The Africa Solidarity Council, Inc.
Mission
The Africa Solidarity Council, Inc. is organized exclusively for charitable, educational, and scientific purposes including for such purposes as the making of distributions to organizations that qualify as exempt organizations under section 501 (c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code on matters pertaining to research and education, as well as civic and professional efforts. Further, the Council will receive and properly administer funds for all endeavors pertaining to the general objective of the Africa Solidarity Council. Specifically, the corporation is organized:
(1)
To establish and operate a community-based information, social, and
cultural center
for educational, employment, cultural,
and adjustment for African immigrants and non-immigrants in the Washington
Metropolitan Area and throughout the United States, including students,
civil servants (both in government and in private industry), and members
of the African diplomatic corps, and engage in research on matters
affecting Africans in Africa and African immigrants and non-immigrants in
the United States, or elsewhere in the world.
(2) To provide crisis intervention counseling in the areas of legal
matters, career objectives, employment training opportunities and
placement, to encourage and promote, through public education, social and
cultural exhibitions, the teaching and learning of African languages to
our children, including the contributions of our ancestors, to assist
African immigrants and non-immigrants in need with social services, such
as health insurance, and to work with other organizations and agencies to
provide housing and housing assistance. (3) To conduct and sponsor studies
and research on economic, social and other educational subjects as the
corporation from time to time determine, particularly, organizing seminars
and community forums on leadership building and citizenship, and/or to
make grants for research, reports or studies on educational subjects
approved by the corporation and to prepare and publish treatises,
articles, newsletters, pamphlets, books and other educational materials
and to distribute (by sale or otherwise) such materials to the public,
schools, colleges, libraries and other interested persons and
institutions, and to conduct
and sponsor forums, lectures, debates, and similar programs, and to
prepare and distribute educational programs and materials for television
and radio and other news media. (4)
To assist other charitable, educational, and scientific organizations,
exempt under section 501 (c)(3) of the code in the conduct of similar
activities. (5) To
encourage the development of keen interest in the issues that concern
Africa and its people both at home and abroad.
To achieve this, the Council shall establish a liaison between
itself and all the African embassies through which links can be connected
to the various countries on the continent, establish a newsletter that
highlights the Council’s and the embassies’ calendar of events, and
from time to time, organize seminars and community forums on leadership
building and citizenship. (6)
To promote friendship, cooperation, and improved relations between the
various African countries and its peoples, both at home and abroad, and to
disseminate information and/or conduct food drives or seek donations that
may assist in relieving poverty and hunger, improving education and health
of all Africans, at home and abroad, by marshaling resources - human,
business, and governmental in various African countries and in the United
States. (7) To establish in the main office or elsewhere all departments
and activities necessary to carry out the purposes of the corporation, and
to do any other act or thing as fully as natural persons might or would
do
which may be necessary, suitable, or proper in furtherance of the
charitable, educational, cultural, and scientific activities described
above, and to exercise all powers of corporations formed under the D.C.
Non-profit Corporation Act, which are necessary and convenient in order to
accomplish the above described purposes, including, but not limited to,
the power to accept donations of money, property, whether real or
personal, or any interest therein, wherever situated, or any other thing
of value.
Most importantly, The Africa Solidarity Council, Inc. shall work tirelessly in promoting friendship ties among all Africans irrespective of creed or nationality, and shall work with any organization or association that is concerned with the welfare and interest of Africans at home or abroad, and in the furtherance of this stated ideal.
The Council is to become the vehicle to kindle confidence in the African Community and to unite the various African Organizations and Associations under one umbrella. The Council aspires to organize and transform such a body into becoming a strong force for the interests of the African community in the Metropolitan area and in the United States of America.
ENABLING CLAUSE
The Corporation may, within the limits
of applicable law, do all things necessary or desirable for the attainment
of its stated purposes, and for all purposes incident to or resulting from
such stated purposes.
GOALS
In order to reach our mission, the
Council sets its sights on achieving certain goals.
The goal of the Africa Solidarity Council is to provide the African
Community in the Washington Metropolitan Area and through out these United
States, the support and resources needed to overcome the social,
psychological, and socio-economic problems African immigrants living in
the United States face, recognizing that African immigrants face a variety
of challenges. The Council
will provide information, encouragement, and support throughout the
difficult times. The Council
categorically states that The Africa Solidarity Council is more than just
another African organization, association or corporation.
It is a council of brothers and sisters, of neighbors and friends,
and most importantly, it is a council of Africans because we are Africans
and therefore very proud to be involved in improving the lives of members
of the African Community.
As the immediate goal of the Council
is to provide social, health, educational, legal, and employment support
services to the members of the African immigrant and non-immigrant
community within the Washington Metropolitan Area and beyond, the Council
recognizes the enormity of the socio-economic and psychological problems
that African immigrants and non-immigrants alike face. Therefore, the Council will strive to provide support,
information, and encouragement to those persons who may face any number of
challenges.
The long-term goal necessary for
the achievement of its mission is to kindle the spirit of a united Africa
and use this spirit for developing a new crop of African leadership for
continental cooperation, development, unity, and security.
Also, to cultivate and empower a new kind of African leadership
that sees coexistence with one another as a reality and thereby creating
institutions for education, progress, and security.
This is the vision of our mission.
© 2000 Copyrights The Africa Solidarity Council, Inc. All rights reserved.