorable Jannie L. Blackwell, City Council of Philadelphia
Introduction of Guests
Welcome Roma Risco Benson, President of African American Museum in Philadelphia.
Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell will speak on 2012 local and Presidential electoral process and the ongoing issues with the Philadelphia Public and Charter Schools.
Honorable Dr. Alston Meade, honorable Consul of Jamaica will speak on the 50th Anniversary Celebration for Jamaica in Philadelphia.
Chad Dion Lassiter, MSW Director American Red Cross. Mr. Lassiter is the Director of Recovery and emergency Services.
Joi M. Hopkins, MSW, Associate State Director AARP of Pennsylvania Multicultural Outreach. Ms. Hopkins has expressed an interest in working with the seniors in the African and Caribbean Immigrant Community. She will provide information on the many offered by AARP to seniors.
Reverend Bruce Lewandowski , CSR, Vicar for cultural ministries, archdiocese of Philadelphia. Father Lewandowski will share with us the role of his office and how he can work with the African and Caribbean community.
Tracy Tann, Sr., Spectrum Health Services, Inc. Spectrum has received a grant to provide access to healthcare to the immigrant community in Philadelphia. I have asked Mr. Tann to explain how this program will benefit the African Caribbean immigrant community and their families.
Rhashidah Perry – Jones, Director of Institutional Communications, Kimmel Center of Performing Arts, the Kimmel Center is interested in reaching out to the African and Caribbean immigrant community. The Commission worked with the Kimmel Center to bring to Philadelphia the South African group LadySmith Black Mambazo and the great Senegalese artist Youssef N’Dour.
Numa Saint Louis – Candidate for State Representative, District 202
Special Reports
Chairman’s is to report on the African Diaspora Market Place II.
Dr. Vera Tolbert, President, Conlition of African Organizations (CAFRI COM)
Dr. Aarka Arylam, African and Caribbean Concil (ACBC)
Sam Osirisim- Nigerian People’s Forum
Committee Reports
Committee Chairpersons
Business & Trade Dr. Azuka Anyiam
Art &Culture Lois Fernandez & Romona Riscoe
Benson
Health & Human Services Raphia Noumbissi
Housing & Economic Development
Education Dr. Darlene Thompson, Pat Mitchell- Keita Doe
Legal & Immigration Honorable Dr. Alston Meade &
Lansana Koroma
Public Relations Sophia Scott
Children & Youth Carol Bangura & Sena Owerko
Anjali Chainani, MPH, MSW
Director of Legislation & Special Events
Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell's Office
City Hall, Room 408
Philadelphia, PA 19107
Phone: (215) 686 - 3418/3419
Fax: (215) 686- 1933
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