Something to be Thankful for: ACANA HOLDS HISTORICAL GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY FOR AFRICA TOWN IN PHILADELPHIA, PA!!

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All!

Hope you had a great celebration of Gratitude - also known as Thanksgiving Holiday -

And in the spirit of maintaining an attitude of gratitude - let me give you something else to be grateful for:

ACANA HOLDS HISTORICAL GROUND BREAKING CEREMONY FOR  AFRICA TOWN IN PHILADELPHIA, PA!!

 

On Thanksgiving weekend, Friday, November 25, ACANA (African Cultural Alliance of North America) held a historic ground breaking ceremony for AFRICA TOWN in Southwest Philadelphia.  A gathering of dignitaries, including members of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs,  State Rep. Jordan Harris, State Senators Anthony Williams, Vincent Hughes,  former City Council Rep. Jannie Blackwell, among others, were in attendance.   Even the bitter coldness of the day did not keep members and well wishers away from this auspicious event. 

HISTORIC GROUNDBREAKING CEREMONY OF AFRICA TOWN CENTER

Stan Straughter, President of the Mayor's Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs, and Voffee Jabateh, founder and CEO of ACANA, have been planning for this event for nearly a decade - and it has finally arrived.  With a grant for $9 million to begin what will be a precedent setting development to celebrate the first ever AfricaTown development.

 

Architects with ACANA CEO Voffee Jabateh and Stan Straughter

 

Two months prior, on September 28th, Acana held a Check Presentation Ceremony for Africatown. Present were State Senators Anthony Williams and Vincent Hughes who acknowledged the significant State and Federal Support for ACANA’s Africatown initiative. Over the ensuing two months ACANA continued to develop plans and raise funds to move the project forward. 

Rendering of Future AfricaTown Center DOLAKEH

 

The ground breaking ceremony - part of a three-phased development on the 5400 Block of Chester Avenue - was held Friday, November 25, during Thanksgiving Weekend, to acknowledge the receipt of Congressional Community Project Funding by Congress person Mary Gay Scanlon. The Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program (RACP) Grants, jointly supported by State Senators Anthony Williams, Vincent Hughes, Sharif Street; and State Representatives Jordan Harris and Joanna McClinton, and American Rescue Plan Act funding supported by Senator Williams and Senator Hughes amounted to $9MILLION!! With the aggregate funding from the City, State and Federal sources, ACANA is now able to gain site control of a substantial portion of the 5400 block on Chester, SW Philadelphia.  

S

State Senator Anthony Williams and Community 

Activist Diva Tamara Staley 

Youma Ba - Founder of ECHOES OF AFRICA

THE HON. JANNIE L. BLACKWELL 

This development is now called Dolakeh Square in Africatown - a flagship mixed-use retail/office and cultural/social services development, which will also include low/mod income housing, an Africa Trade Center, and an African grocery store.  This will be the foundation of “Africatown,” which, like the Chinatowns and Koreatowns across the urban landscape in many metropolitan areas of the United States, will be a cultural, business, destination and tourist center in Philadelphia. The Dolakeh Square in Africatown - which in the Mano language of north-central Liberia means “working together" - will provide visible evidence of a significant investment and brand this Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood as “Africatown,” reflective of the expanding immigrant communities from West African and the Caribbean.   Consistent with the name of the development, the Dolakeh Square in Africatown will unite the Southwest Philadelphia neighborhood and become the premier platform for significant community revitalization.

As mentioned earlier, ACANA - which is also a non-profit organization that serves African and Caribbean immigrants by providing access to social and legal and health services, and organizing African art and culture events - has been developing the concept of AFRICA TOWN for years, in hopes of developing a destination attraction in Southwest Philadelphia, as a must-go-to designation area for national and international tourists and Philadelphia locals.

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK

Gloria DULAN-Wilson

GDW EVENT ALERT: Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter to Bestow the Sadie TM Alexander Award on the Hon. Jannie M. Blackwell

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

 

Many may not be aware of it, but 2022 marks the 95th Anniversary year of the founding the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter of DELTA SIGMA THETA SORORITY INC.  The 500 Member chapter has dedicated their efforts to a year long celebration, during which they look to honor those who have done much to help others.  

In keeping with the tradition of May Week,  the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter bestows their highest honor, The Sadie T.M. Alexander Award, on an individual who consistently and continuously exemplifies her high standards of quality and dedication.  This year's honoree is none other than the Honorable Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell, who has devoted more than 45 years in service to the people of Philadelphia - first as an educator, then as  City Council representative for the 3rd Councilmatic district of Philadelphia, where she served seven consecutive terms.  

