African Immigrant Community Coalition Building Forum, Session II

A two-part forum exploring the question "Does the African immigrant community need a national umbrella organization?"

Saturday, May 19, 2007
10:00 AM - 3:00 PM
Room 2270
Public Policy Bldg.
(enter campus at Hilgard Ave. & Wyton Dr.)
Los Angeles, CA 90095

In recent years, there has been an explosive growth in the number of African immigrant organizations and individuals interested in and working on issues affecting Africans in the United States. The salience of these issues and the inadequate capacities of these organizations to meet the diverse needs of the ever-growing African immigrant population are now apparent. Despite their abundance and growing visibility, these practitioners face daunting hurdles, including inadequate capacity, inadequate access to technical and financial assistance and resources (including investment capital), becoming competitive among other immigrant groups, etc. As the success of these organizations depends on the vitality of on-the-ground efforts, it is critical to address these challenges. With the endorsement of Ford Foundation, The African Federation, inc. was formed to serve as a national umbrella, intermediary organization that would:
- Assist in building strong organizations that are effective in program delivery and meet the increasing needs of the African community in the United States
- Create a forum to discuss pressing issues of concern to the African immigrant, African Diaspora and the continent
- Provide a clearinghouse for information of concern to the African Diaspora and policy matters in both the United States and Africa
- Bring the African immigrant community together to seek resources and promote cooperation beyond, national, ethnic, and gender basis

Please join a meeting convened to:
- Scope out the need for and discuss the feasibility of establishing an national intermediary organization
- Explore alternative models and structure for the umbrella organization
- Discuss participatory planning processes to assess and further develop next steps

Special Instructions

Parking is available in Lot 3 for $8. Enter campus at Hilgard Ave. and Wyton Dr., purchase parking pass at kiosk there and proceed to lot 3.

For more information please contact:

James S. ColemanAfrican Studies Center

africa@international.ucla.edu

www.international.ucla.edu/africa

Sponsor(s): African Studies Center, USA for Africa, The African Federation, Inc., UCLA African Activist Association.