AIB hosts Hakuna Matata Sunday’s networking event at the Rhino Lounge in Waltham

February 24, 2019 @ 5:00 pm – 7:00 pm 

Who was there?
AIB Management team and members

What was the event about?
AIB’s Hakuna Matata Sundays a monthly social mixer & networking event. Its focus is towards a diverse group including Africans and friends of Africans (students, young professionals, entrepreneurs, business people, etc.)

About this event:

  • Meet African Diaspora community organizations in the Boston area
  • Learn about the work done by each community organization to empower people of African decent
  • Increases feelings of connectedness –you never know there’s always an answer or person out there to bring us back to a world of positive change
  • Learn more about AIB’s Launch “African Diaspora Federal Credit Union”
  • Sample authentic African cuisine

Where did the event take place?
Rhino Restaurant and Lounge 
11 Cooper St.
Waltham, MA 02453

Website: https://rhino-lounge.com/

Homebuying and Finance Seminar in Lexington, MA

Kevin Murphy, HomeBridge Financial Services Mortgage Loan Originator
Voury Ignegongba, AiB President
Ken Tlagae, Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices N.E. Prime Properties Real Estate Agent

Lexington, Massachusetts  – February 24th 2019

Africans in Boston in collaboration with the Lexington office of Berkshire Hathaway Homeservices N.E. Prime Properties held a homebuying seminar and finance seminar. AiB President Voury Ignegongba highlighted a few items on the AiB agenda such as the Book of Lists for businesses and the Diaspora Credit Union Initiative as an introduction.  Kevin Murphy and Ken Tlagae then went over the the loan process agenda, rates, financing programs options, finding the right home process, purchase and closings procedures. The session ended with the 12+ participants enjoying some food and light refreshments.

The seminar was organized by AiB Event Officer Nampeera Lugira, Berkshire Hathaway Homerservies N.E. Prime Properties Lexingtion team Realtor Ken Tlagae and Office manager Clara Paik. Food and refreshments were provided by Kevin Murphy, Home Bridge Financial Services.

 

Chadians in Boston and AiB members meet with Mr. Succes Masra, founder of “Les Transformateurs”

Boston, Massachusetts –  February 8th 2019

Chadians in the area and AiB members met Mr. Succes Masra at the Double Tree Hotel by Hilton on Soldiers Field road in Boston.  Mr. Succes Masra, a former economist at the African Development Bank is a Chadian leader of the movement “Les Transformateurs” that aims to transform Chad and Africa with a new leardership mindset that put more emphasis on development metrics in Chad and Africa. Mr. Succes Masra made an assessment of the current political and economic climate in Chad and explained the vision of his movement “Les Transformateurs” and his hope for Chad and Africa. The 14 participants then engaged in a Q&A and photo shoot session with the young Chadian leader  that came to Boston to attend a graduation ceremony for an executive leadership program at Harvard he was invited to attend.

 

 

To learn more about Succes Masra and his movement, please visit:

http://www.transformateurstchad.africa/

http://www.succesmasra.africa/

 

 

 

 

Shabbat Tzedek Service with Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley

    

Diaspora Credit Union 2020 Initiative Director Ethel Kawesa, Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley, Susan Lawrence, AiB members Irene Nakabonge
and Miriam K Thomas

Boston, Massachusetts – January 18th 2019

AiB Diaspora Credit Union 2020 Initiative Director Ethel Kawesa, AiB members Irene Nakabonge and Miriam K.Thomas attended Shabbat Tzedek Service Honoring Dr. Martin King King Jr.  on Friday, January 18, 2019. A Shabat of Justice dedicated to the vision of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr.  Was held at   the Temple of Israel from 6pm- 9pm on Friday January 18, located at 447 Longwood Avenue in Boston. A Blessing of welcome to the Shabbat Tzedek, Sabbath of Justice- A service  inspired by the values and legacy of Rev. Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. An inspiring service was delivered by Rabbi Mathew V. Soffer, Temple Israel

Temple of Israel Welcomes Congresswoman Ayanna Pressley. She was received by over 300 people listening to her pursuit on racial social and economic justice and the council’s history of Inspiring achievements: The first black woman elected in the Boston City council, the first black woman to represent our commonwealth and a hero to the city of Boston and New England. Council gives a shout out to all leaders in the community fighting for the underserved communities and  promoting economic justice initiatives. Council calls on all those targeted by racial discrimination and bigotry to let them know that we are not alone and that we are surrounded by the community.

AiB is  proud to support and share the same values as other inspiring leaders in uplifting and promoting unity in our communities.