During her tenure as a Council Member, Jannie Blackwell served as Chair of the Committee on Finance and Chair of the Education Committee. She was Vice Chair of the Committee on Housing, Neighborhood Development and the Homeless, and appointed to the Committee on Appropriations, Committee on Commerce & Economic Development, Committee on Disabled & Persons with Special Needs, Committee on the Environment and the Committee on Public Safety. 

She is proud of the legislation she introduced to divest from South Africa. Philadelphia played such an integral role in the ending of apartheid and Nelson Mandela’s release from prison, that he chose Philadelphia as his second stop on his first visit to the United States upon his release. Additionally, she served as a board member for Philadelphia Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC). 

Jannie L. Blackwell is co-founder and Chair of the Mayor’s Commission on African and Caribbean Immigrant Affairs and co-founder of Echoes of Africa. Their current agenda includes creating Africa Town in Southwest Philadelphia. Most recently she has assumed the role as 1st Vice Chair of the Philadelphia Democratic City Committee and also, Chair of the United Democratic Ward Leaders of Color.

In addition to her leadership in the City Council, Ms. Blackwell also hosted an annual Christmas Party free of charge to families who were facing financial challenges. Held at the Convention Center, she would dispense gifts to all the children, provide free entertainment and a banquet to homeless and low income families. To date she is the only elected official to have done so - and kept up the tradition for more than 20 years.

 

The Hon. Councilwoman Jannie L. Blackwell 2022 Recipient of the Sadie T M Alexander Award

 

The ceremony, which takes place Saturday, May 21, 2022 at 11:30AM, is open to the public, and is sure to be an inspirational, enlightening and heartwarming. 

To register for the event, please click on the link below:

May Week, Open to public

  click here to register.
#STMA2022PACDST #MayWeek2022PACDST #PhillyDeltasat95

https://us06web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Bc-oJmLxRlqKcmF1gH9Lrw

 

2022 Sadie T. M. Alexander May Week Celebration

May 21 @ 11:30 am - 1:30 pm

Sadie Tanner Mossell Alexander was the first Black American to get a PhD in economics; and was the second Black woman to earn a PhD.  She was also a civil rights activist, and, more importantly, served as the First National President of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc., from 1919 to 1923.  She received her law degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and became the first Black woman to practice law in Pennsylvania. She and her husband, Raymond Pace Alexander were a dynamic civil rights duo.  In 1946 she was appointed by President Harry Truman to the President's Committee on Civil Rights; served on the Board of the National Urban League for 25 years, and served for 16 years on the City of Philadelphia's Commission on Human Relations.  She paved the way for so many to come behind her, and continued to do so until she made her transition at the age of 91, leaving behind her a lifetime of legacy and inspiration.

In addition to Councilwoman Blackwell, the Philadelphia Alumnae Chapter will also honor  three of Philadelphia’s unsung community heroes: Lynette Brown, Sandra Clark and The Twin Sister Docs for their commitment to the the community.  

As with the Hon. Sadie T.M. Alexander, these honorees have distinguished themselves in so many ways, setting the bar higher,  an redefining what means to truly be servants of the people.  

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

Stay Blessed &

ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Gloria DULAN-Wilson 

 

 

 

 

This Just In: Johnson & Johnson Vaccine Temporarily Halted???

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All:

Hope all of you are well, happy and progressing - now that we have a real president, we are witnessing progress on all levels - to the extent possible, given the insanity of the remaining repuglycons, who continue to try and thwart his/our efforts to build back better.

As you by now know the efforts to make sure that every American receives the anti-Covid vaccine - as we get closer to President Biden's first 100 days, we are also close to his goal of having at least 100 million Americans vaccinated - as of today, he is currently at 74 million and counting.  

Thus far three major providers have been approved in the US - however one company, Johnson & Johnson/Jansen may have hit a snag as their use has been rescinded pending results of further evaluation due to the side effects of blood clots in several of the recipients - primarily women. 

There have been mixed reports about side effects from their product, prompting the temporary suspension, which, at this writing has now been okayed for resumed administration via Dr. Fauchi and the CDC as late as this evening.  (https://www.cbsnews.com/live-updates/johnson-johnson-covid-vaccine-pause-blood-clot-cases/).

It bears repeating that none of these inoculations are 100% effective, and the side effects are temporary at worst.  As Trevor Noah said in his show Tuesday evening, when you figure that there have been only 6 in 70 million, it's statistically negligible - however, with so many anti vaxxers out there trying to start a panic, it is important to put the situation in perspective.  Minor blood clots versus collapsed lungs, lingering death and a whole host of other horrible events that may ultimately lead to death.   He, and I urge you to not panic or overreact, but to maintain perspective.  And if Johnson & Johnson/Jansen is not for you, you do have alternatives.  I got my Johnson & Johnson on Thursday, March 25 - and have not had any adverse symptoms thus far. 

