Amazing panel speakers entrepreneurs in Tech, Blockchain/Crypto Currency, Start-up in Africa, Finance, Fashion, and Economic Development along with distinguished staff from Governor Charlie Baker’s Office of International Trade & Business Development.

Comedian Hannibal Buress snuck in to the event and mingled in with the crowd, though he did not reveal himself as a celebrity  

Read below the agenda, and the 

               HARAMBEE POP UP:

AFRICAN  INNOVATION & BUILDING ECONOMIC CAPITAL

PANELISTS  & START UPS  INFO

Incredible Panel Discussions. Showcase of African Starts up.  Appetizers.  Resources. 

AGENDA: 

• • 5:30 pm: Networking. African Appetizers. Meet + Greet African Start ups

• 6:30 pm: Open Ceremony by Fairmount Innovation Lab + Consciously Exposed

• 6:45 pm: Progressive African Network Presentation by PAN Co-Founder Hashim Siraji
• 7:00 pm:  Discussions with Massachusetts Assistants of Business Development, international trade, leaders & Highly Talented African diaspora Innovators
• 7:45 pm:  Q&A
• 8:00 pm : Live Consultancy with experts about Business/ Investment Opportunity in Africa & African Diaspora Engagement
• 8:30 pm: Resources & Personal Call To Action
• 9:00 pm-  Wrapping up 

Speakers & Start ups Info:

Nam Pham – Governor Baker’s Assistant Secretary of Business Development & International Trade. Nam recently joined the Baker/Polito Administration as the Assistant Secretary of Business Development which oversees the Mass. Office of Business Development, Mass. Office of Travel and Tourism, Mass. Film Office and Mass. Office of International Trade & Investment.  Previously Nam was the CEO of Vietnamese American Initiative for Development (VietAID).

John R. Monteiro – Experts in doing business across Africa .  In addtion, After obtaining a BS in Civil Engineering from Tufts University, John Monteiro became a highly successful manufacturing engineer for Texas Instruments, Inc. He was responsible for conceiving, developing, and managing cost reduction programs resulting in millions of dollars of production cost savings. This success was derived from the principle of “Management by Objectives”. After four successful years in manufacturing, he started ASEC Corporation, a full-service engineering, land surveying, and construction management business that operated continuously for 30 years throughout New England 

Chris Jackson – President & Founder of SATSA the Sub-Saharan Africa Transnational Strategic Alliance! Your organization is an important resource for non-government organizations, small-to-medium enterprises and multi-national corporations in the United States that are interested in pursuing bilateral trade, infrastructure and economic development opportunities in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA).Through its experience and expertise, SATSA matches business needs that have been identified by African governments with U.S. companies capable of meeting those needs.

Curtis M. Jones, VP of Global Development /COO. Curtis is a Managing Director and VP of Global Development for Global Green Link Energy and Global Green Link Energy Africa Limited.  He is responsible for partnership and government relationships, domestic and international. Curtis is a talented and highly accomplished operations executive who has demonstrated the ability to lead diverse teams of professionals to new levels of success in a variety of highly competitive industries, cutting edge markets, and fast-paced environments. He brings outstanding technical and business qualifications to GGLE, and an impressive track record of more than 35 years of hands-on experience in business development, housing, community and economic development, renewable energy and project implementation management.Curtis holds a BS in Criminal Justice, and a Master of Education. He is a WK Kellogg Fellow, and a Salzburg Global Fellow. He is an expert in emergency disaster recovery and is certified in solar energy installation. He has expert knowledge in WTE management and operations; along with working with foreign governments and trade experts.Prior to founding Global Green Link Energy and GGLE Africa, Curtis was the President and CEO of Copley Global Services a US based VAR of medical, health and environmental technology.  Over his career, he has launched several companies and successful private business ventures.  His passion for Africa and the people of Kenya, is evidenced by his current work in Africa and his commitment  to find a solution to end the suffering of thousands of Kenyans who live and squeeze out a living from the dump called Dandora. His company GGLEA is one of a limited number of energy companies in Kenya and Africa. 

