I NFORMATION | C OMMUNICATION | C OLLABORATION F RAMEWORK
A FRICAN
VIEWS
ANNUAL ISSUE #2—D ECEMBER 31, 2011
Y EAR - END
AFRICAN VIEWS ORGANIZATION We have reached the conclusion of an energizing year of work in communities at home and abroad. It has been an exciting and fruitful year. Our organization has been blessed with so many new developments as well as new friends. We have also lost some comrades along the way, and the first year run of our organization has been filled with challenges. But it is safe to say that AV has overcome the incubation stage. This newsletter provides a proper recap of African Views achievements and shortcomings in 2011, as well as our plans and agenda for 2012. Mr. Verdone joined African Views on June 15, 2011 with an agenda to help form a board. We have gathered a Picture: (Left) William A. Verdone, Chairman of the Board (right) Wale Idris Ajibade, Board of Advisors and Directors of the best pedigree. Executive Director, The AV Board is functional and has already started to African Views Organization deliberate on key decisions and policies that have successfully guided our organization in times of challenges. Every member of the board shares the vision of our organization and is committed to the realization of our goals, our growth, and our sustenance.
NEWSLETTER
S PECIAL
POINTS OF
INTEREST :
African Views Organization latest developments
Main Goals in 2011
Performance Review of our organization in 2011
Most memorable friends & colleagues we love and admire event in 2011
Collaborative Opportunities
I NSIDE
THIS ISSUE :
O UR APPRECIATIONS
O UR M AIN G OALS
IN
2011
African Views Organization was launched on June 15, 2010, and we had our first director’s meeting on June 15th, 2011. Prior to launching AV in 2010, our organization has already gone through two stages of development, namely architectural and engineering. We began focusing on building our organization’s operational capacity and networking at the beginning of 2011. Our main goals were to be relevant to the community, connect with institutions, get to know activists and other stakeholders working on African issues and human development programs both at the local and international levels. Our overall goal was to bring efficiency and dynamism into the non-profit sector, specifically into the efforts , methodology, and resources of stakeholders on African and Diaspora affairs. We began this process in 2010 and strengthened our position on these issues in 2011. Our guiding principles remain to be centered in the just and to strive for equal dignity of cultures. African Views logo by Leni Charles We shall continue to promote mutual respect and strengthen the cooperation of stakeholders for lasting peace. We believe that peace is the seed of growth, and happiness is its fruit. African Views holds its work to the to highest standard—without malice to anyone and cooperation with all forms of charity. 2011 was a successful beginning for AV.
O UR A CHIEVEMENTS O UR CHALLENGES O UR PROJECTS O UR PROGRAMS O UR PLANS O UR GOALS FOR 2012
A FRICAN
P AGE 2
VIEWS
O UR ACHIEVEMENTS IN 2011
Picture: Mildred Antenor; Wale Ajibade, Chris Camposr, Awardee (CC-FED) Award Night. December 15
C HALLENGES
IN
2011
The success of 2011 depended to a great extent on our cardinal principle of the equal dignity of cultures, mutual respect, and the strengthening of cooperation for sustainable peaceful growth. AV worked in collaboration with several individuals and organizations on various community projects. We also developed new programs for media advocacy, children cultural exchange programs, women’s education and empowerment, data services and capacity building for community leaders. We were honored to receive the African Diaspora Excellence and Community Awards presented by African Day Parade , courtesy of Mr. Mamadou Kone in partnership with the Office of Senator Bill Perkins on October 5th. AV was also presented with a Community Entrepreneur Outstanding Services Award by the committee of the Caribbean Council for Economic Development (CC-FED) on Dec.15, courtesy of Carmelo Garcia, Chris Campos, and Sheila Moses. Our greatest achievements in 2011 are the new relationships we gained. Our public audience rose from a mere 500 visitors daily to a stunning 10,000. We now have presence in 43 countries worldwide, and we added 2 new office locations in Ghana and Nigeria.
Some of the disappointment we faced in 2011 includes the fact that were short-staffed. Finding the right partners, getting enough volunteers and interns to support our operations was difficult. It could be argued that lack of funding was an issue, but we did not focus on fundraising in 2011. Although, our operation plan has an in-built economic capacity and collaborative opportunities, finding committed trustworthy partners and associates was our most important challenge.
F RIENDS
AND COLLEAGUES WE LOVE AND ADMIRE IN
T HROUGH
COLLABORATION , WE LEVERAGE THE COMPLEMENTARY EXPERTISE OF OUR PARTNERS TO ACHIEVE MUTUAL OBJECTIVES AND CREATE VALUE FOR THE COMMUNITIES WE SERVE .
