AWC Update

AWC Holds First Meeting in 2011

2011-05-05T15:13:00.000-07:00

Invigorating, productive and fun are fitting words to describe AWC first meeting for 2011, held on Saturday, April 30, at Flamingo Restaurant in St. Paul, Minnesota.

It was really good to hear a newcomer say that she didn't know that an organization like ours existed. AWC is truly one of the best kept secrets that have the potential to influence how we work together in our community. That is why we are always grateful when women recognize its value and invite others to share in the AWC experience. Word-of-mouth has worked out the best for getting the word out about AWC.

We kicked off the meeting with introductions (elevator speech style) including a statement about how we can help the speaker succeed. As always, the ladies around the table were all very busy and accomplished people. Flamingo Restaurant did not disappoint either--the dishes were delicious and the atmosphere cozy and friendly.

Together, we supported an ethic minority and woman-owned small business, we supported each other and we contributed to conversations about personal, professional and community interests.

There are always many reasons to complain about when it comes to the African community and its people. We could come up with an unending list of things, so the critical question of the day was “What do you appreciate about our community?” It was really refreshing to hear the responses and focus on the positives for a change. They included:

· A great sense of community/ unity (depending on how you look at it)

· Openness of the people

· A sense of sisterhood/brotherhood/family

· Africans dress beautifully; especially for special occasions

· Entrepreneurial spirit

· African people are resilient

AWC exists because of the women who get involved and make things happen. Each person fully participating, as often as possible, is a key ingredient to its success. We appreciate everyone who took the time to come and make our first meeting a success. We all gain so much more when we connect and work together.

AWC Exhibits at Senegalese Independence Day Celebration

2011-05-05T15:05:00.000-07:00

Attendees dancing to Senegalese music.

AWC exhibited at the Senegalese Independence Day celebration, held on Saturday, April 30, in St. Paul, Minnesota. The Republic of Senegal is located in western Africa and the official Independence Day falls on April 4.

“Exhibiting at community events is one of the ways we get the word out,” said Rita Apaloo, president of AWC. “Thanks to our extensive networks through the women who attend AWC events, we often get the inside scope when it comes to what's going on in various African communities, which ultimately leads to valuable connections and new prospects.”

Senegalese Beauties!

Hadi, a community leader in the Senegalese Community, who is also a friend of AWC, invited us to participate. We ran into some old friends and made new ones.

The event was family-friendly with plenty of food, dancing and fun. What a great way to spend time with a wonderful crowd and experience Senegalese hospitality and culture!

Hadi, friend of AWC and Rita Apaloo, president of AWC.

A good time was had by all!

2011 Perception Survey Results

2011-04-15T09:54:00.000-07:00

Survey Sponsor and Research Company: African Women Connect

Objectives: to get feedback and perspectives from members, current and past participants, and target audience on organizational mission, vision, programs and services, performance and direction.

Audience description: mostly women of African descent living in the Twin Cities metro area

Sample size: 260 email addresses on AWC listserv of members, current and past participants, prospects and supporters

Dates of data collection: February to March 2011

Response size/rate: 32 or 12 %

Question 1. Heritage you most closely relate to

Question 2. Number of years you have lived abroad (US and elsewhere

Question 3. AWC mission and vision is relevant and timely

Mission – to create a network to empower women of African descent, linking them to valuable resources and promoting partnerships that strengthen individual and communal success.

Vision – we envision a world where African women are viewed and recognized as valuable contributors to society by themselves and others.

Question 4. Number of times you have participated in AWC events since 2004

Question 5. Reason(s) why you decided to participate in AWC (check all that apply)

Question 6. How valuable is AWC to you?

Question 7. In your opinion, what does AWC do well? (check all that apply)

Question 8. In your opinion, what areas should AWC focus on? (check all that apply)

Question 9. What keeps you from participating more than you currently do?

Question 10. What changes would you suggest in order to improve participation and organizational effectiveness?

A. Time, so far has kept me from participating in AWC. The other factor is that, many times the meeting places have not been convenient, and also the purpose of the meetings has not been clear to me. The biggest challenge for me has been that I do not understand the structure of the AWC. What is the difference between a member and a non-member? What is the purpose of the membership fee? What are the benefits of being a member? What are the fees used for? How can one have a say in the group/organization, etc. It has never been clear to me. Otherwise, I like the concept, but it has never been clear to me where I can fit it.

B. Participation - expand outreach to more women through wide advertisement and awareness. Organizational effectiveness - Have a clear organizational structure, with more delegation and involvement of more women who are consistent participants of AWC activities.

C. Not really sure

D. Location of the meetings; try to find a place where parking won't be a challenge (not always easy but I think people get discouraged if they think parking will be an issue) - Ask people to come up with topics of discussions - Allow people to share information on things they believe can help others. Clearly differentiate marketing and information sharing so there is no confusion and certain people don't feel the objective of the organization are in conflict with their values.

E. I believe that AWC is doing a great job and will continue to attract more settled African women compared to new immigrants due the different needs of both. It may be beneficial to target African women professionals and business owners as they may be more open to the networking aspect of belonging to groups and organizations like AWC.

F. AWC is already on track for doing that. More opportunities to interact with "power brokers" and professional development workshops would be a plus. Thanks for all that you already do.

G. Don't have enough information at this time to make any meaningful suggestions.

H. We haven't had any meetings lately. We need to meet a little more often. We are slacking off.

I. Try and create more time to be able to participate.

J. I'm new to the network through PAWPN Summit committee member.

K. Somehow reengage participants from past years. I'm not quite sure how to motivate participants to become members.

L. Not sure as my work hours are my biggest reason for not attending. Also, I've been having some problems with the invites, can't open them.

