The loss of the ‘African State of Mind’ through Education

Education has for long been touted as the gateway for Africa from the vagaries of a poverty laden fate. The importance of education is highlighted by the second of the eight Millennium Development Goals (MDG) agreed upon by the United Nations (UN). “Ensure that, by 2015, children everywhere, boys and girls alike, will be able to complete a full course of primary schooling.” This is not the first time we have heard about the indispensable nature of education and it’s declaration as a fundamental human right. Indeed Education for All (EFA) was launched in 1990 with international agencies such as UNESCO and the World Bank among others spearheading the effort to educate all citizens in every society. Such efforts have materialized in some developing countries in fact there has been some form of universal primary education system established in Burundi, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Mozambique, Tanzania and Uganda. This initiative has resulted into a dramatic surge in primary school enrollment.

Books for Africa and Thomson Reuters sign $1.2 million agreement

Source: Mshale

Goal is to support establishment of the rule of law and democracy in Africa
Books for Africa, the largest shipper of donated text books to Africa and Thomson Reuters – Legal, the legal publishing behemoth, on Monday signed a $1.2 million agreement aimed at supporting governing institutions and the rule of law in Africa’s emerging democracies.

The agreement signed at Thomson Reuters’ headquarters in Eagan, Minnesota, is directed at Books for Africa’s Jack Mason Law & Democracy Initiative and will include the provision of $1.2 million worth of legal education books and materials to law schools in Africa’s developing democracies. Thomson Reuters funds to offset the shipping costs of the legal texts and will continue to provide advertising, logistical and printing support to Books for Africa and the Jack Mason Law & Democracy Initiative.

High-rise ghettos or urban villages? Riverside Plaza and Seward Towers in Minneapolis

Source: Twin Cities Daily Planet

Are the Riverside Plaza and Seward high-rise apartment complexes, home to low-income residents for more than 35 years, “beyond merely shabby” and filled with crime? Or are they “a vital and fascinating mix of cultures … a series of villages in the city with the opportunity to begin life in the United States among one’s countrymen?”

As rehab plans for the Riverside Plaza buildings go forward, community debate has intensified. Many people object to the design of the buildings, or to the concept of high-rise apartment housing for low-income residents. For others, the discussion is tinged with racism and anti-immigrant prejudice.  One commenter observed: “One person’s ghetto is another person’s village.”

In this series, our in-depth reporting highlights concerns and facts, featuring the voices and stories of people who live and work in the communities.

THE 5TH ANNUAL UMOJA CONFERENCE

The 2009 Umoja conference will be held at Macalester College from April 24-26. This conference is an annual program created by a network of African student organizations in the Midwest. The word UMOJA is a Swahili word that means “Unity”. The purpose of the UMOJA conference is to discuss pertinent issues concerning the African continent and African students particularly in the Diaspora.

The theme of this year’s event is “African Youth and Leadership

In addition to the student discussion and keynote events, there will be African dance competition on the theme “dreams”.

African Musics of the Portuguese and French-Speaking Worlds

by Nelima

The University International Center will be hosting an interesting event.

 

International Symposium on Popular Music Studies: African Musics of the Portuguese- and French-Speaking Worlds

Thursday, Friday, and Monday April 23, 24 & 27, 2009 

Link to Program (in .pdf format) 

Link to Poster (in .pdf format)

Schedule of Events: (click on titles to learn more about each event)

Thursday, April 23, 7:30pm – Film Screening of “Fados” – Walker Art Center [Free]

Friday, April 24, 8:45am-6:30pm – Panels, Speakers, reception (.pdf file) – 100 University International Center

Friday, April 24, 8:00pm – Carmen Souza in Concert – Cedar Cultural Center

Monday, April 27, 4:00pm -“Jazz Transatlantic” Lecture by Gerhard Kubik, Universität Wien – 125 Nolte Center

African-centered Imhotep Science Fair this Saturday

What: 2009 11th Annual MN Imhotep Science Fair featuring K – 12 students of African descent from around the Metro area and MN
Theme: Sustainable Living – Land, Energy, Food, Water, Shelter. Hosted by The Hope Community
When: Saturday, March 14th, 2009. 12:00 – 2:00 pm. Community/Public display of projects
Who: Parents and interested community members
Where: Hope Community, 611 E Franklin Ave, Minneapolis, MN 55404
Why: This annual event is to engage students in the process of thinking about their community, heritage and culture through the vehicle of science. Students have done research projects using the “scientific method” and have connected its relevance to the upliftment of their communities. We have students from homeschools, charters schools, private schools, public schools and other educational programs.

This African-centered, K-12 grade, non-competitive science fair is organized by the Imhotep Science Fair Committee (ISFC) a group of concerned parents, teachers and professionals from the community. ISFC is also a community initiative program of the Powderhorn Phillips Cultural Wellness Center.

There is no charge for the event.
For more information please call 763-560-0760 or email us at ImhotepSci@msn.com.

Pan African Student Conference Commences Tomorrow

Pan African Student Leadership Conference 2009

by Nelima

Minnesota State University, Mankato will be hosting its 33rd Pan African Student Leadership Conference tomorrow, Feb 26th through the 28th. This year’s theme is “Understanding and Respecting Diversity in the Pan African Community: Working Towards Unity and Global Peace” . 

The conference will be preceded by an Annual Somali Day on Feb 25th (which is today, sorry folks).

The conference will feature many great scholarly presentations, panel discussions and Emmanuel Jal, former child soldier, will also give a talk and perform.

Check for the schedule of events here;

(If the above PDF file doesn’t open try this link)

Calling on African Teens to Join the Youth Power Peer Education Program

 

Youth Power, image courtesy of Planned Parenthood

Please pass this on any African teenagers you may know ….

*Youth Power is a peer education program for African youth (those born in Africa or 1st generation American-born) in the Twin Cities metropolitan area. Participants must be between ages 13-17 by the start of the program on 02-12-2009.

* When you sign up, you’ll get 30 hours of training. We teach you all about reproductive health and how to talk about important issues with your friends and family. You’ll have the skills and knowledge to teach others in your community about responsible decision making, preventing teen pregnancy, and other related issues.

free college classes!

by Nekessa

I should have done this a long time ago.

When people get laid off they tend to go back to school. With little or no income people are forced to be resourceful to figure out how they are going to earn the extra credits in school for an added edge in the job market.

I have here a list of resources! The first two are specific to Minnesota while the rest are online and could be used from anywhere in the world.

Something You Should Know About African Immigrants in the US …. Pass It On

by Nelima

Over the weekend I was chatting with some friends about the need for mentoring programs for young Africans. I was taken back to the time when I was part of a forum on getting immigrant girls to think about college. I was assigned to a group of about six African girls and we started to explore interests and career ideas. What struck me the most was that all, but one of these girls were not sure about going to college. “How will I make college when I don’t know if I’ll finish college?”  said one. This was such a different attitude from my high school days. Granted not everyone was expecting to go to college, but I’d never heard anyone say that they weren’t sure they’d make it through high school. And even most of those who didn’t make it to college were hindered mostly because of limited space and funds, but if the opportunity was available they would go to college.  

With that in mind, I would like to share some excerpts from a page on African immigrants to the US, which I found on Wikipedia a couple years back. Feel free to share, feel obligated to share if you are a mentor.