Most memorable friends & colleagues we love and admire event in 2011: Diaspora Media Forum Conference on April 11 – 14, at the Pocantico Center of the Rockefeller Brothers Fund in NY. Organized by Center for Peace and Media Initiatives (CMPI) the website address is http:// www.cmpimedia.org
The event was a four day event marking the first ever gathering of Diaspora media organizations to form the Diaspora media forum. Accommodation and food paid for and regular meetings in closed quarters in a serene and tranquil environment. Toughest act to follow in 2011. THANK YOU! Dr. Uchenna Ekwo
2011
African Views is powered by people who are dedicated and working as partners to foster improvement in the quality of life and issues related to Africa, the Diaspora, and beyond. Through collaboration, we are able to leverage the expertise of our partners to achieve mutual objectives and gain much needed experience through our joint production of programs and projects. Some of the memorable events and organizations we worked with in 2011 includes the following: African Student Association of Lehman College (Ms Bolarinwa Okezie president); Give Sight Organization in Ecuador, helping to restore eye sight in rural Africa for free in February 18th; A Tribute to Flora Nwapa by Ugoji Adanma Eze Esq and Dr. Marie Linton Umeh on March 7th; Organizing the Bronx Week Parade and African Cup of Nations in Diaspora under the mandate of African Advisory Council (AAC) of the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz Jr by Famod Konneh Chairman AAC, Community Affairs Coordinator of Office of the Manhattan District Attorney; interdisciplinary conversation on agriculture and culture in Africa by Professor Albert Ayeni, Ph.D. Co-Director International Science and Education Rutgers University; immigration petition for relaxed rules on Africans by Institute of the Black World (IBW) Dr. Ron Daniels and Dr. Wadalba Stewart; Celebrate Cultural Diversity dedicated to Layla Love, with American Association of University Women Dr Madonna Agwu; Africa Day inaugural reception at the state building in Albany by Assembly Member Hakeem Jeffries, Spencer Chiimbwe and Moussa Drammeh of African Union Profiles; Michael Angelo’s Willie Lynch the story; African Day celebration by African Union Mrs. Miriam Omala, and Dr. Djibril Diallo, Senior adviser to the Executive Director of UNAIDS at United Nations; Essex County College African Studies Association’s 10th Anniversary By Dr. Akil Khalifani, World Mission Foundation’s 10th anniversary with Mr. Anthony Chima and Dr. Ada Okika/ Umuada Igbo UN women inauguration event; Mr. Jaron Eames on Jazz; African Day Parade, showcasing African values and cultural pride of Africans and Diaspora in New York, by Mamadou Kone; Action for Disabled Children by African Communities Development—Passyna Bula-Bula; CCFED, Side Walk University and many more...
ANNUAL ISSUE #2—D ECEMBER 31,
A FRICAN
P AGE 3
VIEWS PROJECTS AND PROGRAMS
AFRICAN CULTURAL EXCHANGE PROGRAMS AV Cultural Exchange Programs encourage cross-cultural understanding and collaboration by sharing the rich social and traditions of Africans in the world. The program includes a range of cultural exchange programs in visual arts, performing arts, film, arts education, presentation, workshops, and cultural studies. Individual programs in each of these disciplines are designed for different age groups: ACE for children/ ACE for youths/ ACE for adults. CULTURAL APPROACH TO VALUE BASED EDUCATION AND EMPOWERMENT AV is partnering with Sidewalk University to bring innovative approaches to reach and teach underserved populations whose lives and productivity may be greatly improved by learning capabilities and computers training. We are working with Sidewalk University’s president Mr. Andy Conrad Howell to collect and donate eye glasses to areas when it would make a difference if people could improve their sight through prescription glasses. STUDENT EXCHANGE AND STUDENT CHAPTER PROGRAMS AV facilitates opportunities offered by Helena Kaushik Women’s College in Rajasthan, India to young female students in the community as part of its student exchange program. Helena Kaushik Women’s College in Rajasthan India offers quality, affordable, and higher education degrees and certification programs in arts, science, technology, commerce, education, nursing, etc to international female students. Accommodation and food are made available at no additional cost at the college. This program is also one of the various opportunities available to AV Student Chapters. AV student chapter is a campus based collegiate AV association. Its purpose is to facilitate students with leadership development initiatives and global youth network for a much needed international collaboration at the community level. MEDIA ADVOCACY AV Media advocacy program is the core capability of our organization. We use strategic and innovative approaches to advocate, promote public debate, and generate community consensus through AVTV, AV radio, AMANDLA Newspapers, and the AV framework on the net. COLLABORATIVE COMMUNITY PROGRAMS This program is based on the common interest for improving and protecting the quality of life. The purpose is to get organizations and individuals in the community to work together on a shared vision and allows members to make decisions that incorporate the collective wisdom that makes efficient use of resources of the group and accurately reflects the strength and needs of the community.