M. More visibility. Reach younger population.

N. AWC needs other larger organizations' support

O. AWC should push towards less elitism so that it can reach more African women.

P. I attended one AWC event it was organized with influential women from all walks of life. AWC is a great way for African Americans and African diaspora to connect.

Q. Allow participants to present new ideas, information and opportunities to other members. This should include business opportunities and should not be considered marketing.

R. Mix some free events in with the paid meetings like a weekend bookclub that focuses on women issues and interests.

The Results are In: 2010 ANNUAL REPORT

2011-03-18T12:13:00.000-07:00

African Women Connect (AWC)

2010 Annual Report

About AWC

African Women Connect, LLC (AWC) promotes networking and relationship building for friendship, business and community. AWC also provides opportunities for personal development, sharing information and community involvement.

The Mission of AWC is to create a network to empower women of African descent, linking them to valuable resources and promoting partnerships that strengthen individual and communal success.

The Vision of AWC is a world where African women are viewed and recognized as valuable contributors to society by themselves and others.

2010 Summary/Highlights

A total of 96 individuals attended AWC-organized events in 2010, compared to 132 in the previous year. That amounts to a decrease of 36 or %27. Of the 96, 59 or 61% were unduplicated. In 2009, unduplicated participants were 79 or 60%. The membership goal was 25 women. A total number of 16 women (of 64% of goal) signed up. Nine (9) AWC-organized events were held in 2010; four (4) fewer than 13 events in 2009. Average meeting attendance was 11; two fewer than in 2009. Thirty participants or about 50% of unduplicated participants were new to AWC. 2010 participants represented 16 different countries of origin; four (4) more than in 2009. For the first time since AWC was established, more participants originated from the East African region. In previous years, the largest group of attendees originated from the West African region. The number of participants originating from South Africa doubled from two (2) to four (4) participants. In 2010, 71% of respondents to AWC Satisfaction Survey “Strongly Agreed” that participating in AWC events were time well-spent and the remaining (29%) “Agreed.” AWC continues to operate at a loss. Income from membership and event fees were not enough to cover expenses or make a profit.

Participants

Members

The membership goal was 25 women. A total number of 16 women (of 64% of goal) signed up. AWC has put a hold on its membership campaign until results from the 2011 Perception Survey is reviewed and analyzed.

Members make up a bold group of women leaders who are blazing a trail by creating a new “rule book” for personal identity, professional achievement and community involvement in the African Diaspora. There are benefits provided to members. Their involvement is important to building a community we can all be proud of. Their commitment and participation in AWC efforts, events, and activities creates a better community where we can all learn, hone skills and enjoy the process of discovering who we are together, and how we can interact and work together as African women.

Events

Nine (9) AWC-organized events were held in 2010, four (4) fewer than 2009 total of 13 events. Average meeting attendance was 11, two fewer than in 2009. Thirty participants or about 50% of the number of unduplicated participants were new to AWC. 2010 participants represented 16 different countries of origin, four (4) more than in 2009. They included Cameroon, Ethiopia, Eritrea, Gambia, Kenya, Liberia, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, Sierra Leone, Somalia, South Africa, Tanzania, Togo, the Caribbean, and the United States. New from previous year were Gambia, Eritrea, Tanzania and the Caribbean.

Topics included goal-setting, ethnic food drive, community leadership, personal and professional coaching, board leadership, friendships, domestic violence and breast cancer, among other things. One of the events provided participants the opportunity to volunteer with locally-based nonprofit supporting orphans in Africa. AWC utilized and supported four (4) community businesses/organizations by hosting its events on their premises.

For the first time since AWC was established, more participants originated from the East African region. In previous years, the largest group of attendees originated from the West African region. The number of participants originating from South Africa doubled from two (2) to four (4) participants.

Satisfaction Survey

Events attendees are provided the opportunity to provide feedback after each event. In 2010, 71% of respondents strongly agreed that participating in AWC events was time well-spent and the remaining (29%) agreed as well. Comments received included (as written by the women):

· Great time meeting ladies from other parts of Africa. Dearly enjoyed the company.

· I had a pleasant time at the dinner. The women were nice, and I felt welcomed. I will try to go whenever I can.

· Got a chance to network and meet new people

· Great, met some new people, and re-connected with those I know already but have not seen for a while

· Relaxing, the more I come to AWC events and meet like-minded people, the more reason I do not want to miss any of their events.

· It was great to connect with old friends and new people. There was a lot of energy in the room. Great Vibe!

· I met new and existing African sisters. The atmosphere was relaxed and inviting to conversations and getting to know the women in attendance.

· It feels so good to be surrounded by such kind, intelligent women. I had a fun night, "I was not faking it".

· It was great to see such a diverse group of accomplished African women.

· Had a great time meeting many new women from varied backgrounds

· Sisters Gathering over Meal. Splendid!

· It was great. Inspiring.

· Was an informative evening

Financial

AWC continues to operate at a loss. Income from membership and event fees were not enough to cover expenses or make a profit. We continue to investigate strategies to help us break-even and eventually become profitable. Imagine what we could achieve with financial support! We remain optimistic.

Refugee and Immigrant Women for Change (RIWC) International Women's Day Event

2011-03-18T11:58:00.000-07:00

Dance performance of true stories of refugee and immigrant women.

The Refugee and Immigrant Women for Change (RIWC) International Women's Day event was held on March 8, at the University of St. Catherine from three o'clock to six-thirty in the evening. A crowd of approximately two hundred people, mostly women, youth and men of different backgrounds from ethnic and mainstream communities were in attendance. I, personally, was glad to see that refugee and immigrant women were present at the the table and fully participating in every aspect of the event.

RIWC is a coalition made of seven ethnic-community-based organizations (Asian, African and Latino), formed around the shared vision of fostering organizational leadership, community accountability and capacity-building of member organizations around gender equity for refugee and immigrant women. Learn more...