Hashim Siraji – Originally from Somalia, He is one of the  Co-Founder of Progressive African Network. Hashim is currently a technology entrepreneur, Co-Founder of a tech start-up based in Cambridge, MA. He is a long time Tech entrepreneur through his web development agency and a community organizer over the past 10 years working with youth primarily from Somalia in Boston’s Roxbury neighborhood. When he was 20, he co-founded Somali Alliance Against Tribalism, a youth organization for young adults to connect and make social change through sports and social awareness campaigns. The organization later evolved into United Somali Youth which he was also co-founder & President of United Somali Youth.  He is currently working for PAN to jump start entrepreneurs & start-ups in Africa and Emerging Markets to create pathways for social and economical mobility for aspiring individuals from least developed countries through entrepreneurship. Hashim’s mission is to provide a space for growth and development,  startup innovation and entrepreneurship to aspiring individuals as well along with training & support will create a capable and sustainable workforce of the future and more jobs for others.

Zaina Gonzalez, Founder of Zjajah Creation – Foot wear, Head Wrap, Crochet apparel, Fashion Accessories, Custom designs, Men’s Collection: https://zjajahcreation.biz

Hassan Hafiz Bakarr-Kanu Sr. – Hassan is the Co-Founder and CEO of Appsfrica, LLC., a Start Up Mobile App technology company for Africans by African that designs, develop & create Mobile Apps and Websites. Appsfrica Frica made history by launching Africa ‘s #1 Music Platform and App- known as Audiofrica. As they get ready to celebrate their 1 year anniversary July 29th for audiofrica, they will also be launching new App which is known as Ridefrica Technologies Inc. Which is a peer-to-peer ridesharing, food delivery, and transportation network that will headquared here in Massachusetts and looking to operate in cities and countries worldwide as we also focus in Africa. Ridefrica & Drivefrica are created for the African market and community. Their aim to provide safe rides to the community member and customer’s while also providing safe and reliable jobs to our community and driver’s.

Maarouf Barry, Co-Founder @ Eleis Farm  – Maarouf is a student, social entrepreneur, and design enthusiast. Lives in six countries & three continents . A powerhouse of his generation, incredible Social Entrepreneur by way of Guinée (Africa) who uses his entrepreneurial and leadership skills to advance building economic capital and women empowerment on the northeast coast of Guinea.

Toju Ometoruwa, Director of Marketing @ OWO Economy – Toju is also co-founder of Pazima (Powered by OWO). OWO  is a Crypto-Economy Platform designed to harness the economy, democratic activity, and currency of a global diasporic community by using Cryptography and Block Chain technologies. Its key objective is to remove the limitations of borders, high costs of financial transactions, sub optimal contracts, and collaborative investing among a diasporic group. With blockchain as its foundation, OWO enables a variety of applications for Peer2Peer Payments, Real Estate, Crowd Funding, Investments, Remittances, Foreign Exchange, Insurance and a host of others. OWO Coins can be spent, earned and exchanged like any other currency such as the US Dollar, Euros, Ethers and BitCoins

Tinu Bello, Author –  An Innovator and  science graduate who explores her love for the arts by moonlighting as a poet.  “Wirling in the Flames”  is a collection of poetry and prose about individuals living through the human experiences of love, discomfort and tragedy. The collection takes an unapologetic look at the reality that the human condition is nothing if not an emotional journey, and explores the power of love, and what it does to those who stumble into its grip. The pieces in this literary debut are choreographed to share the profundity of everyone’s dance through the fire that life invariably puts in our paths, and to remind us all that we are more fireproof than we think. Currently available in Kindle and paperback versions on Amazon (https://goo.gl/oS8wTu), and in paperback on Barnes & Noble (https://goo.gl/F1QKVU)

 Harambee (Pulling Together)

Visit Consciously Exposed: www.consciouslyexposed.net

Visit Fairmount Innovation Lab: www.fil594.org

What is OWO ? 

