C H I E F E D I T O R ' S C O R N E R

It is with great pleasure and much enthusiasm that I write this letter on the publication of the African Whistle Magazine. The magazine is a product of a concept I nurtured for decades, after my own American dream became a reality.

As a newly arrived African immigrant in the US, and residing in a poorly resourced neighborhood, with a weak family and social support network, I faced numerous challenges. Being African, Nigerian, and married, there were certain cultural obstacles that made adjusting to life in America somewhat difficult at the beginning, especially as I started working, and had my first and second child.

It was a daunting task to navigate the seemingly complex educational, health and social service systems for myself and my family, due to the fact that I didn’t know about existing resources in the community I lived in, nor how to access available resources. I witnessed first hand the effects of living in low income, poorly resourced urban neighborhoods, and also witnessed youth and caregivers struggling to deal with mental health issues in very challenging circumstances.

Over the years, as I progressed in my career and education, my interests grew into an ardent need to develop and implement cutting edge, culturally responsive interventions and health programs that could address the health and mental health disparity faced by underserved urban populations of color, and specifically the African immigrant population. This desire was fueled, not only by my personal experiences, but also by the struggles of other African immigrant women, whom I encountered while serving as the women’s president at my local church. Prominent among their concerns were mental health challenges and the need for support and access to resources. A significant number exhibited symptoms of depression yet stayed away from seeking help due to shame and stigma. Even if seeking help was an option, they experienced difficulties navigating social services.

It was in this context that, during my postdoctoral training, I received a grant award from the National Institute on Minority Health and Health Disparity (NIMHD). A highly competitive award to implement a program that will improve the mental health knowledge and outcomes of African immigrant mothers. This effectively opened the door for me to deliver a program that was culturally and contextually relevant, and so I convened a community advisory board called, African Community Advisory Board (ACAB), consisting of key stakeholders in the African community to implement the program. Subsequently, the impact and success of the program further fueled my desire to establish a platform that would enable me do even more for our community – that is more community health promotion and education, grassroot mobilization, foster civic engagement, serve as a hub of resources, develop and implement culturally responsive programs, and foster collaboration to achieve the desired outcomes. And thus, the African International Collaborative Center - AICC - was born.

d how l was going to combine this laudable commitment I had made, with my job, but in the end, it was the experience I garnered from the various positions that I had held, and the wonderful people I worked with, notably my boss and mentor (till this day) at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, that put me in good stead for this challenge.

I had worked as an Adjunct Associate Professor at the New York University Silver School of Social Work, and concurrently as Research Assistant Professor at the McSilver Institute for Poverty Policy and Research, located within the New York University Silver School of Social Work. Prior to that, I was the Chief Program Officer and concurrently served as the Vice Chair of the McSilver Institute’s Community Collaborative Board (CCB). The CCB was a formalized partnership between key stakeholders within New York City urban communities and universitybased researchers, charged with overseeing a number of federally and locally funded programs. In the early stages of my career, I have served as Senior Project Coordinator at the Mount Sinai School of Medicine, and before this, worked as a Research Assistant at Columbia University School of Social work.

However, the push and the faith to go ahead and establish AICC came when my Boss moved to another city to serve in a bigger capacity, and I had to leave McSilver Institute where I had worked for about a decade. Nonetheless, I retained my role at the Silver School of Social Work, NYU and became Adjunct Assistant Professor.

Even after the establishment of AICC, I retained the African Community Advisory Board, ACAB, and we have been working to impact, educate, empower the community we serve ever since and achieving successful outcomes by the grace of God

It is important to point out that the AICC is a nonprofit, 501C3 community-based organization formed for the charitable purpose of promoting community health and education, African heritage and ethnic pride, unity in diversity, culturally responsive education and services, food security, civic engagement, empowering African women and youth for success, serving as a hub of resources and fostering collaborations with community and faith-based organizations, institutions and policy makers to build stronger and healthier African immigrant families and communities. Consequently, our mission is to empower African immigrant women and youth for success and to build stronger and healthier African immigrant families and communities.

We achieve this through initiatives and outreach efforts including for example, during and post COVID-19 pandemic, we were actively working in the community, informing and educating community members as well as distributing flyers, PPE, Thermometers (featured on NBC news) as well as disseminating covid-19 and other health related information via our social media platforms. At one point, it became clear that to achieve sustainability and to continue our efforts empowering, educating, and informing the community we serve in a culturally responsive way, it was necessary and important for the AICC to publish an ethnic, culture and community-centric quarterly magazine Hence African Whistle was born tle Magazine is meant to serve the African community as a source of information, community health promotion, education, empowerment as well as promoting African heritage and fostering civic engagement. However, it is also expected to appeal to other communities, irrespective of race, who may need a source for references on African culture, and other useful information it provides. The idea behind this is to promote unity in diversity, and racial harmony. Ultimately, our intention is to make the African Whistle Magazine a collector’s item on African traditions and culture.

I am thrilled by the overwhelming support from our ACAB members including: Angela Paulino, Ngozi, Lasbrey, Joyce Ifeakanwa Butler, Agnes Nzomene Foda, Omolola Onayinka, Ahmed Wahab, Dr. Ednah Madu, Evangelist Babalola, Dr. Grace Adepoju, Victoria, McEwen, Saran Doumbouya, Raphael Adewebi, Funmi Olarenwaju, Ada Oparugo, Chief Celine Orgy, Bridget Udeani, Aichata Bamba, Amarachi Ikuagwu, Edwidge Samou, Ijeoma Ohuabunwa, Audu Kadiri, Onyekachi Uga, Eno Awotoye, Grace Onuh, Uchenna Obasi, Olushola Oyelohunnu, Maureen Okafor, Jacynta Obi and Veronica Coker.

I am grateful for their commitment as they join me to give back to the community, touch lives and to ensure we reach greater heights

My gratitude also to AICC Nigeria team: Rakiya Idris, Manjadda Imah, Adams Ali, Suleiman Mahraja, Jarrad Armstrong, Rabi Ali, and Fiona Adams. I am so proud and appreciative to have them in my orbit.

AICC New York staff: Ngozi Lasbrey, Peter Adewusi, Victoria McEwen, Faith Ohakam, Bibiana Ikwu, Diomande Namizata, and Chinyere Osuji, I applaud you.

I am indebted to my beloved husband my biggest supporter, cheerleader, and backbone, Hon. Joseph Osuji, I can’t thank him enough.

And last but certainly not the least, my friends, my husband’s friends-smile, my sponsors, and partners/collaborators, many of whom are present at this joyous occasion I salute you and I thank you.