Welcome and opening remarks were made by Dr. Alan Silva, St. Catherine's Dean of the School of humanities, Arts and Sciences, and Mariam Mohamed, community advocate and board member of CAPI (RIWC member organization.

The main attraction was a dance performance choreographed to stories of refugee and immigrant women collected through eighteen focus groups and about one hundred and sixty-five participants (women, men, youth). The performance was entitled “We Are Not Below the Men: Riwa meets Kartee.” I thought the performance was very powerful. Even more powerful were the stories shared by participants of RIWC focus groups. You had to be there to see it and experience it for yourself.

As I watched the performance and listened to the stories, I jotted down some themes that ring true for many in our communities—hope they make sense to you:

Many refugees and immigrants come to America in search of opportunities and “a better life” but...
Some men feel frustrated about not doing (or having the ability to do) enough to support their families—they feel a strong sense of failure
Some women hear—“you don't need a man to be a success in this country”
Some women feel lonely and depressed--- not feeling taken cared of; no respected
Sometimes divisions build between the old and the young, the men and the women, the parents and the children
Some people look to religious leaders and institutions to keep the peace in their households, relationships and marriages
Some men feel powerless
Some elders feel disrespected, diminished, invisible
Sometimes education (in different forms) can be a huge barrier to success
Sometimes we (as individuals) are not always aware of our anger, depression or feelings of hopelessness
Sometimes we are pleasantly surprise that the “old way” of doing things can actually produce positive results in these modern times—it reminds us not to be too quick to dismiss ideas from the “village”
Sometimes we believe that the only way to succeed is through formal education—and we hang a lot (sometimes way too much) on that idea
Some youngsters feel pressured to succeed—the entire family is watching and waiting...
Some people step up to leadership even when they are not asked or when it involves serious sacrifices because they feel that “someone” has to “take care of our people”
Sometimes we come to the conclusion that our children will learn in their own time
Sometimes we are as proud of our daughters as we are our sons
Sometimes we are confident that nothing can stand in the way of our success
Sometimes we realize that we are doing the best we can; we can all work together; not on the top or the bottom but side by side
Sometimes we get it---this America we now call home has its problems and its rewards too.

The performance and stories affirmed a lot of what I already knew. However, the real highlight of the event was the community dialogue. As a facilitator, I enjoyed the opportunity to really listen and encourage people to share their thoughts, insights and ideas about gender equity for refugee and immigrant women and RIWC in general.

One gentleman at my table summed it nicely, I thought. He said that our lives are full of complexities and social service organizations and experts are only now beginning to learn that we can't just fix one thing and send the individual on his or her way, we need to take a holistic approach and spend more time understanding.

I believe that community dialogue is always a great start for “understanding.”

News Release: African Women Connect (AWC) Introduces New Spotlight Column to Help Community-based Businesses, Organizations and Leaders Tell their Story

2011-03-18T11:46:00.000-07:00

For Immediate Release

March 10, 2011

Contact: africanwomenconnect@hotmail.com

612-250-8478

African Women Connect (AWC) Introduces New Spotlight Column to Help Community-based Businesses, Organizations and Leaders Tell their Story

MINNEAPOLIS, Minn – AWC is responding to a community need for no to low cost marketing for small businesses, organizations and community advocates that have a tough time getting the word out about their existence, products and services. The new spotlight column will be an addition to AWC monthly e-newsletter that goes out to a cross-section of mostly African ethnic groups, including members of the mainstream population.

Community-based businesses require the support of community members to keep their doors open. Marketing is always a challenge for small businesses and even more so for ethnic minority businesses. In most cases, people in the community are just not aware that these businesses exist. With limited budgets and a challenging economy, investing in marketing is usually not top priority but nevertheless critical for business survival.

“We have been supporting community businesses several years and we are proud of this initiative. However, an ongoing challenge has been finding such businesses and once we do, hoping that they would stay in business long enough to continue our support. Word of mouth is the primary way community-based businesses get the word out and we have seen time and time again that sometimes it is just not fast enough to keep the doors open,” says Rita Apaloo, AWC founder and president. “We hope that this will be a another avenue to continue our initiative of supporting our community.

A separate blog site will be established to keep the stories posed for business owners and the general public to continue to access. AWC will rely on its e-newsletter audience to help advertise this opportunity to community-based businesses. Anyone interested or would like more information about the project should contact AWC at africanwomenconnect@hotmail.com or 612-250-8578. Interested participants will be asked to respond to ten questions and provide a photo or logo. AWC hopes to have the first business spotlighted in its April newsletter.

About AWC

African Women Connect, LLC (AWC) is a Minnesota-based organization that promotes networking and relationship building for friendship, business and community. AWC also provides opportunities for personal development, sharing information and community involvement. More at www.africanwomenconnect.net.

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Pink & Purple Event brings awareness to Breast Cancer & Domestic Abuse

2010-11-10T12:37:00.000-08:00

President of the African American Breast Cancer Alliance, Reona Berry, presents to attendees.

On Friday, October 22, AWC held its annual Pink & Purple event. Breast cancer and domestic abuse/violence are important topics that affect women and families and that’s why we provide the opportunity for a culturally-sensitive and open group discussion for African women.

Our Speakers, Reona Berry, 20-year breast cancer survivor and president of the African American Breast Cancer Alliance (AABCA), and Kelly, a domestic abuse volunteer with Alexandra House, an emergency shelter for battered women and children, came prepared with good information and handouts to share. A big thank you to both ladies!

We are thankful for all who attended--your presence helped us hold our end of the bargain to provide an engaged audience for our speakers and partners who take the time away from their busy schedules to share valuable information with our group. We always want to be appreciative and respectful of their time and talents.