OWO is a Crypto-Economy Platform designed to harness the economy, democratic activity, and currency of a global diasporic community by using Cryptography and Block Chain technologies. Its key objective is to remove the limitations of borders, high costs of financial transactions, sub optimal contracts, and collaborative investing among a diasporic group. With blockchain as its foundation, OWO enables a variety of applications for Peer2Peer Payments, Real Estate, Crowd Funding, Investments, Remittances, Foreign Exchange, Insurance and a host of others. OWO Coins can be spent, earned and exchanged like any other currency such as the US Dollar, Euros, Ethers and BitCoins.

Mr. Toju Ometoruwa, pictured, Top, 3rd from the right.

Toju Ometoruwa is a Northeastern University alumni who has spent 5 years in the tech startup space working as a CEO, product manager, and marketing strategist. 
His interest in Blockchain and Cryptocurrencies led him to join OWO, a crypto economy that aims to economically empower communities across the African diaspora using Blockchain technology.

OWO will be launching soon. Check out their website to stay up to date. 

www.owoeconomy.com

Register because there’s only Two more days to Harambee (pull Together) @ The Fairmount Innovation Lab  This Thursday. 6pm-9pm. We have over 50 RSVP, Our network of PAN Experts and Affiliates are ready to do Harambee Pop Up from 6pm-9pm. Expect some delicious Fingers Food/Appetizers and Pop Up Stations :

“Incubation is a unique and highly flexible combination of business development processes, infrastructure and people, designed to nurture and grow new and small businesses by supporting them through early stages of development and change”- UK Business Incubation

Register here (FREE): https://www.eventbrite.com/e/african-innovation-space-harambee-pop-up-tickets-37426335176

PROGRESSIVE AFRICAN NETWORK (PAN) PRE-INCUBATION PROGRAM:

HARAMBEE POP UP– is a Pre- Incubation program gathering aspire African Diaspora Innovators, entrepreneurs, students, working professionals. HARAMBEE POP UP will be held on the 3rd Thursday of each month from 6pm-9pm organize by Progressive African Network in collaboration with Fairmount Innovation Lab in Dorchester MA.

PURPOSE OF HARAMBEE POP UP SERIES WILL BE : To network, provide mentorship and Infrastructure in the following areas :

• Sustainable Business Model
• Marketable Products/Services
• Understanding Type of Investors
• African Market Analysis
• Legal Resources
• Collective Marketing Advertising Directory in the Black Community
• Finance Raising: It Takes Money To Make Money
• Personal & Entrepreneurship Development

1ST HARAMBEE POP UP AGENDA:

6:00pm – 6:30pm: Networking & African Appetizers

6:30pm -6:45pm: PAN Updates & Collaboration with Fairmount Innovation Lab

6:45pm-7:30pm: How To Turn Your Idea Into A Product?

7:30pm- 7:45pm: Finance Raising: It Takes Money To Make Money

7:45pm-8pm: Collective Marketing Adverstising Directory Presentation

8pm-8:15pm: Personal Development & Doing Business In Africa

8:15pm-9:15pm: Networking & Closing Remarks

#HarambeePopup #PAN

Leonard Tshitenge
Co-Founder
Progressive African Network

www.ProAfricannet.org

www.linkedin.com/in/leonard-tshitenge
www.Facebook.com/ProAfricannet

C: 617 388 5659

E: [email protected]

E: [email protected]

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Teamwork does make the dream work. Thank you to the amazing Merveille Mankoto, President of Hult Women in Business Club and her team for co-hosting us at Hult Boston Campus. Also thank you to Hult International Business School for allowing us to use its space as well its staff for helping setup the event. Thank you to our vendors, the workshop presenters, our media and marketing partners, awesome volunteers. We are family, let’s push for more African Entrepreneurship and build together.

