UPDATED: World Aids Day Lecture at Northwestern, Dec 1, 2011

Award-winning South Africa journalist Jonny Steinberg will deliver the Crain lecture at Northwestern University, in honor of World Aids Day on December 1st. Steinberg is the author of Sizwe's Test: A Young Man's Journey Through Africa's AIDS Epidemic. His latest book, Little Liberia, focusses on the lives of Liberian immigrants in New York City.

Date: Thursday, Dec 1, 2011

Time: 4:00pm-6:00pm

Venue: The McCormick Tribune Center, 1870 Campus Drive, Evanston, IL 60208

The lecture is free.

AIDS Foundation Chicago has an interview with Steinberg in anticipation of his talk at Northwestern University.

Tinariwen competition closed!

The Tinariwen competition is now closed! Thanks to everyone who submitted answers. The winner will be receiving an email shortly.

Win tickets to Malian band Tinariwen in Chicago!

You can win 2 tickets to Tinariwen! Just find the answer to the question below and send your answer to the email address that follows.

Question: What is the name of the United African Organization's new podcast project? (hint go to www.uniteafricans.org to find the answer)

Email: services@uniteafricans.org

The person with the first correct answer will win 2 tickets to Tinariwen! We will then send you more details about how to get your tickets.

New Special Edition African Voices on Nigera and multinationals

Now online is a special edition of the African Voices podcast, featuring a longer version of our interview with Anslem John-Miller, from Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People (MOSOP). An abridged version of this interview is available in Episode 2 of African Voices. The release of this podcast coincides with a special day for the Ogoni people from Nigeria – November 10, 1995 – the anniversary of the death of one of their most important leaders, Ken Saro-Wiwa. We intend this episode of African Voices to raise awareness around not only the effects of Shell oil company on the Ogoni people but also to initiate discussion around the often exploitative role played by multinational companies all over Africa. We also want to generate debate on the impact these multinationals have had on the movement of immigrants and refugees from the African continent to the United States.

Our interviewee, Anslem John Miller, was born in Nigeria. He is a member of MOSOP, Movement for the Survival of the Ogoni People. He came to Chicago as a refugee in 1996, to escape threats to his safety. He now works in the area of HIV Aids.

Listen and comment

Other links of interest:

UNEP (United Nations Environment Program) Report on Ogoniland, Nigeria (at request of Nigerian government)

MOSOP's website

Listen to African Voices on your Cell Phone!

We are collaborating with Legend Talk Radio to bring you the latest African Voices Podcast on your cell-phone! The podcast is split into two segments – Chicago African News featuring news, events, issues and the Advice Box; Africans in Chicago Oral History featuring interviews with members of the community. You can now dial this number from your phone at the times below to listen to the podcast (all times are in US Central Time)! TUNE IN:

1-832-280-0017

To listen from outside the US on your phone or on Skype-Out, dial 001-832-280-0017. But beware of being charged international rates.

Chicago African News with AfricanVoices Schedule

Days Time

Mon 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 9:00pm
Tue 9:00am, 3:00pm, 6:05pm, 10:00pm
Wed 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 9:00pm

Thur 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:05pm, 10:00pm

Fri 9:00am, 3:00pm, 6:05pm, 9:00pm

Sat 9:000am, 12:05pm, 5:00pm, 7:05pm

Sun 9:00am, 12:00pm, 3:00pm, 6:00pm, 10:00pm

Chicago Oral History Report (Africans in Chicago Stories)

Days Time

Mon 6:30pm

Tue 3:30pm

Thur 12:30pm

Fri 3:30pm, 9:30pm

Sat 5:30pm

Win free tickets to see Tinariwen at the Metro in Chicago!

Malian group Tinariwen will be making their way to Chicago at the famous Metro music venue. United African Organization, courtesy of Metro Chicago, is giving out two tickets to the show!

On Sunday, November 13 at 7pm, a question will be launched on THIS blog, and who ever emails services@uniteafricans.org first with the correct answer, wins BOTH tickets!

Our winner will be notified on Monday, November 14 and will need to provide the names of those attending the event by Thursday November 17.

So, make sure you're at your computer on Sunday, November 13 at 7pm and win some great tickets!

Tinariwen's show is Friday, November 25 at 9:00pm.

"Blacks Without Borders" film screening at the DuSable Museum this weekend

"Blacks Without Borders: Chasing the American dream in South Africa" is a groundbreaking documentary that takes a heartfelt look at the emotional journey of a group of African Americans who called it quits in the U.S. to start a new life in South Africa. With 4 to 5 million immigrants coming to America every year to pursue the American dream why are they leaving? Blacks Without Borders answers that question and more.

Date: Sunday, November 13, 2:00-4:00pm
Venue: DuSable Museum

Go to the DuSable museum website for more info.

Film 'Elevate' opens in Chicago this week

An award winning documentary film, ELEVATE, is coming to Chicago. The documentary about four tall West African teens who, based on their hard work, merits and dedication, are selected to play basketball at American prep schools and hope to one day play in the NBA. ELEVATE will be opening in Chicago at the AMC River East 21 on November 11th, 2011. Click for the trailer.

ICIRR's new hotline proving to be a success

Since September, the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights (ICIRR), a partner of the UAO, has been running a 24-hour hotline for families who fear or are undergoing deportation. The hotline is the only one of its kind in the country. The line is completely confidential. It provides information and referrals to legal services, social services, ministers and help for immigrant families in crisis. The hotline is open to all. To call in from anywhere in the U.S., dial 1-855-HELP-MY-FAMILY - that's 1-855-435-7693. You do not have to be living in Illinois. At the moment the hotline is available in English, Spanish, Korean and Portuguese.

See the Huffington Post's article on the hotline.

Upcoming Citizenship Workshop - This Saturday!

The UAO has teamed up with the Illinois Coalition for Immigrant and Refugee Rights to bring Citizenship workshops to the African community in Chicago. Repeat workshops are held throughout the year. November workshops will be held on:

Date: Sat, Nov 5, 2011
Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: Indo American Center
632 N. California Avenue
Chicago, IL 60659

Date: Sat, Nov 19, 2011
Time: 9:00 am-12:00 pm
Venue: Truman College
1145 W. Wilsen Avenue
Chicago, IL 60640

At the workshop, participants will receive:
~Free assistance to complete the application for naturalization
~Free legal consultation with an immigration attorney
~Free information on how to apply for application fee waiver
~Free study materials to prepare for the test and interview

To register for either of these free workshops or for more info, contact Cheikh Diop via cheikh.diop@uniteafricans.org or call (312) 949 9980