That  said, the following letter has been sent to all those who have either gotten the Johnson vaccination, or were scheduled to do so from the :

Dear friend,

The Pennsylvania Department of Health today notified all vaccine providers to pause administering doses of the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine until at least April 20.

 

Individuals who have appointments scheduled to receive Pfizer or Moderna vaccination should keep those appointments. If you are not aware of which vaccine type you are scheduled to receive, be assured that effective immediately providers will not be administering the Johnson & Johnson (Janssen) vaccine.

 

DOH is taking these steps as a precaution until the CDC and FDA have time to review six incidents of rare blood clots that occurred within two weeks of receiving Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. These six cases occurred in women between 18 and 48 who were among the 6.8 million Americans who received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine. It is important to realize that this announcement shows that the federal oversight process of a vaccine’s safety and effectiveness is working and all steps are being taken to protect Americans.

 

If you received the Johnson & Johnson/Janssen vaccine and have any health concerns, contact your health care provider. People who have received the Johnson & Johnson vaccine who develop severe headache, abdominal pain, leg pain or shortness of breath within three weeks of their vaccination should contact their health care provider. For more information, find the CDC/FDA guidance online: https://www.cdc.gov/media/releases/2021/s0413-JJ-vaccine.html.

The final word is that the US is resuming the use of the vaccine as of Wednesday, April 14, 2021 following the assessments of harm vs benefits. 

 

DOH is closely monitoring the situation and will provide additional information as it becomes available from  the CDC/FDA/ACIP.

Warmest Regards,

Stephanie Sun | Executive Director

Pennsylvania Governor’s Advisory Commission on Asian Pacific American Affairs

Office of the Governor                    

         NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING DO ABOUT IT?

Gloria DULAN-Wilson

STAY BLESSED

GDW EVENT ALERT: AFAHO presents Public Performance as Community Health Education" - a Final Watch Party

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All!!!

Mark your calendars for the upcoming watch party hosted by African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) in Philadelphia

You are invited!  So please share within your networks.

"Health Messaging in Africa: 

Public Performance as Community Health Education," a Final Watch Party

with the African Family Health Organization (AFAHO) - in Philadelphia

 

 

In this fall 2020 course, students explored some of the most important issues facing youth in our current time, including online learning fatigue, bullying, and the intersection of poverty, COVID-19 and anti-Black police violence, through scripting, performance, and filming. Co-facilitated by theatre artists from the Liberia, West Africa theatre company B4 Youth Theatre - who reached more than 300k people during the Ebola crisis through street theater - this course considers how B4 Youth Theatre's use of dialogical performance contributed to critical knowledge, which iteratively informed interventions throughout their awareness campaign. 

 

The co-facilitating artists, Silas Juaquellie and Hannah McKay, will share their firsthand experiences in a special keynote address! Enjoy the premiere of three unique short films developed in coordination with youth from AFAHO, informed by a communication for development approach. Penn MPH students share insights into this experimental ethnographic method and discuss

how they have connected best practices in health to lived experience.  

Sponsored by The Sach's Program for Arts Innovation and the Netter Center at Penn.

Dec 12, 2020 11:00 AM Eastern Time (US and Canada) Advance registration is required:
 https://zoom.us/meeting/register/tJAodOmtqTsqHdRZSVjMSrJ_s5tazSIr3ID5  

--

SCHEDULE A MEETING

Jasmine L. Blanks Jones

PhD Candidate

University of Pennsylvania

Education, Culture and Society and in Africana Studies

Center for Experimental Ethnography

George and Alice S. Hill Fellowship Fund 

Fontaine Fellowship

Robert Wood Johnson Foundation

Health Policy Research Scholar

Publications:

Blanks Jones, Jasmine L. "Staging and Streaming: Murder in the Cassava Patch Performed'Live'in its 50th Year." 

Liberian Studies Journal 40 (2019).

Blanks Jones, Jasmine L. Flipping the Panopticon: Liberian Youth Break the Fourth Wall in the Ebola Crisis.  (chapter)

Competing Frameworks: Global and National in Citizenship Education.  Information Age Publishing (2018).  

http://www.infoagepub.com/products/Competing-Frameworks

 

Tremendous strides are being made in health protocols.  Please join in the celebration. 

 

NOW THAT YOU KNOW

WHAT ARE YOU GOING TO DO ABOUT IT?