At the end of the meeting, one of the ladies said, “Every time I think I know all there is to know about these topics (breast cancer and domestic abuse/violence) I learn something new.” That usually rings true at every AWC meeting where we provide information. Even when the information is not entirely new, at least we get reminded of how important it is to be aware of these things and to know what to do or how to help when the need arises.

Here are a few pointers from the event:

Take charge of your health and well-being.
You can try to ignore cancer but it can’t ignore you—educated yourself and do your self-exam.
We women need to know that it is okay to seek help and accept support from others when needed.
The more you know the better you are.
Domestic violence crisis hotline provides an avenue to talk and ask questions without judging; they also provide legal advocacy and safety planning.
Domestic abuse is more than physical abuse—hitting (verbal, emotional, etc.)
In some cases, men are the victims.
Be proactive-- know what a healthy relationship looks like.
Pay attention and get involved at some level even when you’re not the one in need of help. Others need your support.
Build a network of people you can trust and rely on—be there for them and allow them to be there for you too.

All Dolled Up at the 2010 African Awards

2010-09-28T22:20:00.000-07:00

Which camera? Ama, Lydia, Rita, Ayan, Felicia

It is always exciting to see AWC members and friends out and about in the community. When we run into each other, we can't help but take an AWC Moment to catch-up on life events. The Mshale African Awards was no different. The ladies clean up real nice...don't you think?

Ayan and Felicia

Rita, Melissa (MAWA) and Ama

Rita and Celebrity News Anchor Robin Robinson

First Member-exclusive Event

2010-09-28T22:07:00.000-07:00

Members (Wokie, Beatrice, Ama, Liz and Julia) enjoy a relaxed, cozy and fun time together.

After five years of “getting the word out,” engaging hundreds of women from over 20 different countries, and testing the waters to see what works and what doesn't, AWC launched a campaign to sign up a total of 25 paid members by December 2010.

At a little over 50 percent of its campaign goal, AWC had its first member-exclusive event on Friday, September 17. The event was held at AWC President's home. “This is like hitting the start button again,” Rita said. “The first AWC meeting began right here in this room, February 2004, and it feels good to begin a new chapter in the same space.” As always, not every member could make it due to schedule conflicts.

The meeting was meant to discuss business, as in where AWC has been and where it is headed. We were hoping to get valuable input from the members on the direction of the organization and future programming. Needless to say that business talk did not progress as planned. The relaxed and cozy home atmosphere made it difficult to want to discuss business especially after a long workday. After trying unsuccessfully to discuss serious matters, we gave up and did what we do best—socialize and have fun. We had a wonderful time.

Throughout all the chatter and laughter, we managed to review our member handbook, which includes guidelines and facts about AWC among other things. One important point of dicussion was the move from spending a lot of time and energy on organizing events to focusing on member benefits and needs. Things will start to look and feel different for AWC members and friends in the coming months and we plan to make the transition as smooth as possible while still providing unique opportunities for growth and networking.

We are excited about bringing together a talented group of women who are willing to commit to working together to take AWC to a higher level of leadership, and in the process become ambassadors for AWC mission and vision!

Beatrice and Felicia. What's a get-to-gether without good food?

Before we go...Liz, Ama, Rita, Beatrice, Mimi and the kids got in too!

August Meeting was All About Friendships

2010-09-01T20:58:00.000-07:00

If you had to choose 10 characteristics that you would like a true friend to have, what would they be?

That is exactly what attendees had to do at AWC August meeting. They were given a list of 30 characteristics to choose from, and it was not easy to do. “Some are somewhat similar so it makes it difficult,” someone complained.

Here’s an example: would you choose “sense of humor” and/or “fun to be with?” Both are good characteristics to have but they are really not the same—got it? Well, we had an interesting and fun time doing this activity.

Not one of us in at the meeting was a native of Minnesota therefore we all had had experiences loosing close friendships as a result of our move. We also talked about keeping long term friendships alive, even those ones in distant lands. Some of us even had surprising reconnections with friends we thought were lost forever. We discussed the different layers of friendships, all of which we appreciate and cherish —some close, some not-so-close. Many of us had developed new and unexpected friendships that we never imagined possible.

A 2006 research study from Duke University and the University of Arizona showed that Americans have almost one-third fewer confidants than they did in the 1980s, and that “ties are more family-based.” Another statistic showed that there are now twice as many people who report not having close friends to share their problems with.

Fortunately, today we have a variety to convenient ways to keep our friendship bonds intact. We can phone, text, email, and use social networking tools like LinkedIn, Facebook, Twitter and the like, to stay connected. However, don’t forget that nothing beats face-to-face connections so meet in-person as often as possible.

Building and maintaining friendships can be fulfilling but can also get complicated. Having a healthy number and layers of friendships is definitely a great way to go.
Action Item:
Make your list of 10 characteristics you would like in a friend but remember to also check yourself and make sure that you too are striving to be all of those things to your friends.

July Meeting at Global Market - Leadership through Board Service

2010-08-23T23:30:00.000-07:00

We talked about leadership enhancement through board service. Some of the reasons people join boards include looking for a meaning way to give back, opportunities to use professional expertise, enhance leadership potential, networking, etc.

Rita Apaloo, President of AWC, led the discussion—she has assisted with board governance for several years, currently sits on advisory boards of seven different small businesses and facilitates a community involvement leadership program for minority business leaders that includes board leadership training.

To kick off the meeting, attendees paired up to review sample financial statements of an unknown business. The instruction was to relate or share anything at all that they notice about the reports. Let's just say that the list was not a long one. When asked for feedback on the assignment, the ladies said things like “I was confused; I wasn't sure what to do; I went blank, etc.” The purpose of the activity was to give them a flavor of what goes on in a board room and discuss the importance of knowing how to interpret financial reports as a board of director.

Once we got that out of the way, we got back to business as usual—having fun, connecting, learning and having a wonderful conversation.

