African Voices Podcast: Episode 6!

In this episode, we feature:

• Top news stories from the African continent
• Upcoming Events
• An exclusive interview with Kinobe from Kinobe & the African Sensation, a music group based in Uganda
• Advice Box: Scholarships and Jobs for young African and African Americans
• Music from Uganda's Kinobe & the African Sensation

Click here to listen! 

African Youth Forum TOMORROW!

UAO's African Youth Forum is almost upon us! The Forum will bring together 100 high-school and college age  young people from African-American and African immigrant communities. It takes place on:

Saturday, March 31

10:30am-5:00pm

6th Floor, 10 West 35th Street Chicago, IL 60616

We look forward to seeing you at the African Youth Forum tomorrow!

UAO talks African Youth Forum on CAN TV

This week, United African Organization interviewed Bryan Echols and Chioma Anigbogu about the African Youth Forum taking place on Saturday, March 31, 2012. Click the video below to play. For more info on the African Youth Forum, click here.

Fela! Musical in Chicago

The show Fela! is coming to Chicago next week:

Fela!

Oriental Theatre, Chicago Illinois

March 27, 2012 - April 15, 2012

"FELA!, the joyous dance, theater, music spectacle, has thrilled audiences in three continents. The Tony Award® winner, directed and choreographed by Bill T. Jones explores the extravagant world of Afrobeat legend, Fela Kuti. FELA! comes to Chicago’s Oriental Theater following its sold-out run at London’s prestigious National Theatre where The Guardian’s Michael Billington exclaimed, “It breaks down conventional barriers between stage and auditorium and joins passion and politics. The dancing is ecstatic, the music lifts the spirits, and the stage is alive with movement.” Bill T. Jones earned a Tony Award® for Best Choreographer."

The show is produced by Will Smith, Jada Pinkett-Smith and Jay-Z. It centers around the great Nigerian musician Fela Kuti. 

Tickets can be purchased here

UAO talk African Youth Forum on CANTV tonight

Tune into CANTV (Channel 19 & 21) from 6.30PM to 7.00PM tonight to watch the UAO's monthly show! Tonight our guests are Bryan Echols and Chioma Anigbogu. They will be talking about their efforts to unite African and African-American youth, and about our upcoming African Youth Forum.

The African Youth Forum takes place on March 31, 2012 and is open to all high-school and college age young people. Click here to register.

Screening of “Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai”

Click for a larger image

This Sunday, March 25, the National Council of African Women, Chicago Mid-West Branch will screen a documentary film about Kenyan human rights activist Wangari Maathai. Ms. Maathai passed away last year.

“Taking Root: The Vision of Wangari Maathai”

Sunday, March 25, 2012

2pm-4pm

Liberty Baptist Church

(Lower Auditorium)

4849 S. King Drive

Chicago, Illinois

"The sixty-five-minute documentary film tells of the life, struggles, inspiration, and achievements of Ms. Maathai (1940-2011), leading to her winning a Nobel Peace Prize for her work, which changed the entire nation of Kenya. Her simple act of planting trees grew into the internationally renowned Green Movement to restore the environment, human rights, and democracy for all, including women. This film is an inspiration for all who share concerns for human dignity, rights, and justice; and it speaks to spirituality as a basis for human progress."

African Youth Forum coming March 31!

A reminder that the UAO's African Youth Forum will take place on Saturday, March 31, 2012, from 10:30am-5:00pm on the 6th floor of 10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL.

The African Youth Forum will bring together high-school and college-age African-born and African American young people to dialogue around key issues in their communities.

The main themes of this forum are: Immigration, Education & Incarceration.

The African Youth Forum will include discussions, performances, poetry and music. Lunch will be provided.

If you are of high-school or college age, and would like to participate in this Forum, please REGISTER here. The Forum is free but you MUST REGISTER to attend.

UAO African Leadership Workshop: Saturday, March 24, 2012

As part of our ongoing African Community Leadership Development Program, our next workshop will focus on Effective Advocacy: Developing Strategies for Grassroots Public Policy Advocacy.

The workshop will take place on:

Saturday, March 24, 2012

9:00am - 12:00pm

10 West 35th Street, 6th floor (University Room)

Chicago, IL 60616. 

Facilitator: James Thindwa

James Thindwa is a veteran of community organizing and political activism in Chicago. Born in Zimbabwe to Malawian parents, as a student leader Thindwa played an active role in the anti-apartheid movement and in numerous other social justice struggles. Thindwa earned a masters degree at Miami University in Ohio. It was in Ohio that he began his organizing career in earnest, working as a consumer rights advocate for the Ohio Citizen Action. In 1993, Thindwa joined Chicago's Metro Seniors and served as a lead organizer there for 9 years. From 2002-2009, he was Executive Director of Chicago Jobs with Justice, a labor-community coalition that promotes workers' rights and livable communities. Since 2009, he has been the Civic Engagement Coordinator for Chicago Alliance of Charter Teachers and Staff (CHICAGO ACTS). He is also a writer and board member at In These Times magaizine. Thindwa was the featured subject on PBS's Bill Moyers Journal in 2009.

The workshop is FREE, but you must RSVP at training@uniteafricans.org or call 312-949-9980 .

See you Saturday, March 24th!

Kinobe & the African Sensation Come to Chicago

Kinobe & the African Sensation

       Join the community at the Old Town School of Folk Music 

*LIVE SET*

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

8:30pm- ALL AGES

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL

*MUSIC WORKSHOP*

Thursday, March 22, 2012

8:00pm- ALL AGES

4544 N Lincoln Ave, Chicago IL

"Born in Uganda, Kinobe is a gifted multi-instrumentalist, vocalist and composer whose early abilities in traditional African music quickly garnered acclaim on the world stage. Steeped in the music of his homeland, with ears and heart open to the pulse of the world ~ Kinobe is a unique artist. Together with his band, 

The African Sensation, they are the vanguard of Ugandan performers representing the inspired synthesis of African roots and global fusion." 