Here are some photos / videos from the event below – captured by our local sponsor Shine Eye Productions – Mr. Massabba Konpa – if you want awesome event photography and videography contact him at: https://www.facebook.com/Massabba/

                                     “From 2013 up to now, I serve 300 girls who are from one year to 12, among which 100 are homeless. I help them through healing process, education , entrepreneurship and protection. And I make sure to share my story with the victims of rape with the point of giving them hope and bring their smiles back.”  – Jocelyne Salam Sacerdoce, Human Right Activist, 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow

Progressive African Network welcomed Human Right Activist, 2016 Mandela Washington Fellow, Jocelyne Salama Sacerdoce as the Keynote Speaker to our 1st Annual Boston African Entrepreneurship Expo- the first of its kind here in Boston USA.  Additionally, PAN provided network opportunity for Jocelyne with couple African Diaspora groups and leaders. Her presence here in the United States was valuable and inspirational to many.  

•  PAN organized network opportunity for Jocelyne to meet with incredible and talented social entrepreneurs from Canopy City, a startup- and social impact- focused coworking space and incubator based in Somerville, Massachusetts; Lisbon, Portugal; Exeter, United Kingdom; and Beijing, ChinaCity Officials, State Representative
•  PAN organized  a one on one networking session with Katia Powell, the CEO/Founder of Black Girls Nutrition.
•   Mrs Jocelyne Salama Sacerdoce had the opportunity to meet and greet The National Society of Black Engineers’ (NSBE):  a 501(C)(3) non-profit association dedicated to the academic and professional success of African-American engineering students and professionals. + Greet CEO African Diaspora Leaders
•  PAN also organized networking session for Jocelyne to meet with  Boston Roundtable Diaspora Initiative Leaders                                

 Hashtag : #Panexpo17

Twitter Handle: @ProAfricanNet

Free to Attend through registration at Eventbrite: https://www.eventbrite.com/e/pan-african-entrepreneurship-expo-tickets-34402267107

Vendors + Sponsors Registration: http://www.proafricannet.org/vendors-sponsors-pan-entrepreneurship-expo/

PAN Entrepreneurship Expo 

Friday June 30th, 2017 3pm-8pm

@ Hult International Business School (1 Education St. Cambridge, MA 02141)

In partnership with Hult Women in Business Club @ Hult International Business School, Progressive African Network, Inc (PAN) Present:

PAN AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP EXPO:

#INNOVATING THE AFRICAN ENTREPRENEURSHIP SPIRIT

HOSTED BY: PROGRESSIVE AFRICAN NETWORK, INC (PAN) HULT WOMEN IN BUSINESS CLUB

SPONSORED BY : HULT WOMEN IN BUSINESS CLUB @HULT INTERNATIONAL BUSINESS SCHOOL.

* Networking. Live Skype with African Entrepreneurs in Africa. Vendors. African Appetizers. African Non- Alcoholic Beverages. Fun Breakout Sessions. Entrepreneurs Round Table Discussion *

• EVENT OVERVIEW: The focus of our Entrepreneurship Expo is to showcase early-stage entrepreneurs, student entrepreneurs, business owners and display African Diaspora talent and products.
• AGENDA:
• 2pm-2:45pm: Welcome. Registration. African Appetizers. African Beverages on a First Comes, First Served basis.
• 2:45pm-3:30pm: . 15 Minutes Fun Breakout Sessions Part 1 ( 3 Separate Rooms):

* Finance

* Marketing

* Self-Care For Entrepreneurs

3:30pm-4:15pm: Meet +Greet Vendors

4:15pm-5:00pm: 15 Minutes Fun Breakout Session Part 2 ( 3 Separate Rooms):

* Five Steps To Live Like An Entrepreneur 

* Tech Entrepreneurship

* Personal Development

5:00pm-5:30pm: Live Skype With African Entrepreneurs From The Continent of Africa

5:30pm-6:30pm: Keynote Address  with a International Special Guest Who is Human Rights & Advocate Entrepreneur. Theme: Innovating Hope Through Entrepreneurship: What are the obstacles to Entrepreneurial Growth in Africa & Across the African Diaspora world? What is the Plan/Call To Action?