We did have a small hurdle—we met in the common meeting area of the Global Market and the noise level was a bit high and presented a holding conversation problem. Lesson learned.

While participants learned the many benefits of serving on boards, the take away was that you can feel comfortable in the driver seat (making the decision to serve) once you understand your motivation, do your research, ask the critical questions and take all the time you need to ensure it is the right fit for you. Board service should leave you feeling good and rewarded, not overwhelmed and anxious.

Participants received information about resources around the Twin Cities where they can receive board training and additional information on serving on boards.

Certified Life Coach Janayah Bagurusi Presents at AWC Meeting

2010-07-02T10:13:00.000-07:00

“You are whole and great as you are. However you may want something more; to take it to that next level. A life coach will have a conversation with you about what it is that you want, ask the critical questions, hold you accountable and help you move forward at your own pace.” – Janayah Bagurusi

The threat of stormy weather and warnings of flash floods did not shut down our June monthly meeting. Our presenter, Janayah Bagurusi, arrived before our 6:00 p.m. start time, and several people braved the pouring rain and lightning to connect and participate in the important discussion of personal and professional life coaching.

Life can be a puzzle. We have all the pieces available to us but until we can put the pieces together correctly, it is difficult to see the (big) picture and follow our dreams. So it was only fitting to start our meeting with this idea of putting “the pieces” together. Working together on the puzzle also allowed us to exercise our team-building skills—and we did it in record time!

With Janayah’s help, we learned what coaching is and is not, completed a life-areas-ranking worksheet, and received a handout of 101 Reasons for Getting a Coach for business or career, dealing with life issues and personal success. We also had the wonderful opportunity to witness a live coaching session with a volunteer audience member. Finally, we concluded with a lively discussion and heard from people who had had coaching experience and those who were new to it asked some great questions.

Thank you to all who braved the weather to attend. The goal of AWC is to provide our members and friends with interesting and relevant information and experiences. Your attendance, especially in such weather, was assuring to our team and has inspired us to do more. A big thank you to our presenter Janayah Bagurusi, who did a fabulous job!

As always, we had a good time, connected and/or reconnected with others and learned something new. To inquire about consultation or if you have questions about coaching, Janayah can be reached at coaching@bagurusi.com or 651-226-0587.

President and Publisher of Mshale Newspaper, Tom Gitaa, Pays a Visit

2010-06-10T14:10:00.000-07:00

When you have Tom Gitaa, a community leader who is also a leading community newspaper publisher as a speaker, what do you do for an icebreaker activity? Current events trivia of course!

The ladies in attendance are on top of their game when it comes to current events. They were highly aware and knowledgeable of topics including the BP oil spill, Don’t Ask, Don’t Tell military policy, the local nurses’ association talks and potential strike, Minnesota failing schools, American Idol, the 2010 World Cup, etc. We had lots of fun discussing the news. Tom did weigh in somewhat but not very much. However, we could tell that he was impressed and enjoyed our perspectives and insights.

Tom shared his story about coming to the US as a student, getting involved in community and eventually starting a newsletter, which turned into what is now Mshale – The African Community Newspaper. He is the president and publisher of Mshale, which has been in existence since 1995. It is based in Minneapolis and serves the upper Midwest of the United States, reporting primarily on the activities of the African immigrant community. Tom founded the paper while still in college. The paper is considered an authority on the African immigrant community in the Midwest and held in high esteem around the United States within the ethnic media publishing industry.

On the surface, it sounded like he stumbled onto the paths of publishing and leadership. “I became a community leader by default,” Tom said. That’s because he is a sought after commentator and opinion leader on issues pertaining to Africa and the African Immigrant community in the US. However, if you listen closely to his interests and life experiences, you will see how everything he has been involved with and worked towards all played a role in molding his leadership.

As a community leader and publisher, Tom says that he and his team are very intentional when it comes to working respectfully and equally with all African communities and building trusting relationships. “Give now and get later,” is how Tom describes volunteer work. He is the president of the board of directors for Books for Africa, the largest shipper of donated books to Africa. He also sits in the board of directors of the Minnesota International Center (MIC), the sixth largest World Affairs Council in the United States. MIC is affiliated to the World Affairs Councils of America.

“My volunteer experiences have been very rewarding, exposed me to many opportunities and connected me to amazing individuals,” Tom said. His advice is to get involved even when it feels scary and uncertain because each person brings something to the table (otherwise they won’t allow you to participate) and take the time to get to know the people you come in contact with.

It would have been so wrong, I mean so very wrong, to let Tom get away without giving him a hard time. So we alluded to the fact that he talked about his children and other family members but did not mention a companion. He said that his lovely wife passed away a few years ago and he has been too busy and occupied for a romantic relationship. Then came the bombshell question, “Are you technically saying that you are available?” Tom reluctantly said yes. There you go—single ladies.

In closing, Tom extended an invitation to members and friends of AWC to attend Mshale’s 2nd Annual African Awards Gala, which will be held on September 18, 2010 at the Downtown Hilton in Minneapolis, MN. Tom has provided a special AWC discount. Contact us for the code to get your discount ticket.

A great time was had by all!

Group Outing to See Zimbabwean Nora Chipaumire Dance

2010-05-12T21:38:00.000-07:00

Cost of ticket: $20
Cost of parking: $8
A chance to hang out with Nora Chipaumire and learn from her: Priceless

There is something empowering about supporting people and things you believe in and are passionate about. The main thing that binds AWC members and participants together is “Africa.” Whether it has to do with thoughts, feelings, history, origins, people, culture, food, art, whatever, there is no doubt that that one word/idea binds us all.

So how excited do you think we were to venture out as a group to see the dance performance of a daughter of Africa, Zimbabwean Nora Chipaumire, choreographer, director and dancer? You guessed it—very much excited!