Click here to visit their website! 

Undocumented, Unafraid: IYJL Rally Today in Wheaton, IL

The Immigrant Youth Justice League (IYJL) is holding a rally in Wheaton, IL today (Friday, March 16).

Dupage County in Illinois is known as one of the toughest areas for undocumented immigrants, due to their collaboration and enforcement of Secure Communities. Undocumented youth - in other words, young people who do not possess valid papers - will be coming out for the first time, in front of the County Sheriff’s office.

If you are undocumented, or you are an ally, try make it to Wheaton to stand in solidarity with these youth!

More info on the event
More info on the IYJL

ANC Centenary Event on March 24 - Exhibition and Discussion

ANC Centenary Chicago-Midwest Committee

Presents

"Taking the Past Forward" 

Archival Event

Saturday March 24, 2012, 4-7pm

South African Consulate, Chicago, 200 S. Michigan Ave.
#600, Chicago, IL 60604-2588.

Light Refreshments will be served.

Join us for a Discussion, Digital Display and Exhibition of Banners, Posters, Pictures, and other Collected Materials from the Chicago/Midwest Anti-Apartheid & South African Liberation Solidarity Movements and their importance to today’s social justice education and movements.

Ambassador Nomvume Magaqa, South African Consul General of Chicago

Chris Root, African Activist Archive, Michigan State University

Tamar Evangelestia-Dougherty, Archivist, Black Metropolis Research Consortium

Heidi Marshall, Chicago Anti-Apartheid Movement Collection, Columbia College Chicago

Cheryl Johnson-Odim, Provost, Dominican University

Lisa Brock, Arcus Center for Social Justice Leadership, Kalamazoo College

Ghana's 55th Independence Anniversary

Celebrate Ghana's 55th Independence Anniversary on

Date:Saturday, March 10, 2012

Time: 7:00pm- 1:00am

Venue: Crystal Light Banquet 

8400 S. Cicero, Burbank, IL

Celebration of the New Generation of Africa

The African Student Council of the University of Illinois - Chicago, is hosting a 'Celebration of the New Generation of Africa' at UIC Illinois Room, 750 S. Halsted St, Chicago, IL 60607. It takes place on Saturday, March 17, 2012, from 7pm-10pm.

UAO's upcoming Citizenship Workshop

Together with ICIRR and the New Americans Initiative (NAI), UAO is organizing a citizenship workshop for:

Saturday, March 24, 2012 from 9am-12noon

Truman College

1145 W. Wilson Ave.

Chicago, IL 60640

Please call us at the UAO if you are thinking of attending so we can make sure you are eligible and let you know what documents to bring. Call: 312-949-9980

Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas Grand Inaugural Ball

There is a lot going on the community this week! The Union of Liberian Associations in the Americas hosts in Grant Inaugural Ball in Chicago on Saturday, March 10, 2012 at 6:30pm. The venue is 3130 W. 87th Street, Chicago, IL 60652. 

UAO's African Youth Forum

UAO African Youth Forum

Saturday, March 31, 2012 
10:30am - 5:00pm 
10 West 35th Street, Chicago, IL 60616  


Register Here

For more information, email: events@uniteafricans.org  or call 312.949.9980

On Saturday, March 31, 2012, the UAO will host an African Youth Forum. 

The African Youth Forum will bring together African and African-American youth, as well as other immigrant and native-born young people in Chicago to dialogue around issues and challenges in their communities. This Forum will center around 3 main issues:  the Prison Industrial Complex, Immigration, and Education.

Through dialogue, we hope that young people will build understanding of each others' points of view, and in the process find common ground. We hope that the forum will be a catalyst for sustained youth dialogue and organizing in Chicago, with committed and open engagement from African youth. The forum will be a day-long affair, and will include performances, music, talks and discussions. 

Click for larger image

Participating Organizations include:

Metropolitan Area Group for Igniting Civilization (M.A.G.I.C.)

Center for New Horizons

Gary Comer Youth Center

Affinity

Umu Igbo Alliance

JahGhana Productions

African and Carribean Students Association (ACSA) at University of Chicago

For more information, email: events@uniteafricans.org  or call 312.949.9980

Join us for our African Business Round Table

The UAO's quarterly African Business Roundtable takes place on:

Monday, March 12, 2012

11:00am

University Room in IIT Tower Building

10 West 35th Street, Chicago IL 60616

Don't miss this opportunity to find out how to do business with the State of Illinois!

Register here

Issue 5 of the African Advocate is out now!

In this issue, we discuss:

• Rose Tchakounte's struggle with the Chicago Police Department (CPD) and Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE)
• An invitation to the UAO's African Business Round Table
• The up-coming African Youth Forum, along with other forums
• Local African News
• News from the African continent
• African events within the Chicagoland area 

To subscribe, click here to get monthly updates from the African Community! 

African Voices Podcast, Episode 5 is here!

Click to Listen! 

African Voices, Episode 5! In this episode: 

• News and events from the African community in Illinois this month. 
• Top news stories from the African continent. 
• Upcoming Events. 
• An exclusive interview with Gwaii, a hip-hop/reggae artists from Tanzania. 
• Advice Box: Eating Healthily on a Budget + Recipes. 
• An interview with Almaz Yigisaw, owner of Chicago’s Ethiopian Diamond Restaurant. 
• Music from Chicago’s very own Gwaii.