Press Release: AFRICAN-LED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION ON U.S. TOUR, MAY THROUGH JULY 2013

 

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Contact:  Nate Gilliam

Tel: (414) 405-9835

Email:  aapdeptour@developmentforafrica.org

AFRICAN-LED COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT ORGANIZATION ON U.S. TOUR, MAY THROUGH JULY 2013

Forwarding the African Agenda: Sustainable Development through Self-Determination

HUNTSVILLE, Alabama (April 26, 2013) -The All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) is excited to announce the US tour of its International Director, Dr. Aisha Fields, PhD.  AAPDEP invites all people with a passion for self-determination and community-led development to bring the Forwarding the African Agenda (FTAA) tour to their city.  

The FTAA tour will focus on building branches of AAPDEP in the US while gaining support for the overall organization.

Dr. Aisha Fields in Sierra Leone

As the development arm of the Uhuru Movement, AAPDEP’s goal is to bring together Africa’s people, resources and skills for implementation into dual and contending development programs that will help to resolve a historical dependence on oppressive institutions.  All across the world Africans experience some of the highest levels of poverty as a result of not having access to their resources.  While they are struggling to make a decent life of whatever opportunities present themselves, their knowledge and skills  are not being utilized to enhance their collective development.   Their labor and material resources go toward a system that was born out of the exploitation of African people; an exploitation that continues until this day. AAPDEP is the organization that has been working to overturn that contradiction.

In the US and in Europe, Africans are faced with chronic unemployment and underemployment, wage discrimination, gentrification, immigration issues; which isolate their communities from any meaningful community development.  On the continent of Africa, discussion about development always leads to more foreign investment from former or emerging colonizing powers and/or a charitable approach which relegates Africa and African people to being perpetual wards and inhibits genuine sustainable development.

Under Dr. Fields’ leadership, AAPDEP has engaged in projects in Africa and throughout the US.  AAPDEP is actively engaged in creating a new paradigm for African people worldwide, from agricultural work in Houston, TX, St. Petersburg, FL, and Huntsville, AL; to the Marcus Garvey Saturday School in Washington DC.  During this tour, Dr. Fields will be sharing her experiences, as well as her wealth of knowledge regarding the struggles of African people and tangible solutions for their future.

There are a number of ways that people can contribute their skills, time and resources to this work:

1. Become an AAPDEP member and utilize acquired skills for the benefit of all African people.
2. Host an event and bring the Forwarding the African Agenda Tour to a local area.
3. Work with AAPDEP to organize a fundraising drive within a school, work place or community.
4. Support AAPDEP by making a donation here: http://developmentforafrica.org/donate.shtml

Learn more about AAPDEP’s work by visiting developmentforafrica.org.

If you would  like more information about this tour, or to schedule an interview, please contact  the tour coordinator Nate Gilliam at (414) 405-9835 or email aapdeptour@developmentforafrica.org

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2013 AAPDEP Tour Banner

Thank You!

AAPDEP wants to express our deepest gratitude to everyone who supported the AFIAH tour. From the on-the-ground coordinators, to the attendees, to our online donors. We appreciate it all.

We were able to raise $12,542.45 toward our goal of $25,000, which went immediately toward the work in Sierra Leone. Details will be coming out soon.

Since 2009 we’ve tripled our capacity and all of our projects are still in the initial stages and need seed money. So we want to encourage everyone to continue to donate so that we can achieve our goal by July 15th.  There are still some urgent matters that need resources.

You can do this by going to http://developmentforafrica.org/donate.shtml.

Thank you and make sure you’re subscribed to our newsletters, like us on Facebook, subscribe to us on Youtube and add us to your circles on Google +.

Interview with Nurse Mary “Maternally Yours” @ 6:30 PM EST.

TUNE   IN  TO —WSLR.org  from 6-7pm for “Maternally Yours” Radio Show to hear Nurse Mary. She will be interview around 6:30 pm in brief.

Please don’t forget that if you are unable to attend any tour event in your area, you can still support AAPDEP and the Infant & Maternal Health Clinic by donating at http://www.developmentforafrica.org

*Highlights from the phenomenal D.C Tour Event will be posted soon.

