Bronx, NY April 17, 2009
History was made this past weekend as a new community empowerment program made its first appearance unto the busy African community calendar in New York City. “The African Forum” as it is called, opened to the general public on Friday April 17 at the Paradise Grill, a wholly African owned state-of-the-art restaurant located at 441 East 153 Street in the Bronx.
It event featured a Larry King style guest-host discussion of immigration issues under the title “US immigration Laws – Fact Versus Myths”. Mr. John Akpalu, a New York based attorney took the stage as the guest. He led discussions and provided expert information and explanation of a wide range of immigration issues that included legal/illegal residencies, categories of visas, adjustment of status in and outside the US, dealing with the INS - common pitfalls and errors, paths to citizenships etc. He also fielded participants’ questions on the relationship between law enforcement agencies and the immigration service, the diversity lottery and many more issues. The two hour event was attended by a sizeable number of people that included French-speaking African immigrants. The significance of this was not lost on the predominantly English –speaking audience who are used to attending one-sided monolingual English affairs. In fact, key moments of the night came when comments and questions had to be translated back and forth for the benefit of all present. As remarked by a spokesperson of the organizers, “we’ve got to go it together, Francophone or Anglophone, It can be done. And why not - we share common problems.”
The event was hosted by the Center for African Initiatives Inc (CAI), a not for profit grassroots organization based in New York. According to its spokesperson, Friday’s event was the first in a monthly series to be known as “The African Forum – An Evening to EnJaw (Talk) and EnJoy (Be Entertained).” It is intended to bring the people together to:
1. discuss issues of topical importance to Africans with experts and community leaders
2. dine, wine, dance and laugh in the company of friends and family
3. provide opportunities for networking and contacts.
The next Forum is slated for the end of May at the same venue on a topic relating to the raising and education of African children in the United States.
Founded in 2005, the CAI has as its primary objective informing, educating and mobilizing the African immigrant community in the United States towards enhanced citizenship and public service. It is currently run by an interim executive board made up as follows:
Mr. G. Ofori Anor – Chairman
Mr. Adam Watarra – Deputy Chairman
Mr. Abdulai Ahmed – Executive Secretary
Mr. Abeeku Acquah – Financial Officer
Mr. Ben Adarkwa - Member
Mr. Mike. Kojo Frempong – Member
Nana Boakye-Asante – Member
Ms. Elizabeth Tobge – Member
Ms. Mata Shariff – Member
Dr. George Lamptey – Member
Contact: The Chairman
P.O. Box 660168 Fresh Meadows NY 11366 Tel: 718-690-6873 Email: caioffice.newyork@gmail.com