N OTE OF APPRECIATION TO AV INTELLIGENCE TEAM AND PARTNERS Our sincere appreciation and gratitude to: Mr. William A. Verdone –Chairman of the Board, Mr. Andy Conrad Howell— Partner and Board Director, Mrs. Regina Askia Williams—Associate and Board Director, Mr. Ernest Kwabena Opong, Partner, Associate and Board Director, Mrs. Agnieszka Grzybowska—associate and Board Director, Mamadou Kone– Partner, Associate and Board Director, Nicole Johnson—Director of Student Affairs, Dr. Surendra Kaushik—Board Director, Dr. Ladi Owolabi— Partner, Mr. Folusho Obe– Partner, Ms Lauren Purcell— Direct of African Cultural Exchange Program for Children, Alex Wan—Framework code Developer, Charlene Oluremi Ajibade-Janecek—Creative Director, Mr. Charles Phillips—Director of IT intelligence, Ntiokam Divine—Director of Global Outreach and Board Director, Emmanuel Marfo-Country Director Ghana, Dr. Sorosh Roshan—Partner and host of Voices of Women, Kasandra Housley—Associate, Dr. Ralph Palau– Treasurer and Board Director, Ronald Berenbaum—Board Director, Oliver Mbamara—Board Director, Barrister Clement Chigbo— Director of Legal affairs and Board Director, Honorable Carmelo Garcia—Board Director, Wale Idris Ajibade—Executive Director and Board Director, Damilare Lawal, Dr. Obadina Adewale, Olumide Ojetunde, Lawrence Olatunji, and all our partners and colleagues at African Diaspora Association and African Diaspora Federal Credit Union, including Charles Cooper, Moussa Drammeh, Kelechi Onwuchekwa, Esq. Famod Kone, Arao Ameny, and the African communities leaders.
A BOUT
African Views (AV) is a nonprofit organization intent on facilitating dialogues, learning, and action on African development issues around the world. AV works in collaboration with accomplished professionals, minds and organizations from all over the globe advocating for the goals of safe, healthy, and prosperous societies. The AV framework consists of interdependent components such as strategic sharing of information on its AV radio programs, social media networks, workshops, print publications, conferences, written reports, AVTV, videos reports, directory of services, and community projects.
AFRICAN VIEWS 223 Park Avenue Garden Floor Hoboken, NJ 07030 Phone: 646-226-0262 Fax: 888-737-9853 E-mail: av@africanviews.org
WORK WITH US. FIND OUT MORE ABOUT US THE WEB !
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ON
AV uses its resources to support and promote initiatives and causes by other organizations and individuals to help understand and resolve the challenges faced by communities in today's world. The goals of our organization include generating and facilitating new ideas to overcome immediate and future challenges facing African and African Diaspora communities. To meet these goals, we strive to have each country well represented, based on a set of well established value indicators and through the help of country directors who provide information and access for each country.
WWW.AFRICANVIEWS.ORG INFORMATION | COMMUNICATION | COLLABORATION FRAMEWORK
GOALS FOR 2012 Our main goal for 2012 is the economic stability and sustainability of African Views Organization. We will keep you posted on our progress and hope you join our efforts in various capacities. We need all hands on the deck. We also urge you to visit the African Views framework and to help create as well as utilize the information, communication, and collaborative opportunities we provide.
powerment and capacity building. African Views has made data collection on this subject a clear priority for understanding and efficiency of stakeholder performance. We encourage all organizations, institutions, individuals running or engaged in sustainable development program related to Africa or African Diaspora to list their services on the AV framework. This way we can better coordinate, collaborate and share resources and capabilities.
One of the newly added features on the AV framework includes World News on AV. This is an unrivaled feature providing packaging and delivering value based information to you. One of our most important features is the Directory of Community Resources that we are about to launch in the new year. This resource can already be previewed on AV.
This self inclusion database features a self fill out forms and graphic opportunity services free of charge to nonprofit activities around the world. Be one of the first to list your services on what will eventually become a place where you can learn about amazing organizations and what they're working on!
No sensible progress can be undertaken without proper data documentation and ease of public access. One of the immediate challenges facing our communities is where to find and how to access resource data for em-
You can participate: as a Partner, Associate, Volunteer, Intern, Sponsor, Contributor to our programs. You can also donate to our organization. Please contact us if you are interested in supporting us.
HOW CAN YOU HELP?
Visit our website regularly, make sure that you are registered to stay informed about our activities. Note that we will be adding more radio programs in 2012. African Views welcomes agents of change and talent that will continue to bring new ideas, concepts and innovation. We invite scholars, knowledge seekers, travelers, entrepreneurs, investors and marketers to work with us as contributing partners or as volunteers. Please contact us directly to discuss your interest or talk directly to any of our associates. Thank you!