East Coast tour stop- Weekend ‘Earth Uprising Fair’

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It was a beautiful day out in Clark Park  this past Saturday (April 21st).  AAPDEP presented at the Earth Uprising Festival  in West Philly organized by Uhuru Solidarity-Philadelphia. Nurse Mary was the featured speaker  for the event. AAPDEP presented in the early afternoon with Penny Hess-director of Uhuru Solidarity giving an overview and moving statement on the responsibility of everyone to the health of the planet. She spoke to the need for everyone to unite with the oppressed indigenous and African population on the planet. She re-iterated that the earth is in turmoil because of the greed and exploitation of the world’s resources by the few. She then introduced Camilla Hippolyte, the AAPDEP assistant tour coordinator.

AAPDEP on Wisconsin’s Public Television

Nurse Midwife Mary Koroma, Director of AAPDEP SL and International Director of Economic Development are interviewed for public television in Wisconsin.

Birth Justice for African Women Means an End to Colonialism

This presentation was given by Ayesha Fleary, Director of Information and Education for the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project in Oakland, California on April 21st,  during a birth justice fair which was organized as a way to fundraise for the work of AAPDEP in Sierra Leone. 

I first want to thank the members of Decolonize Pregnancy Birth and Parenting Caucus for putting this fair together as a way to raise awareness about the issue of infant and maternal mortality in Oakland and to connect that to the work of AAPDEP’s infant and maternal project in Sierra Leone.

Over the last few weeks we have been touring Nurse Midwife Mary Koroma, the Director of AAPDEP-SL. She is a great organizer who has made a significant impact in transforming the birth outcomes of African women and babies in her native Sierra Leone. Sierra Leone is country that has one of the highest infant and maternal mortality rates in the world with 1 in 8 women at risk of  dying in childbirth.  However, due to the holistic approach of the work AAPDEP-SL, these rates have decreased in the western part of the country where there are AAPDEP branches and AAPDEP trained traditional birth attendants.

"Africa's Future in African Hands" Tour stops in California: Nurse Mary Koroma speaks in San Diego & Oakland

Reblogged from Uhuru Solidarity Movement:

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San Diego, April 16, 2012: On their first full day in San Diego, Nurse Midwife Mary Koroma and Ayesha Fleary (Director of Information and Education, AAPDEP) had a whirlwind day engaging with the community.

First, they presented to thirty students at Mesa College in the Black Studies "Contemporary Social Problems" class with instructor Thekima Mayasa.

Xavier McGregor, leader of InPDUM for San Diego, gave an excellent introduction, reminding students that it is not enough to engage simply as scholars; "You don't want to be a 30-year old with a PhD simply pointing out problems; by age four we have all  learned how to point out problems.

Read more… 1,407 more words

Rain, Hail, Sleet or Snow…we will be out in Philly speaking truth to Power! Will you be there?

The West Coast leg of the Africa’s Future in African Hands Tour is nearing a close. The tour continues on the East coast in Philadelphia at the Earth Uprising & Market Fair:

Saturday, Apr. 21 
W. Phildalphia, PA
African People’s Solidarity Committee/USM
Clark Park | 43rd & Chester
9:00 AM- 5:00 PM

Everyone in Philly should  come out to witness the amazing work of AAPDEP in Sierra Leone and contribute to Nurse Mary and her dynamic leadership in combating infant & maternal mortality. We know that you are able to help us reach our half-way mark this weekend. Our goal is $25,000.00. The needs of our work though, have no limit.

This is where we are…we’re pushing for Goal!

Nurse Mary is still touring in California and we are excited about her presenting at San Diego State University tonight:

Tues, Apr. 17 San Diego State University
San Diego, CA
California Nursing Students Assoc.| Peterson Gym, Rm 153 |5500 Campanile Dr. | 4:30 PM-6:00 PM

Thanks to all the great tour managers and all those who have assisted in building a tour event in their areas. We have had 4 tour events so far and we are looking forward to reaching our goal….surpassing our goal with your help. You still have an opportunity to host a tour event for Nurse Mary and share the phenomenal work going on in Sierra Leone under AAPDEP and Nurse Mary’s leadership.

We  had a very good first day in San Diego at Lincoln High School yesterday! (April 16th)  THANKS  to the African Revolutionary Student Association and representatives from Union del Barrio for attending and supporting this tour!! Today at San Diego State University you have another opportunity to participate in this tour!

So far we have raised $4222.00 towards AAPDEP’s Birthing and Health Clinic. We know we can make our goal. But we can’t do it without you. You can donate sitting right at home. Visit http://www.developmentforafrica.org