Born and raised in Morocco in 1982. As a child always told his parents: "One day I'm going to be the Prime Minister". A few years later Issam finds himself in Aberdeen, the UK studying for a BEng in Electronics and Communications and later a Postgrad in International Business from the Robert Gordon University.

Professor Alexander is An African – American who comes from a long line of Americans who despite the odds have always worked for social justice and a better world. He pursued an M.A. in comparative literature at San Diego State University and became a Fulbright scholar in Damascus, Syria. In addition to being a full-time English professor, he spearheaded and chairs the annual Social Justice and Education Conference at San Diego City College. He is also the president and founder of Pillars of the Community a nonprofit community organization that works with those directly impacted by the criminal justice system for meaningful, systemic reform. As a part of the larger Reclaiming the Community movement in Southeast San Deigo, Professor Alexander worked with well-known rappers affiliated with local gangs to put together a CD meant to push positivity and give a voice to the disposed and forgotten. He founded the “Reclaiming Our Stories” collective in 2015, which published a book of narrative essays written by individuals from impacted communities. Above all else, he is a proud resident of Southeast San Diego where he is raising 3 kids with his wife Raquel.

Lady Fanta was very involved in the humanitarian life of the Gambia before Sir Farimang governorship, during and still to this date. She was one the first lady to receive 2^nd clothing from Belgium to distribute to local citizens in regions like Bakoteh, Sukuta and rural villages. In her nineties and with old age she is still feeding the whole neighborhood which include station officials. The sir Farimang Singhateh has an open door policy for all and she doesn’t any needy family back. A Bakery was opened and named in her honor to serve the people and make the bread reasonable to buy at high quality. Her age being the barrier to many charity work; her is son (Foday Mubaraka Singhateh) has taken the role of continuing their legacy of giving back to the communities. A foundation is opened called Sir Farimang Foundation that his son managing taking it to the next level. The foundation donated last year 65 office chairs worth at $15K and this year the foundation donated $40K to RVH (Royal Vitoria Hospital) the same hospital that gave him his chance and training. St. Augustine’s high his son’s high school received a donation of chairs, tables, mahogany conference table white board for the teachers and students. Basketball equipment fiberglass board is also donated this year to the school $40K equivalency. Currently the Foundation is sponsoring 8 students with all their yearly schools fees and other expenses. Also, the foundation providing breakfast for 105 orphanage kids daily.

The Sir Farimang Singhateh Foundation on Monday presented NBA quality basketball materials to St. Augustine’s High School. The presentation was in fulfillment of a promise made to the school by the Foundation earlier this year during a donation of furniture.
The CEO of the Foundation Foday Singhateh delivered the fibre glass back boards and goal posts on behalf of the Foundation.

Speaking at the occasion, Mr Singhateh congratulated Principal Father Toupan and his staff and students introducing himself as part of the school having passed there from 1982 to 87. Mr Singhateh assured the school of the Foundation’s desires to refurbish the basketball court as soon as possible to help the school regain its past glory in both sports and academic excellence.

Singhateh said the Foundation has multiple activities and through the collaboration of their supporters in the US, it hopes to carry out many such interventions not just for Saints alone but other parts of the country.
In response Principal Father Toupan thanked Mr Singhateh and the Foundation for remembering their former school in such a glamorous manner. The Principal agreed with the Foundation that Saints must regain all its glorious past in sports and academic, adding interventions such as the Foundation’s gestures would go a long way towards achieving that.

The occasion was witnessed by the Assistant PRO of the Foundation Mustapha Faye.
Meanwhile, before the ceremony ends, a pair of old students the 99 class surfaced with cartons of basketballs, a gesture Father Toupan said is God-sent to complement the facilities brought by the Farimang Singhateh Foundation. Foday, an alumna who also was a basketball star at the school, was emotionally driven by the sight of the students and the environment where he studied for five years. He recalled when as a very young boy from the Kombos people used to encourage him to stay in Banjul just to ensure he did not miss playing basketball for the school.

It is with great pleasure, and pride to remember this fallen brother from my home country. Melnour fit the bill as a legend in the Guinean community in southern California. He was a small statured man, who’s deeds made him a giant among human being. He was a giving person. A provider of many services to his fellow Guinean. He was always available to assist anyone whom he thought needed his assistance.

He was the founder of the Guinean association of Southern California. With this organization, he tried to keep the community together. He was a man who knew no boundaries as to how far he was willing to go to keep Guineans as a community here in the US. Although we were separated by the distance, that had no bearing on his love of community. He visited most families, he hosted most of the events at his house. After passing the baton as the president of the Guinean Association for several years, he became the first president of the new organization: The name of this was Friends United, a social organization which was created to encompass all members from various country, it was a multi-ethnic, members from various countries of the African continent, to support each other as one African family in the United States of America. He was a great support in both organizations.

His loss, was a great one in our community. He was a true leader, who did not care about your ethnic origin or, religion, he respected all, and embraced all Guinea. As I reflect on the needs of our African community, I realize how much we need more open-minded people like Melnour to lead by example. He will be always remembered.

