FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
AfriThrive Celebrates the Success of the “It Takes a Village” Conference & 2nd Annual Night of Excellence Gala and Announces Ongoing Initiatives to Build Community Resilience
November 4, 2024 — AfriThrive proudly concluded its inaugural “It Takes a Village” Conference and the 2nd Annual Night of Excellence Gala, held November 1-2 at the Hilton Washington DC/Rockville Hotel. This two-day event gathered dignitaries, community leaders, and professionals dedicated to empowering African immigrant communities and addressing pressing societal challenges. Building on the success of this year’s event, AfriThrive is pleased to announce ongoing “It Takes a Village” initiatives, including an annual conference to promote continued community engagement, resilience, and growth.
Key Takeaways from the 2024 Conference
The conference highlighted significant insights and actionable strategies to drive positive change within African immigrant communities:
- Collective Strength Drives Impact
The event underscored the transformative power of collective effort, with every contributor emphasizing that meaningful change is achievable when communities come together with shared goals. - Addressing Food Security and Climate Change
In the “Food and Environmental Justice” session, led by Dr. Truphena Choti and featuring experts like Rachel R. Jones, Prof. Kefa Otiso and Dr. Isaac Zama, panelists discussed sustainable and culturally relevant food systems, emphasizing land access and support for Black farmers to build resilience against climate change. - Empowering Immigrant Entrepreneurs
The “Business Development” panel demonstrated how immigrant-owned businesses can leverage government contracts, grants, and AI for growth. Panelists Mia Fairweather, Joseph Hauw, Peter Ng’ang’a, Shedetra Robinson, Sheard, Alisa, and Dr. Anita Mwalui encouraged attendees to utilize resources in government to start and grow their businesses. - Health Equity and Social Justice
In a session tackling systemic inequities in healthcare access, led by Lul Mohamad, panelists Dr. Oluwabunmi Ogungbe, Dr. Nana Yeboah, and Regina Josie advocated for building equitable healthcare systems that address the specific needs of the Black community.
- Collective Strength Drives Impact
- Dr. Lillian Dwayne led a session focused on raising awareness within the diaspora community to support their professional advancement.
- Harnessing Diaspora Influence in Public Policy
Maureen Wamboi led a policy-focused panel with Guy Djoken, Dr. Aitza Haddad Nunez, Adrian Boafo, and Bernice Mireku-North discussing the role of the African diaspora in advocating for public policy that benefits immigrant communities. - Unlocking Opportunities for Building Wealth. In the “Unlocking Opportunities for Building Wealth” panel, led by Julio Guity-Guevera, experts shared insights and strategies to help individuals and families build financial security and create pathways to generational wealth.
- Educational Empowerment for African Immigrant Families
In a session on educational barriers, led by Fatmata Barrie, panelists Dr. Jasmine Jones, Kwesi Acquah, and Zhao Li offered strategies to support African immigrant families in navigating the U.S. educational system. - Celebrating Community Leaders and Changemakers
The Night of Excellence Gala honored community advocates like Jackie DeCarlo (Community Impact Award) and Selena Mendy Singleton (Social Justice Champion Award), showcasing how dedicated individuals inspire and elevate communities. - Building Resilience through Networking and Partnerships
Networking sessions during the conference facilitated connections, illustrating the importance of resilience in community building and providing a platform for future collaboration. - Continued Commitment to Community Growth and Development
AfriThrive reiterated its dedication to creating lasting, positive change in African immigrant communities by expanding partnerships and strengthening community-focused programs. - A Future-Focused Vision for AfriThrive
AfriThrive announced a debriefing session to gather feedback from attendees, continuing to reflect on the conference’s success and planning for future growth and community support.
Keynote speakers included Andrew Friedson, President of the Montgomery County Council, who gave welcoming remarks; Melvin P. Mote, Founder and President of the Constituency for Africa; Cassie Duah from Amazon Web Services; and Dr. Prince Adekoya II, Founder and CEO of African Diaspora for Justice. Each speaker echoed the conference theme, “It Takes a Village,” underscoring the power of community partnerships, collaboration and collective responsibility in driving meaningful change.
Awards and Honorees
The 2nd Night of Excellence Gala celebrated individuals and organizations making exceptional contributions to AfriThrive’s mission. This year’s honorees included:
- Partner of the Year Award: DC Central Kitchen
- Emerging Leader Award: Jefferson Mandela Choti, Manager of Utility Pricing, Policy & Analytics at the National Rural Utilities Cooperative Finance Corporation
- Food Security Champion Award: Tambra Raye Stevenson, Founder of Women Advancing Nutrition, Dietetics, and Agriculture (WANDA)
- Community Leadership Award: Fatmata Barrie, Immigration Attorney at The Barrie Law Center
- Pioneer in Education Award: Dr. Moses T. Kairo, Dean of the School of Agriculture, University of Maryland Eastern Shore (UMES).
- Economic Impact Leader Award: Natali Fani-Gonzalez, Council Member, District 6, Montgomery County and Chair, Economic Development Committee.
- Community Impact Award: Jackie DeCarlo, CEO of Manna Food Center
- Social Justice Champion Award: Selena Mendy Singleton, Racial Equity Manager for the Montgomery County Council
Ongoing “It Takes a Village” Initiatives
AfriThrive is committed to sustaining the momentum generated by the conference through several ongoing initiatives:
- Annual “It Takes a Village” Conference: This conference will now be held annually, allowing AfriThrive to deepen community engagement, address evolving issues, and create a stronger support network.
- Year-Round Community Engagement Programs: AfriThrive will expand its programs to address food security, public policy advocacy, and health equity through partnerships and outreach efforts in collaboration with local and regional organizations.
- Business Empowerment Workshops: AfriThrive will provide workshops to support African immigrant entrepreneurs in leveraging government resources, grants, and business development tools.
- Educational Empowerment Initiatives: The organization will offer guidance to families navigating the U.S. educational system, focusing on access, equity, and empowerment.
- Ongoing Recognition and Support for Community Leaders: AfriThrive will continue its tradition of recognizing leaders at the annual Night of Excellence Gala, highlighting individuals and organizations making significant impacts within their communities.
Reflections and Appreciation
Dr. Truphena Choti expressed deep gratitude to all contributors, sponsors, and attendees, stating, “The success of this event has shown that it truly takes a village to drive meaningful change. We are deeply grateful for everyone who joined us on this journey.” AfriThrive Board Chair Enock Bonyi also acknowledged the dedication of AfriThrive’s planning team and volunteers. “The time, energy, and commitment from everyone involved turned this vision into reality,” he said.
AfriThrive’s “It Takes a Village” initiatives embody the organization’s mission to build resilience, foster empowerment, and create lasting impacts in African immigrant communities. Through these ongoing efforts, AfriThrive aims to continue building a “village” of support, opportunity, and collaboration for years to come.
Photos of the CONFERENCE are available for viewing here: Event Photos
Photos of the GALA are available for viewing here: GALA Photos
For further information, please contact:
AfriThrive Communications Team
Email: [email protected]
Phone: 240-706-1517
Website: www.afrithrive.org
