Monday, July 30, 2012

Mayor Emanuel aims to make Chicago ‘most immigrant friendly city in the country’

Mayor Rahm Emanuel introduced a Welcoming City Ordinance that builds on efforts to make Chicago the most immigrant-friendly city in the country by incorporating basic protections for undocumented Chicagoans who have not been convicted of a serious crime and are not wanted on a criminal warrant. The ordinance builds on an existing ordinance and longtime City policy that prohibits agencies from inquiring about the immigration status of people seeking City services, and provides that the Chicago Police Department (CPD) will not question crime victims, witnesses and other law-abiding residents about their legal status. 

“This Welcoming City ordinance will make Chicago a national leader in welcoming those who play by the rules, contribute to our economy and help make Chicago the incredible city that was envisioned by its first immigrant settlers,” said Mayor Emanuel.

 The ordinance will be expanded to ensure that undocumented Chicagoans will only be detained if they have an outstanding criminal warrant; have been convicted of a felony; are a defendant in a criminal case where a judgment has not been entered and a felony charge is pending; have been identified as a known gang member; or if they are otherwise a clear threat to public safety or national security.


 For the full article, click here.

Tuesday, July 24, 2012

UAO extends condolences to the Ghanaian community

We at United African Organization extend our heartfelt condolences to the Ghanaian community here and in Ghana over the untimely passing of their President, John Atta Mills, earlier today.

Monday, July 23, 2012

Diaspora Donors Networking Event!

Connect, Network, and Learn! 


Are you interested in designing and supporting community projects back in your home country?  If so, you are invited to a special meeting on Monday, July 30, 2012 to network with a diverse group of individuals, foundations and organizations in international philanthropy!


When: Monday, July 30th, 2012
Where: IIT Tower Building (10 W. 35th Street, Chicago, IL), Floor 6
Time: 5:30- 7:30

Refreshments will be served.


Please e-mail Sarah Travis, UAO Community Resource Specialist, at sarah.travis@uniteafricans.org or 312-949-9980 to RSVP for the event. Space is limited!  Don't miss this unique network opportunity!


Tuesday, July 17, 2012

Illinois Women WIN with the Affordable Care Act!!

Starting Strong Illinois invites you to the fourth in a series of webinars on the Affordable Care Act. 

This webinar on Wednesday, August 1 from 2:00 to 3:00 p.m. CDT, will focus on how Illinois women have and will benefit from the Affordable Care Act.

Starting on August 1, 2012, women will be able to access preventive services specific to their unique health care needs, without a co-pay, cost-sharing, or deductible. Learn more about these benefits, as well as other provisions in the Affordable Care Act that protect and promote women’s health.

Learn about the FREE preventive services available to women starting on August 1, as well as other benefits already in place;

Understand why women have so much to gain from the ACA; 

Find out about pending Illinois policy decisions related to ACA implementation and what you can do to ensure women’s health is prioritized.

The Illinois Maternal and Child Health Coalition and the Shriver Center combine their experience and expertise in working with community health providers and with the nuts and bolts of state and federal health programs including Medicaid, Medicare, and Social Security to bring credible, relevant and useful information to Illinois providers. 

Friday, July 13, 2012

Join us for our African Community picnic!

Get the Family Out: African Community Picnic

  • Food
  • Music
  • FREE Give-Aways
  • Games
  • Raffles 
  • Much More!!
August 4, 2012
37th & State St
Chicago, IL 60616

NO ADMISSION FEE!!

Contact us for more information:
312.949.9980 | www.uniteafricans.org

Chicago Housing Authority to accept applications

The Chicago Housing Authority, will be accepting applications for the re-opening of its public housing community area wait list. WCDC will be taking applications for Lincoln Square (2, 3, and 4 Bedrooms) Community Area ONLY. Maximum income restrictions apply. ADA accessible units are available. The CHA will conduct an electronic lottery drawing to determine each registrant’s place on the wait list. For more information please click here for English, and here for Spanish!


Join us for the UAO's Youth Leadership Workshop!




UNITED AFRICAN ORGANIZATION 


July 21, 2012 - Leadership Workshop

Saturday, July 21, 2012 
9:00am – 1:00pm 
10 West 35th Street 
6th floor – University Room 
Chicago, IL 60616 

Youth Engagement & Empowerment: Developing a new generation of effective leaders for the future 

· Cultivating youth activists

· Creating opportunities for youth-led initiatives

· Inter-generational learning



Facilitator - Bryan Echols is an experienced community and youth organizer in Chicago. As Executive Director for Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization (MAGIC), Bryan launched exciting programs for teens, such as a mural arts programs, music programs and youth organizing training. Bryan is interested in reconnecting the Diaspora and Africa, and working with multi-ethnic coalitions to build power for marginalized communities nationwide.