ADL’s 2019 “A Nation of Immigrants” Community Seder

  
Boston, Massachusetts – January 17th 2019
Africans in Boston Executive Director, Ms. Vivian Kobusingye Birchall and Africans in Boston Board Member, Mr. George Isaac Wilson Balinda participated in the first “A Nation of Immigrants” Community Seder Planning Committee Meeting that was held on  Thursday, January 17th from 12:00 pm – 1:00 pm at the Anti-Defamation League’s office located at 40 Court Street, 12th Floor, Boston, MA 02108. For the past eleven years, Anti- Defamation League (ADL) New England has hosted “A Nation of Immigrants” Community Seder in Boston to draw attention to the universal Passover themes of hope, liberation, and freedom as they apply to all immigrant communities.
The 12th “A Nation of Immigrants” Community Seder will be held on Sunday, March 24th at 3:00 p.m. at UMass Boston.
Africans in Boston Inc. is an organization that fosters the socio-economic and educational development of its members by offering a platform that connects the African Diaspora in the greater Boston area and in the state of Massachusetts. Founded in 2010, the organization provides various resources by enriching community members lives through: programs, services, and events that educate, entertain, foster business relationships and good citizenship.

AiB Featured on Audiofrica

    

Brockton, Massachusetts – Friday January 11th 2019

Africans in Boston’s Executive Director, Ms. Vivian Kobusingye Birchall was hosted by “Supo Kay” and “Dj JD” on Audiofrica’s radio talk show at their studio in Brockton, Massachusetts. She highlighted the different programs, partnerships and activities at Africans in Boston and urged all African diaspora and friends of Africa to join Africans in Boston as members and partners to bridge the gap for socio-economic development.
This appearance is one of a series of Africans in Boston’s community outreach programs, aimed at increasing the community’s awareness of the on-going programs and activities, and mobilizing the human resources needed to meet the goals that have been laid down by the organization.
Africans in Boston thank the Audiofrica team for providing the organization with a platform to reach out to their listeners, online streaming viewers and look forward to continued partnership.

2018 African Diaspora Retreat in Baltimore, MD

         
H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao and Christian Bisimwa – President, Diaspora credit Union 2020 at the African Diaspora Retreat Meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, December 20, 2018.

This year’s African Diaspora Retreat Meeting took place on December 20, at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore. The African Union Representational Mission to the United States of America, Washington, D.C., and it’s Permanent Representative, H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao hosted the meeting. Members of the African Diaspora resident in the Americas (United States, Canada, The Caribbean, Southern America, and Central America); government officials; Brussels, Geneva, and New York office representatives, High profile African groups, and Industrial Bank Officials attended. AIB President Voury Ignegongba was among those who participated as a presenter at the event where he show-cased the Africans in Boston initiatives.

This meeting covered an overview of the African Union position.  The ambassador raised an awareness to important African issues such as those faced in the AU’s development concept. She recounted the political history of Africa, as well as the recent transformational developments. Colonial Africa, and the method used to divide the continent was one of the major topics. Participants discussed the Berlin conference of 1885 faulting it as a design “to divide and conquer Africa”.  They discussed the 1964 Pan African Leaders’ summit which had as objectives, to stop the onslaught, and to try to reverse the damage inflicted by the Berlin Conference. This initiative saw the creation of The Organization of African Unity (OAU), which became the African Union (AU), in 2002. The leaders at the (1964) summit declared all people of African descent and living outside Africa the African Diaspora (in the 6th Region).  The African heads of state meet twice a year to discuss African Issues.

At the meeting H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao discussed the African leader’s aspirations of a stronger African continent; calling on all people of African descent in the diaspora to “come back home” and participate in the rebuilding of Africa. The African Diaspora are described as “All people of African descent living outside Africa, descendants of those who left Africa in shackles as well as those who left in search of greener pastures”

One presenter reminded the participants of Kwame Nkrumah’s powerful words that “I am not African because I was born in Africa but because Africa was born in me.”.

An overview of the Mandate of African Union Mission to the USA was another item on the agenda with the focus on the Diaspora. This mandate seeks to mobilize the African diaspora in the Americas to participate in the development of Africa. Faced by the known challenges such as how to reverse the brain drain, the African Union Mission in Washington has a plan to empower the diaspora and pave the way for them to return home to effectively participate in the building of Africa.