• 6:30pm-7pm: Q&A, Concluding Remarks, Networking Until Closing.

Leonard Tshitenge

Co-Founder , Director of Events/Community Engagement
Progressive African Network, Inc. (PAN)

C: 617 388 5659 E: [email protected]
www.ProAfricannet.orgwww.linkedin.com/companies/Progressive-African-Network
www.Facebook.com/ProAfricannet | www.instagram.com/ProAfricanNet

“Education is the most powerful weapon which you can use to change the world.” – Nelson Mandela

Vendor + Sponsor Registration Form

Diaspora engagement and empowerment have emerged as central topics among African diaspora actors and diaspora studies institutions. There have been increasing calls to the U.S. administration to support human capacity development for an improved regional cooperation and integration in Africa, as well as facilitate linkages with African-Americans and Africans throughout the diaspora in support of development in Africa.  The African Diaspora Roundtable was convened around the increasing recognition that a sustained collaboration between the diaspora actors, policy makers and scholars is essential for developing a comprehensive strategy to engage and mobilize the African diaspora in support of major U.S.-Africa policy initiatives. Diaspora organizations are experts regarding the opportunities as well as challenges that are offered by their communities of origin, and should participate as equal and independent partners in policy-making processes.

The Diaspora Roundtable was introduced by its co-organizers Mr. Melvin Foote (Constituency for Africa), Dr. Wilfred Ngwa (Harvard Global Health Catalyst), and Dr. Daivi Rodima-Taylor (African Studies Center Diaspora Studies Initiative, BU) and attended by representatives of approximately 40 diaspora-related organizations and institutions.  The keynote speeches by Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, the African Union Permanent Representative to the United States, and Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of famed Pan-African leader Marcus Garvey, sent a powerful message of cooperation and unity and were instrumental in catalyzing productive discussions and the sharing of important strategic ideas around the topics of diaspora engagement.

Ambassador Chihombori Quao highlighted the need of the African diaspora to unite to successfully overcome its post-colonial heritage, and fully realize their potential as educated and productive members of the emerging transnational global community. She called for facilitating productive partnerships between the African Union and the diaspora through innovative networking and communication platforms, creating better opportunities for diaspora involvement in Africa’s development. Dr. Julius Garvey elaborated on the themes of unity and collaboration within the diaspora, illuminating the continued relevance of African culture, cosmology, and social institutions in the productive lives of Africans all over the world. He highlighted the need to facilitate institutional infrastructures that learn from and build on these holistic and innovative synergies between person and his or her social and ecological environment. Mr. Bo Machayo of The U.S. African Development Foundation emphasized the transformative role of diaspora investment in local African enterprises as a driver to creating peace and prosperity in the region. He expressed hope that the forum discussions lead to a more informed and efficient alignment of priorities between the diaspora community and African countries.

The Roundtable discussions focused on the strategies and policies of facilitating productive diaspora engagement for the development of the communities here and in Africa, and promoting inclusion and increased participation by the African diaspora in all aspects of U.S.-Africa engagement.  Attention was on the issues of diaspora organizing and networking, its economic, social and cultural contributions in the form of individual and collective remittances, diaspora investment and entrepreneurship, and the effects of diaspora activities to the formation of new transnational identities, institutions, and knowledge systems.  The Roundtable set forth an agenda to work towards building innovative platforms for more inclusive engagement of diaspora actors at the grassroots levels, as well as public and private sectors, including academia.