To be honest, the music was wonderfully familiar, the lighting and graphics were amazingly cutting edge but the choreography was very different from what we expected. Why and how you say? Well, we are very used to the theatrics of the African performance where there's usually an entire troupe on stage interacting with each other and the audience with music, movement, expressions, singing, grunts and/or loud noises and the whole spectacle of a drama. Nora put us to work— following the lone dancer, at times two, leaving us to interpret the scenes and then allowing us to enjoy the interesting choreography all at the same time. One thing we all agreed on was that the experience certainly broadened our perception of an African/African-inspired performance, which is a wonderful thing to have happened.

Prior to the performance I took a few minutes to look Nora up on the world wide web and was intrigued by a statement on her site: “My goal is to use cultural currency as a means to engage the world at large/agitate for human rights!”

I got a chance to asked her what she meant by that and was please that she didn't think I was “coo-coo.” It was my take away and something I've been thinking about a lot. She said that in this global, cultural world that we live in, one thing we have going for us is that we (Africans) are rich in 'cultural currency' and we must not hesitate to use it because what we have is uniquely ours and that is what we have to bring to the table. “When we don't use it [cultural currency] and other people do, we get pissed. We need to not only use it but also value it,” Nora Chipaumire said.

I don't know about you, but it makes a lot of sense to me and I, for one, plan to use it as often as possible.

See, not only did I broaden my perception and experience but I also learned a valuable lesson.

Take-Aways from Power and Possibilities: Minority Women Leadership Conference at St. Catherine's University, MN

2010-05-12T21:08:00.000-07:00

On April 21, I attended the Power and Possibilities leadership conference for women of color at St. Catherine University. The keynote speaker was Elizabeth B. Kautz, president of United States Conference of Mayors and current Mayor of Burnsville, Minnesota. There were many other women leaders with impressive accomplishments, participating in the program.

I was definitely wearing my “AWC hat” so I decided to share my take-aways from this awesomely inspiring event with you:

1.Leadership begins from early on; even in your childhood when you're not as aware of it. The lesson here is to take the time to reflect on the past and discover seeds planted and discover how and what specific events and individuals helped you develop into the leader you are.

2.There are people around you who would like to help---only if you will let them. So don't shy away from asking for help; learn from others if necessary.

3.The “possibilities” is understanding the needs around you. Very often we are so focused on what it is we want and not what the needs are. Pay attention to your surroundings and listen carefully.

4.Walk (into a situation) with confidence, courage and a plan. Don't be afraid to ask for a chance to come up with a plan—because nothing happens with one.

5.Know your environment, resources and have the courage to move forward.

6.Include people in the design of your plan. You know what they say: no man is an island.

7.Your mission and vision are (or should be) bigger than you.

8.Be organized, put it on your schedule and keep moving. Putting it on your schedule makes it less likely to forget or run into conflicts.

9.Don't let others define you. You are (or should be) the author of your path. Don't let others definition of you stick---it's theirs, not yours.

10.When collaborating with others find the connecting points that everyone can rally around. That way the goals are not yours or theirs, instead everyone has a stake in it and therefore are motivated to make it happen.

11.Disagree but don't throw arrows (don't eradicate their ideas or existence) because when we do, we weaken our community. Disagree wisely and intelligently.

April Meeting and Ethnic Food Drive

2010-05-12T21:07:00.000-07:00

We had a wonderful conversation with Dr. Richard Oni, guest speaker at our April meeting and ethnic food drive. Dr. Oni shared the history and experiences of the African Food Shelf (AFS), which began with food distribution to 50 members of the African Community and has now grown to providing an average of 125 bags of food each month to families. AFS rely on the hard work of volunteers and the generosity of ethnic and mainstream grocers to help families make ends meet.

As you may know, ethnic food products can be expensive but it is one way that families deal with “cultural bereavement” that results from living faraway from home and being separated from one's family and culture. “When we eat our cultural foods, we are reminded of our culture, 'back home' in Africa and it makes us feel more at home,” Dr. Oni said.

AFS had decided early on that people would not have to go through an intake and qualifying process in order to preserve the dignity of the families in need. “Once you start scrutinizing people, a loss of dignity occurs,” said Dr. Oni. An unfortunate situation that many in the community have experienced at some food distribution centers. In addition, remittances sent to Africa to support family members are usually not included as a part of expenses when people fill out service eligibility forms, which makes their net income appears to be higher than it really is. For these reasons and others, AFS decided that qualifications for participation would generally be left to individual's conscious. Participants are registered at the time of pickup and provided assistance according to the number of people living in each household.

In addition to food distribution, AFS partners with the University of Minnesota medical students to provide blood pressure checkups and a nonprofit organization called African Health Action (AHA), which provides a variety of medical assistance including HIV/AIDS testing. Dr. Oni reported that at times they had to call the ambulance because some people are walking around with pressure high enough to cause a stroke and don't know it.

Due to funding cuts and a challenging economy, AFS has been forced to consider partnership with another food shelf organization, the Emergency Food Network, to continue helping families in need. However, eligibility status will have to be adjusted to meet their partner's standards for reporting.

Dr. Oni said that he is pleased to learn of AWC's effort to collect ethnic food products to donate to individuals and families in need because it important not only for nourishment but also for emotional well-being of members of our community.

AFS food distribution is held on a monthly basis at the corner of 69th and Humbolt Ave in Brooklyn Center, Minnesota. Dr. Oni can be contacted at troni@orbis.net.

Attendance at the April meeting was unexpectedly low and 43 lbs of food was collected, the lowest amount in the history of AWC food drive. According to our friends at CEAP Food Shelf, in Brooklyn Park, each individual receives a minimum of 15 lbs of food at distribution. So to put in in perspective, we provide food for less than three individuals—we can surely do better than that. We plan to make up for our loss over the next months by continuing to collect food items at our monthly meetings.
Many thanks to Dr. Oni and AFS for taking the time to visit with us and to the staff and management of the Flamingo Restaurant. This goes without saying, thanks also to the phenomenal ladies who attended and donated to our food drive. Your leadership and commitment are the ingredients the keep AWC cooking.