Please invite your network for this FREE leadership workshop.

For more information:

Email: info@uniteafricans.org | Phone: 312-949-9980




Wednesday, July 11, 2012

Press Release for Mali: Destruction of Religious Sites in Timbuktu


(CHICAGO, IL July 11, 2012) – The Council of Islamic Organizations of Greater Chicago (CIOGC) joins other sobering voices around the world, including the United African Organization and CIOGC member native Malians in a prayer for a return to peaceful co-existence of the many historic tribal communities in Mali, West Africa. CIOGC strongly condemns the outrageous destruction of Mali’s historical sites and artifacts. The extremist groups, many of whom have no connection to the Malian people or land, are acting on an ideology that has no regard for sacred symbols or peace. They are outside of the mainstream of the Islamic faith.

CIOGC has a long history in standing in solidarity for the rights and dignities of Muslims and non-Muslims around the world, it can do no less in face of these wanton acts of destruction in Mali.

CIOGC has a long history in standing in solidarity for the rights and dignities of Muslims and non-Muslims around the world, it can do no less in face of these wanton acts of destruction in Mali.
We add our voice to the United African Organization in speaking out against the continuing violations and abuses of human rights by armed terrorist groups occupying the northern part of Mali and the worsening humanitarian situation on the ground.

The diverse Muslim communities represented by CIOGC call for an end to the acts of vandalism in the besieged ancient African Muslim cities like Timbuktu, Jenne and Gao in Mali.

We join our voice because Mali occupies a special place in the global and glorious history of Islam. But importantly because we must live up to our own values to insure the livelihood of all. As stated by Alie Kabba, Executive Director of the United African Organization office in Chicago, the Muslim world goes beyond the traditional Middle Eastern and North African countries and, “understanding our interconnectedness through history is an essential cornerstone of our responsibility to appreciate the faith that unites our diverse community.”

Monday, July 9, 2012

Uniting America's Summer Leadership Academy is 1 week away! Apply now!

There are still spots left so fill out the application and join ICIRR and our members for a life changing summer!!

On June 15th, 2012, President Obama announced that his administration will be working to a process where undocumented youth can apply for deferred action and stop their deportations and possibly receive a work permit. This summer, you will have the opportunity to get the most up-to-date information on what this memo means!

Do you want be part of the team to organize the 1st workshop following Obama's announcement?

Do you want to know how you can bring this information back to your friends, classmates, and teachers in your school?

Apply today and be part of the team that will organize the 1st workshop and help thousands of undocumented youth in the state of Illinois!

During the 5 weeks, you will be part of an amazing team of great leaders in the immigrant community. You will learn about immigrant civic engagement, voter registration and voter turnout, you will learn to write a press statement, an editorial, create public service announcements to inform our communities about this new announcement and all matters that affect our immigrant communities! In fact, our 1st day, we will talk to students from the United Kingdom about their work!




If you have questions, please e-mail Cindy Agustin at cagustin@icirr.org or give me a call at 773.351.9097.

It's time for YOU to become a LEADER in YOUR COMMUNITY! APPLY AT WWW.ICIRR.ORG/SUMMERLEADERSHIP

Thursday, July 5, 2012

Africa: UNHCR Promotes Innovation and Self Sufficiency At Annual NGO Meet


Geneva — A top UNHCR official opened annual consultations with non-governmental organizations (NGO) on Tuesday by seeking their assistance in developing innovative ways to help refugees and in empowering more of the displaced through self-sufficiency.

Deputy High Commissioner for Refugees T. Alexander Aleinikoff, addressing more than 430 participants from 86 countries at the start of the three-day meeting in Geneva, said UNHCR was looking at how the agency and its partners could "become 21st Century organizations" and benefit from best practices around the world.

"Many of us work in ways we have worked for many years, where things that have worked in the past continue to work in the present. But, meanwhile, the world has moved on," he said, adding that UNHCR was looking at how it could benefit from improvements in areas such as mobile phone technology, solar power and lighting, fuel-efficient stoves, shelter, livelihoods and micro-credit.

"All of these are areas in which innovative practices would be welcome and where we can learn from organizations and changes going on around the world," Aleinikoff said, before revealing that the agency would soon launch an "innovation initiative" that would "attempt to pull these examples together" and feature innovative ideas developed in the field.


For more on this article, click here!
_

Source: allAfrica

FATE Presents: Eniyan


Show your support to the Fehinty African Theatre Ensemble (FATE)
by attending their upcoming play Eniyan!!!

When: August 17-19, September 14-16
Friday - Saturday 8PM, Sunday 4PM

or at the door, $20 (Dinner and Play)

Where: Inyaze African Restaurant 
4623 N. Broadway, Chicago IL 60640
(773)-417-9997