Prof. Wilfred Ngwa of Harvard Medical School highlighted the unique opportunities for diaspora collaboration and growth that were inspired by this gathering of diverse diaspora actors:  “The Swahili word Harambee, meaning ‘all pull together’, appropriately captures the historic meeting that took place at Harvard on April 27, 2017. We had the African Union Ambassador to the USA, Dr. Arikana Chihombori, representing the neo-diaspora; we had CFA president Melvin Foote, representing the African American Diaspora, we had Dr. Julius Garvey, son of legend Marcus Garvey representing the Diaspora from the Caribbean and elsewhere; and then we had Dr. Daivi Rodima-Taylor who is a venerable African at heart representing all those who may not appear African at first sight, but who champion the cause for a better Africa each day with all their heart and soul. For the first time, Africans in diaspora, regardless of their history, or background, or skin-color, pulled together as one: Africans in Diaspora (AiD) united for Africa.  I look forward to the policy recommendations from this meeting, and future meetings which will continue to grow and welcome participation from the diaspora for high impact on the ground in Africa. The Boston African Diaspora Engagement Roundtable also set the tone for the highly successful Global Health Catalyst summit from April 28-30, which included ministers of health from Africa, the new Director of the African Center for Disease Control (CDC) and many leaders from African Institutions who would benefit directly from AiD united for Africa, for sustainable impact in healthcare and development of local African communities.”

Mr. Melvin Foote, President and CEO of Constituency for Africa, pointed out that the Diaspora forum was highly successful: “The keynote addresses made by Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori, the African Union Permanent Representative to the United States and Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of famed Pan-African leader, the Honorable Marcus Garvey, were excellent and certainly set the tone for a wonderful discussion.  Our selection of participants, with an emphasis on real Diaspora leaders in the Boston area as well as from Washington and elsewhere, was also unique and elevated the importance of the meeting.  The room was full of ‘stakeholders’.”  Mr. Foote also emphasized the great demand for collaborative follow-up activities that became evident at the Forum: “In this regards, while the collaboration of CFA/Harvard University and Boston University was critical in organizing the Diaspora forum, the follow-up will be predicated on the emergence of a strong coalition of some of the leaders who attended on Thursday, to take the lead in helping to set goals, to work out a good strategy and to organize the follow-up.  I think that we can help to forge the Boston coalition, which would constitute a step forward.  Without a coalition everyone will continue to approach the work in a fragmented and piecemeal fashion — competing and contradicting one another.”

The Roundtable participants highlighted the role of the forum in providing an empowering venue for diverse diaspora actors and organizations in facilitating discussions about the challenges and potentials around the issues of diaspora engagement, organization, and cooperation.  Ms. Emma Orefuwa (CORDS/London, U.K.) remarked: “The Boston Diaspora roundtable was a great opportunity to learn about various diaspora led initiatives occurring in the US, and exchange ideas with other like minded individuals on how to address common challenges faced by diaspora with regards to mobilising and organising resources for development activities.  An important issue raised was the lack of structured pathways for engagement with the continent, in particular for younger generations of diaspora.  I look forward to strengthening links between U.S. and U.K. diaspora in order to maximise the collective impact of the diaspora towards the development of the African continent.”

Mr. Amadu Massally, Sierra Leone Diaspora Organizer, stated that the African Diaspora can be seen as Africa’s greatest offshore asset as it can bring both financial resources and professional competencies to their home communities in Africa.  He added: “But it is evident that more needs to be done to make information, resources and possibilities more accessible to diaspora members as well as to African countries seeking diaspora resources. Diaspora still often lacks a voice to speak on their collective objectives due to trust issues and divisive practices found in ethnicity and nationalism.”  Based on his years of experience as a diaspora activist, organizer, and consultant to numerous diaspora oriented development initiatives, Mr. Massally pointed out that there is a lack of a proven methodology to engage the diaspora based on informed research, and diaspora-oriented policies and ideas are often not adequately vetted by the very people who they are seeking to engage. He expressed his hope that the new collaborative ties that were forged between diaspora leaders, activists, academics, and policy makers at the Diaspora Roundtable would catalyze a more participatory and inclusive engagement that brings together people of African heritage and origin both nationally and globally.