 

 Stay Blessed & 

ECLECTICALLY BLACK 

 

 

Gloria DULAN-Wilson

 

GDW EVENT ALERT: Join US!! BLACK WOMEN 4 BIDEN/HARRIS PA CALL TO ACTION : MOBILE VOTERS PA Friday, October 16 2020 - 7:00PM

By Gloria DULAN-Wilson

Hello All:

Well, we're getting closer to the Election Day - and we are welcoming you to the kick of MOBILE VOTERS PA.  We have worked hard to make this a reality for PA voters who have been disenfranchised as the result of massive efforts on the part of the oppostion to destroy our USPS and thwart our efforts and right to vote as US Citizens.  With Philadelphia being the target, since the first Post Office was established here.  Pennsylvania is a swing state!!  What happens here makes a major difference in what happens throughout the state, as well as the country. And when it became know that 1.4 million mail in votes were denied during the Pennsylvania June Primary, we came together to develop a strategy to make sure voters were able to get to the polls to vote.  Senior had lost their polling places due to COVID 19, while others were skeptical as they saw violation after violation of our rights being violated on a daily basis.

MOBILE VOTERS PA is a collaborative effort working with churches, Fraternities, Sororities, community groups, elected officials to ensure FREE, safe transporation to and from the polls. 

 We are grateful to Black Women For Biden/Harris for their support in making this a reality - but also want you to know that your help is needed to make this a reality.  We organized a GoFundMe Campaign:

https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-forces-philly-black-women-2mobilize-voters to help with renting buses, vans, and compensating drivers and volunteers;

We organized Adopt-A-Bus Campaign for those who want to underwrite renting buses or vans; 

and a myriad of other ways to ensure that MOBILE VOTERS PA are able to transport seniors and others to and from the polls from our Early Voting Period through November 3, Election DAY

We hope you will enjoy our program, be inspired and motivated by our guests,  and that you will support us all in our efforts.

 Please share this with your friends, family, neighbors, business associates - and support us in protecting our right to vote -

October 16, 20207 PM EDT, 6 PM CDT, 5 PM MDT, 4 PM PDT

Black Women for Biden-Harris Pennsylvania Call to Action - MobileVoters.PA Friday, October 16, 2020 7 PM EDT, 6 PM CDT, 5 PM MDT, 4 PM PDT Join Black Women for Biden-Harris Pennsylvania Black Women for Biden-Harris Pennsylvania Call to Action - MobileVoters.PA Friday, October 16, 2020  7 PM EDT, 6 PM CDT, 5 PM MDT, 4 PM PDT Free Event - Donations Welcome  $20, $50, $100, $150 or Other Amount Our goal as an organization is $100,000, so far we have raised over $60,000 Help Black Women for Biden-Harris Pennsylvania get a seat at the table by donating through our website http://www.blackwomenforbiden.net.  Register in advance for this webinar: https://us02web.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_K0xwPdkbTOy_o5aB5KcrEg After registering, you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the webinar. If you don't receive your confirmation email check your spam folder or complete the registration process again.   Featuring  . Rep Jordan Harris State Representative Pennsylvania Gloria Dulan Wilson, State Liaison Pennsylvania Deborah Kelly MobileVoters.PA .Tamara Staley MobileVoters.PA Theresa Brunson Esq MobileVoters.PA Valerie McLoyd MobileVoters.PA Wanda Davis Community Activist Vanessa Brown Political Consultant Thank you, Danyell Smith & Patricia Duncan National Co-Chairs Black Women for Biden-Harris Website Register to Vote Please CONTRIBUTE TO MOBILE VOTERS PA So they can carry Voters to the Polls https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-forces-philly-black-women-2mobilize-voters Copyright © 2020 Black Women for Biden-Harris, All rights reserved. You are receiving this email because you signed up. Our mailing address is: Black Women for Biden-Harris 1801 Old Gaelic St Bellevue, NE 68123 Add us to your address book Want to change how you receive these emails? You can update your preferences or unsubscribe from this list.

WE ARE LOOKING FORWARD TO SEEING YOU ON OUR NATIONAL ZOOM CALL

 

PLEASE LOG ON AND SUPPORT OUR GOFUNDME FOR MOBILE VOTERS PA -

Click on link below

https://www.gofundme.com/f/covid19-forces-philly-black-women-2mobilize-voters

Thanks for your generosity

Stay Blessed

 

 

SPECIAL GUEST INCLUDE

Congressman Dwight Evans
Pennsylvania's 3rd CD

 

 

 

 

 

 

Dr. Brenda Allen

President Lincoln University