The program included remarks by the EU Brussels Office presented by Philip Jusu,

AU Geneva Office by Yakdhan El Habib and AU New York Office by Mirriam Omala. They all stressed the need to globalize Africa, pointing out that regardless of how we arrived in the diaspora we are all in the same boat. During this session, a moment of silence was observed to commemorate the loss of Africa’s son, Kofi Annan, an African world leader for his iconic contribution not only to African, but to human progress in general. Tribute was also paid to Winnie Mandela, a symbol of inspiration and strength for all women.

A Presentation and Review Wakanda was also on the agenda. The introduction of the Wakanda One Centers of Excellence in Africa unveiled a new program that includes building African Centers of Excellence. Dr. Arikana Chihombori-Quao, in her presentation, explained that these centers are to be in each region to serve as growth centers of that region, eventually spreading growth to the rest of the region. For more on the organization of the project please go to https://www.herald.co.zw/govt-offers-au-land/

A very important process followed this where Mr. Dexter Cummings, assistant to the ambassador presided over the review, and eventual approval, of the African Diaspora Americas Constitutional Act. The vote was anonymous. A successful networking luncheon then followed. The participants were able to share and digest Africa’s reality even as they forged personal connections with other diaspora members.

To execute the plans ahead, the meeting included the appointment of the African Diaspora Working Board, as well as the appointment of Regional and Sub Regional Representatives.  The Americas were divided into 12 regions; 8 regions in the US, plus Canada, Caribbean, South America and Central America, each region with its own board. Christian Bisimwa of Maine is our (Region 1) chair.  Region one includes Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, Rhode Island and Vermont.

Another presentation to highlight was one titled, “Introduction to the Industrial Savings Bank”. Mr. Roy Ewing, its current president, launched this initiative. The African Diaspora Savings and Investment Account will be the Wakanda one Investment and savings account. Her Excellency ably convinced those present with the idea that it is only the diaspora that can change Africa. She called upon the 55 million diaspora residents to open individual accounts at the Industrial bank.

In addition, the meeting consisted of committee appointments. Mr Cummings oversaw the appointment of the African Diaspora Financial Advisory Board. This included the Finance and Investment, Steering, and Media committees.

The African Diaspora Retreat Meeting ended with a dinner and dance held at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, Maryland.  Over 250 members of the African Diaspora, attended this event, including Lukwesa Morin, the reigning Miss Zambia Diaspora; the new queen representing the Africa Union; the 1st runner-up, Natasha Mupenzi from Uganda, and Rama Dioum, Guinea who had clinched third place.

While closing, H.E. Ambassador Arikana Chihombori-Quao once again thanked those present, and, for the benefit of those not present earlier, added a brief explanation on Financing Wakanda, pointing to the possibilities ahead. She ended with a chorus, “Children of Africa we are going Home”. The unifying idea around this event and celebrating the accomplishments of the African Diaspora left no doubt that the children of Africa are on the same page.  Let us join hands in building #TheAfricaWeWant.

One Africa!!

One Continent!!

One Voice!!
   

Voury Ignegongba – President, Africans in Boston, and Diaspora Credit Union officers Christian Bisimwa Ethel Kawesa at the African Diaspora Retreat Meeting, held at the Hyatt Regency Inner Harbor in Baltimore, December 20, 2018.

 

    

ISF 2018 Conference Information Technology and Good Governance in Africa

ISF 2018 Conference – Information Technology and Good Governance in Africa: Communication & Networking Beyond Social Media

  

Voury Ignegongba – President, Africans in Boston, other AiB Members and Board Member Isaac Balinda attended the Information Technology and Good Governance in Africa: Communication & Networking Beyond Social Media event held at Boston College in Newton, Massachusetts on December 15th 2018.

Boston College, Chestnut Hill, Massachusetts, December 15, 2018

AIB President Voury Ignegongba was among those who participated as a presenter at the “Information and Communications Technology and Good Governance in Africa: Communicating and Networking Beyond Social Media” conference at Boston College. At the event, Mr. Ignegongba introduced Africans in Boston to the attendees; he highlighted its initiatives, objectives, methods and impact, and once again strongly called upon the diaspora to unite. The conference was attended by a full house, over 80 members of the Boston Community including the honored guest and Lord Mayor of the City of Kampala, Mr. Erias Lukwago who was also the main speaker.

The Intercontinental Science Foundation Inc. (ISF) and the Lonergan Institute at Boston College jointly sponsored the annual conference. Herbert Kibuuka, director of the Intercontinental Science Foundation, welcomed the attendees and gave the opening remarks.