Leonard Tshitenge – Co-Founder of Progressive African Network

Mr. Leonard Tshitenge, the Boston based American Congolese poet, activist-intellectual,  and co-founder of the Progressive African Network,  said that the forum was incredibly well-organized and enabled powerful engagement, re-fueling his passion and energy to continue the diaspora work that he does in the Boston area and beyond. His key take-away’s from the roundtable discussions included the need to develop a system of dialogue and solidarity among various African diaspora organizations and create visibility to promote community partnerships and bring together diaspora voices and talents. The creation of such communication platforms should attempt to address the needs of recent African immigrants as well as all Americans of African heritage and build more unity and cooperation among the diaspora, said Mr. Tshitenge.  Mr. Ahmadou Balde of the African Bridge Network added, “The African Diaspora Roundtable initiated a new spirit of dialogue among different members of the diaspora and reminded us the necessity to build bridges to leverage the strength of the diaspora.”

Ms. Yvette Modestin (Encuentro Diaspora Afro; Network of Afrolatinamerican Women; ARAAC EEUU) stated that she found very relevant the questions posed by Ambassador Chihombori Quao about the African diaspora post-colonial heritage that tends to be perpetuated in social boundaries as well as the boundaries of the mind: “As an African-American woman from the Americas, my response is that we should try to establish better communication between different diaspora groups.  We should not allow the structures and languages imposed by colonization to create deeper boundaries between us. There are 200 million people of African descent in Latin America and the Caribbean. These communities are deeply connected to their African roots and many have retained their African traditions. It is time to build a unified African agenda that includes Latin America and the Caribbean. ARAAC EEUU looks to work with those in attendance to build that agenda that would help liberate all of our communities.”

Dr. Daivi Rodima-Taylor of the BU ASC Diaspora Studies Initiative added: “We want to thank all of the participants for making the wonderful African Diaspora roundtable event possible, and facilitating the gathering of so many people committed to the activism and study around the issues of the African Diaspora.  Our special gratitude goes to our keynote speakers Ambassador Dr. Arikana Chihombori Quao, the African Union Permanent Representative to the United States, and Dr. Julius Garvey, the son of famed Pan-African leader Marcus Garvey. These keynotes that sent a powerful message of cooperation and unity were instrumental in catalyzing the following session of productive discussions and important strategic ideas around the topics of African diaspora engagement.  The Roundtable conversations gave rise to important new ideas for building innovative institutional and technological platforms for more inclusive engagement of diaspora actors at the grassroots levels. We were particularly happy to see so many diaspora leaders and activists in the room – from Boston, Washington, and other places as far as Texas.  Special thanks go to our co-organizers and partners from Harvard University (Prof. Wilfred Ngwa) and Constituency for Africa (Mr. Melvin Foote), and we hope to continue our collaboration in providing facilitation towards an emergence of a strong coalition of diaspora leaders, activists, and researchers, in collaboration with the African Union.”

African Diaspora issues were also explored via visual medium as the Roundtable included a pre-screening of the upcoming documentary by Cote d’Ivoirean-American film-maker Zadi Zokou, “Black n’ Black”, exploring tensions and misconceptions but also common agenda between recent African immigrants and Americans of African heritage. The film emphasized that mutual learning and communication would help understand how contemporary African immigrants may benefit from the historical struggles of African Americans, debunk stereotypes and misconceptions, and explain the strategic need to unite to further common economic and political interests. The preview of the film catalyzed a lively debate among the Roundtable audience. Mr. Zokou noted that he loved the reaction of the people to the film and their willingness to engage in the discussion, and expressed his hope that the film will inspire broader fruitful debates and conversations.

Previous events facilitated by the Boston University Diaspora Studies Initiative around diaspora engagement topics include the Diaspora Networking and Fundraising Workshop that took place in December 2016.

This article was pulled from Boston University’s Pardee School of Global Studies African Studies Center’s website.
See source: http://www.bu.edu/africa/resources/dis/the-african-union-constituency-for-africa-boston-university-and-harvard-university-unite-around-african-diaspora-engagement/