March 26, Meeting in Pictures

2010-04-06T12:55:00.000-07:00

L-R front: Yasmin, Mietta and Beatrice. Yasmin, originally from Sierra Leone, is a nurse at Fairview Hospital & Clinics; Mietta originally from Liberia, works with Medica; Beatrice, originally from Rwanda, is a network technician at Metronic.

L-R: Elizabeth and Lydia. Liz works at the University of Minnesota as an administrative assistant; Lydia works with Hennepin County. Both are originally from Kenya.

L - R: Fatou and Joyce. Fatou is a journalist from Gambia who's new to the Twin Cities; Joyce is a seasoned business owner and provides quality hair extensions and services. A longtime AWC friend, she is originally from Nigeria.

L - R: Jayne and Bosola. Jayne, originally from Kenya, works in the area of social services with RS Eden. Bosola, originally from Nigeria, is an infectious disease doctor at Hennepin County Medical Center.

L - R: Marie Therese and Rosemary. Marie, originally from Rwanda, is a business systems analyst currently in transition; Rosemary, of Nigerian and British heritage, recently became a principal at a design and marketing firm.

L - R: Josephine and Regine. Josie is an experienced registered nurse at Fairview University Hospital and Regine also works as a nurse with a nursing home facility. Both ladies are originally from Rwanda.

L - R: Ruth, Hanna and Mahlet. Ruth, originally from Eritrea, works as a business analyst at Ameriprise; Hanna has a background in IT in the area of healthcare and is linen rental business owner. Hanna and Mahlet are both from Ethiopia.

L - R: Wokie and Mameneh. Wokie works in community relations at the University of Minnesota; Mameneh is a Minneapolis Public Schools staff and has a background in graphic design. Both ladies are originally from Liberia, are passionate about community and a often involved in organizing a variety of events.

Not pictured are Elizabeth W., originally from Kenya and works with Northpoint Wellness Center as a program coordinator; Veronica, a nursing student originally from Liberia; Khalilah an African American and also a nursing student; Rita, originally from Liberia, AWC Founder and works as a leadership program coordinator at the Metropolitan Economic Development Association (MEDA).

A good time was had by all!

10 Reasons to Join AWC Network

2010-04-06T00:21:00.000-07:00

10 of many reasons why people seek out and/or return to AWC meetings:

1. Get A Life - As we get older and bogged down by the list of things that need to be done by such and such time, having a social life gets put on the back burner pretty fast. The only way to get it back is to work hard at developing and maintaining one, especially when our friends are just as busy. AWC is one way women can maintain and grow their social network.

2. Girl Date Night - Time an time again we see friends who just don't have the chance to get together as often as they used to but they make a date of AWC meetings to meet and catchup.

3. Prelude to Night Out on the Town - Some friends use AWC meetings as a prelude to their night out on the town. After all, you can't expect to have an enjoyable and meaningful conversation over loud music?

4. Put a Face on Business - Business owners have an opportunity to 'put a face on their business' by interacting with potential customers and/or referral sources. Research shows that women are more likely to buy from or refer a friend to a woman-owned business, especially when they've met the business owner.

5. Support Community - AWC Meeting host not only directly benefit from dollars spent by attendees but also gain potential customers and referrals for years to come. In addition, AWC conduct group volunteer activities to leverage members and participants skills and talents while making a difference in the community.

6. Meet Experienced Professionals - AWC members and participants are professionals in various fields, have solid work experience and are employed with some of MN largest corporations. Mine the group right and you can get inside scoop in organizations, get quality referrals, career move advice, get access to the right people and resources, etc. It was due to high interest in connecting on a professional level at the monthly meeting that resulted in establishing AWC Linked-In Group.

7. “Like Me” Quality - When you have family members and obligations spread out over two or more continents, conducting life and business in two or more cultures, and other double circumstances you can think of, you will appreciate spending some time with people who don't think your predicament is strange or insane. Attendees appreciate this “like me” quality about AWC meetings.

8. Brush Up on Networking Skills - Networking is not considered a fun thing for many people. AWC provides a more comfortable ad safe environment for practice. What you experience at AWC is comparable to any networking situation.

9. Unique Resources and Information - When can you find a good, affordable hair-braider? Who sews the best African outfits? Where can I find a licensed caterer that cooks tasty African food? What's the best phone card to call Africa? Know a hair salon that opens according to the hours marked on the window and keeps appointments exactly like they're booked? And on and on. What other networking event will provide answers to such questions.

10. Brush Up on People Skills - Girls will be girls. We're not perfect and not even trying to be. When we get together we want to relax and have a good time. So what if one or two persons are a tad bit loud or more obnoxious than you prefer? Don't we have such people everywhere? Find the good intentions in the situation and don't take it personally. Focus on the ones that interest you.

15th Annual International Women's Day Celebration

2010-03-09T23:44:00.000-08:00

Keynote presenter: Leymah Gbowee, Founder & Director, Women Peace & Security Network - Africa

We are pretty pleased with our first IWD sponsorship!

Inspired by the United Nations Fourth World Conference on Women in Beijing, China, The Advocates for Human Rights and the University of MN Women's Human Rights Program have continued "to build on the extraordinary spirit and energy of the conference by bringing together the world community living in Minnesota, USA, to celebrate International Women's Day." The keynote presentation was given by Leymah Gbowee, Founder and Director, Women Peace and Security Network-Africa. The event included music, performances, workshops, organizational display tables, film screenings, visual arts exhibit, arts and crafts vendors, and the keynote presentation.