The conference covered an overview of information and communications technology interact with governance in Africa. The presenters took a critical look at how Africans can best network and communicate with and beyond social media. The following are the spectrum of featured topics and the respective presenters:

  1. The Rule of Law in Context of Reconciliation, by Prof. Aloysius Lugira
  2. Communication & Networking as tools for Governance, by Dr. David Nnyanzi
  3. Good Governance and Democracy, by Dr. Michael Kisembo
  4. Grassroots Action:  Challenges & Opportunities, by Ms. Damali O Sserabira
  5. Managing Social Media: News vs Fake News, by Mr. Mathias O Ssekanjako
  6. IT and Decision Making, by Dr. Festo Lugolobi
  7. Africans in Boston, by Mr. Voury Ignegongba
  8. The Role of the Diaspora in the Social Economic Transformation of the City of Kampala  Mr. Erias Lukwago Lord Mayor

Conference Highlights:

  1. History of Uganda’s Political Independence. The key players in Uganda’s Leadership history and the outline of the still open wounds caused to the Rule of Law in Uganda
  2. Good Governance and the major characteristics of Good Governance
  3. Difficulty in communication and interpreting the message in today’s society
  4. Impact on International donations – Encourage training societies to understand productivity
  5. Managing Social Media: News vs Fake News
  6. Developing a “GPS”- Developing countries need to invest in an information system to begin to collect data that gives them knowledge

A group of current and former international African students and faculty who have graduated from various universities in the United States, and more especially Boston College founded the Intercontinental Science Foundation Inc. in 2008. ISF is a nonprofit organization based in Massachusetts that “seeks to better communities both locally and internationally through knowledge application”.  They “enable participants to initiate, develop, incubate, and eventually use and share original ideas in all fields of learning.”

The conference had all the major ingredients on said subject matter, expertise, business networking, and a story fresh from the Mayor of Kampala and his political viewpoint. It was a great success, a highly recommendable event for all Africans in the diaspora.

 

Diaspora members luncheon with State Department Official

   

Cambridge, December 7th 2018

Representatives of the diaspora community in Massachusetts convened by Africans in Boston, had an informal luncheon with Ms. Maria Martinez, US Department of State Desk Officer for Burkina Faso and Cabo Verde.
They discussed the Department of State’s bi-lateral economic relations, including current projects with the two countries and brainstormed the different ways that the diaspora can participate in the implementation of these programs.
Prior to the meeting, Ms. Martinez was hosted on Africa2U, a TV show on Acton TV, to talk about the Department of States’ support to Burkina Faso, in its role in the G5 Sahel,  and Cabo Verde as the first Country in Sub-Saharan Africa to have a US consulate, even though it was a portuguese colony at the time.
Ms. Martinez was primarily in Massachusetts, representing the Department of State at the bicentennial anniversary celebrations of relations between the United States and Cabo Verde, at the Cabo Verde Consulate in Quincy Massachusetts.
Diaspora members hope for continuous dialogue with the Department of State.

Africans in Boston at the United Nations

     

AiB Executive Director Vivian Birchall at the United Nations Headquarters in New York City.

New York- November 27th, 2018

AiB Executive Director Vivian Birchall participated as a presenter and panelist at a side event, organized on the margins of the Global South-South Development Expo 2018. The event theme was “Implementing the global compact for safe, orderly and regular migration through south-south cooperation.” The dialogue was intended to discuss issues and to mobilize, promote and improve access to the technical and policy expertise needed to support the Global Compact for Migration implementation, of which South-South expertise and experience will be an important component. A summary of discussions will be produced by the IOM office as a contribution to the preparatory process of the BAPA + 40 outcome document and to inform the preparations for the Marrakesh Conference to adopt the GCM.

The session featured:

  1. Tarik Iziraren, UNOSSC Deputy Director, Policy and Strategic Partnership (Moderator)
  2. Philip Odida, Ambassador and Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Uganda to the United Nations
  3. Tareq Md. Ariful Islam, Deputy Permanent Representative, Permanent Mission of Bangladesh to the United Nations
  4. Elisabeth Pape, Minister Counsellor, Delegation of the EU to the United Nations

Panelists

  1. Stephanie J. Nawyn, Associate Professor, Department of Sociology, Michigan State University
  2. Luisa Feline Freier, Professor, Department of Social and Political Sciences, Univsersidad del Pacifico
  3. Vivian Birchall, Executive Director, Africans in Boston
  4. Khatharya Um, Associate Professor, Asian American and Asian Diaspora Studies, UC Berkeley

Her presentation highlighted contributions the diaspora has made to our home country and lessons for countries in Africa to work with their citizens living overseas to improve development at home, pulling from experiences from working with Africans in Boston and Africans in New England, collectively.