Rita on the ready to get the word out

It was a long day but we were lucky to have our fabulous and hard-working volunteers (Laaitu and Elizabeth). It was exciting to see some familiar faces and meet new ones. Our goal was to join in the celebration of women everywhere and get the word out about AWC.

Get the word out we did! Overall, people were generally interested in the AWC Concept. We spoke with African college students, professional African women, people who, for one reason or another, wanted to connect with African women/community. Also, people who work with African immigrants and refugees were excited to add AWC to their resource list for women who may be interested.

Laaitu Sabiya tells the AWC story to event attendee

It was also great to meet other vendors. I had a great conversation with one particular vendor who was of Indian descent with organizational mission similar to AWC's. It felt great to not only swap stories but also share experiences that she could relate to and found helpful. It never ceases to amaze me how we (women) have more in common than we realize sometimes.

L-R: Wokie Freeman, Leymah Gbowee, Rita Apaloo

The keynote speaker, Leymah Gbowee, was the icing on the cake--just awesome! Leymah spoke on the topic, “Rebuilding a failed state one woman at a time.” The stories she told about the role ordinary Liberian women played in bringing about peace in Liberia, electing the first female president in Africa and strides in continuing to stay engaged in the processes of democracy and community building were no short of amazing. She talked about how when regular efforts to register women to vote failed because the women had become disillusioned after being let down by the political process so many times before, Leymah's organization took on the challenge of mobilizing thousands of women in a record-breaking period of time, which eventually led to the election of President Sirleaf.

Do you know how they convinced the women to register to vote? They took the time to talk to each woman one on one; sometimes it meant assisting with washing laundry, handing her ingredients while she cooked, burping a baby, accompanying her to the market, etc. Whatever it took to ensure the woman understood how important her vote was and why they needed it. She said that in the past, when a peace agreement was signed, the women came out in the streets, took off their scarfs and wraps and danced with joy. Once the celebration was done, they would go back home to do the cooking and raising children but now they understand that they need to get involved and be a part of rebuilding and keeping the peace.
Inspire. Act. Change!--the theme of IWD 2010. I have to say that I was truly inspired by the event.

Wokie Johnson stopped by to say hi.

To leave you with Leymah Gbowee's advice, get involved--do something to make a change in your community.

It was an honor to be included in the Liberian Women's Roundtable private luncheon with Leymah Gbowee

At AWC, we plan to keep on building relationships one woman at a time!

Strong Start for 2010

2010-03-02T23:27:00.000-08:00

We had a great time at our first event for 2010! Thanks to all who attended and made it happen!

The turnout was great, a total of 20 people, and a good sign of what’s to come for the remainder of the year (knock on wood).

Attendees heard first hand some reasons why people get involved with AWC—to meet like-minded people, take a break from the everyday stresses, meet new people, connect with old friends, connect with people with similar background and experiences, become energized, experience sisterhood, recharge, extended family, share information, learn something new, enjoy good food, have fun, etc.

We are always grateful to members and friends who help spread the word about AWC. In fact, 40% of attendees were invited by a friend who was also present. We would like to encourage more people to spread the word and help us grow and become more relevant in the community.

Our #1 goal this year is to grow our membership, which is an affordable, annual fee of $35 for individuals and $75 for small business owners (sole proprietor). Benefits include special discounts on events and services, opportunities to leverage skills and talents, access to members in our professional network and other incentives. Contact Rita if you're interested in becoming a member.

We are so pleased with the result of our first Monthly Dinner and eagerly look forward to the next one scheduled for Friday, March 26, from 6 to 8 p.m.

Mark your calendar and plan to join us!

2009 Numbers are In!

2010-03-01T19:27:00.000-08:00

2009 was a good year for AWC. We had a total of ten events, two of which were uncharted waters for us but nevertheless successful--the Community Summit on Leadership held in September and the Mini Business Fair added to our Annual Holiday Celebration. Both events drew a lot of interests and we are looking forward to repeating (at some level) again this year.

The total number of event participants was 132 (79-unduplicated), 62% were new to the organization and 38% returning participants. Average meeting attendance was 13 people and the highest attendance was 36. Participants hailed from 12 different countries; 46% from the West African region, 33% from the East African region, 2% from the South African region, 1% from Central African region and 18% were non Africans.

We view 2009 as a come-back year for AWC and are hoping to keep the momentum going in 2010. Our #1 goal in 2010 is to grow our membership and become more effective.

We appreciate your interest and encourage your support as we strive to provide more opportunities for African Women immigrants to build relationships for success.

Happy New Year is Still in Order!

2010-03-01T19:17:00.000-08:00

It is my hope that the New Year has taken off just like you wished and you’re right on track with your goals!

Here at AWC, things are headed in the right direction and with your support, participation and commitment we will achieve some wonderful things together.

Our Advisory Board will be meeting on Feb. 7, to finalize 2010 event dates and goals. We’ve reviewed results from 2009 and I’m happy to report that we had a pretty good year. We will share 2009 results with you in the coming weeks. As soon as the Advisory Board and AWC members have reviewed and provided feedback, you will receive our 2010 calendar of events.
In 2009, AWC members and participants asked for more time to talk and get to know each other better. We are pleased to announce that this year we are incorporating a monthly 4th Friday Dinner. There will be no special presentations, only networking and relationship-building!

Mark your calendar for our first 4th Friday Dinner kick off on February 20, 6 to 8 p.m. Finding a location is always challenging because of AWC event location criteria, which include supporting an establishment that’s small/community/ethnic/minority-owned or operated. We are close to finding a meeting location and will send you that info ASAP. In the meantime, please reserve Feb. 26, 6-8 p.m. on your calendar.

Subsequent 4th Friday Dinner dates are March 26, April 23 and May 28.

Hope you can join us as we kick off AWC 2010 Season.

Here’s to Doing More Together in 2010!