Dr. Demian Ndubisi Chukwu born and raised in IsialaUmuozu in Nwagele LGA of Imo State Nigeria is The president and Chairman of DDEA Humanitarian Award USA and Foundation designed to recognize those helping the needy by giving them awards to motivate and encourage others. Attended primary school at central school Umuozu, from there I did my high school at Isu High school Isu and King JajaAmaigbo. Then I got admission into higher level to Federal Polytechnic Nekede did my OND finished before traveling to USA. During my secondary level am known as Demi-Disco because I love party also at Nekede I was director of social sec. admin. Upon entering USA I continue with my entertainment Business manage many artists, like Sky J, Indo Baba, Moses Efret and King Josedon  who is still with me now with my record label Deedee Records. During this period I was able to get my AA degree from Essex Community college in Baltimore. I also went to Morgan State University for my BS. on computer Information science. I was later awarded honoree doctorate degree for my great work in the community. Later the year I decided to change from managing artist to humanitarian awards and foundation helping the needy.  The reason is due my life experience growing up from a poor family.

Abdul S. Koroma is the Founder and Secretary General of the Sierra Leone Nurses Association Los Angeles, is a Non-political and Non-profit association, therefore, they do not make any political contribution to any political party in Sierra Leone or anywhere else in the world. The association has been founded under the California non-profit public benefit corporation laws and do not carry any propaganda, attempting to influence legislation, participate or intervene in any political campaign on behalf of any candidate here or abroad.

The association was founded in August 2007 with the purpose to assist in improving the health care system in Sierra Leone. The association’s mission is to provide access for the people of Sierra Leone to supply important medical equipment and supplies needed to diagnose medical conditions and treat diseases. Objective is to be able to provide medical equipment for the people of Sierra Leone, provide education by awarding scholarships to qualified pupils who want to pursue a career in the healthcare system and also to educate the public on health promotion and disease prevention. Our achievements.

1- 2008 to 2011 awarded ten scholarships for ten students at College of Medicine and Allied Health Science. They graduated and they are now working at various hospitals in the Country.

2- In 2012, we sent some medical supplies to the hospitals in Freetown.

3- During the Ebola crisis in 2014, the association assisted the Government to fight the Virus with twenty million Leones (LE 20,000,000.00) equivalent to $5000.00 at that time. Early 2015, the association also sent money to the government about $5000.00 to provide food for the Ebola treatment centers.

4- In 2015-2016, we awarded fifteen scholarships to EBK Makeni, Njala BO, and College of Medicine in Freetown. These students graduated last year. In 2016-2017, we awarded twenty-three scholarships to EBK Makeni, Njala BO and College of Medicine in Freetown.

This 2018, we awarded twenty-three scholarships to the same three universities. Presently, we have forty-six students that are carrying our scholarships for 2018-2019. All these scholarships include both Diploma and Certificate students. We send application forms to the three Universities every year for only first year students who are already in the program to apply. We ask three simple questions: 1. To write a short essay about yourself. 2. Why you choose nursing as a career? 3. Why do you need the scholarship?. The students complete the application form and email it to us for the selection. Based on their answers they provided to us, will determine who is qualified to get our scholarships. No one from Sierra Leone or from Los Angeles who is not a member is involved in this process of selection. It is by merit.

Our scholarships are only for two years, start from second year to third year (final year). We do not reimburse students for first year tuition.

Dr. Sota Omoigui is a co-author of the Nigerian National Anthem. The anthem was adopted in 1978 and replaced the previous national anthem, "Nigeria, We Hail Thee". The lyrics are a combination of words and phrases taken from five of the best entries in a national contest. The words were put to music by the Nigerian Police Band under the directorship of Benedict E. Odiase. Dr. Sota Omoigui’s contribution is a legacy for years to come.

Dr. Sota Omoigui is a Nigerian-American, born in Nigeria where he got his diploma from King's College Lagos and his MBBS medical degree from University of Ibadan College of Medicine in 1983. He did his residency in Pediatrics and Anesthesia and a subspecialty on Pain Medicine and Regional Anesthesia, from Cook County Hospital Chicago. Dr. Sota Omoigui is board certified in Anesthesia with subspecialty certification in Pain Medicine. He has served as an adviser to the United States, FDA Advisory Committee on Anesthetics and Life Support Devices. He is presently the Medical Director of L.A. Pain Clinic in Hawthorne, CEO of State-of-the-Art Technologies, Inc. as well as Chairman of Celebrity Hall in Inglewood, California

His research work in Pain Pharmacology, Anesthetic Pharmacology, Inflammation, and the Inflammatory response, has also greatly impacted the medical field. Dr. Sota Omoigui is a bestselling author with drug handbooks published in six languages (Indonesian, Italian, Japanese, Malaysian, Polish and Portuguese), and used by pain specialists and anesthesiologists all over the world. In 2007, he proposed his theoretical law on the inflammatory origin of pain and his publication on the biochemical origin of pain has been cited as of this date by 244 medical publications in Google Scholar. His Sota Omoigui’s Anesthesia Drugs Handbook as well as Sota Omoigui’s Pain Drugs Handbook, have been cited in 96 different publications in Google Scholar. Apps of his drug handbooks are available on the Google PlayStore and the Apple App store.

Dr. Omoigui has pioneered novel drug treatments and some of the most advanced yet simple injection techniques and procedures to treat simple and complex pain syndromes that previously required invasive surgery.

Dr. Sota Omoigui pioneered the technique of audio-capnometry and holds a United States patent for the audio-capnometer monitor and a United States patent for the process of continuous non-invasive hemometry (measurement of hemoglobin).

Dr. Sota Omoigui is an advocate of good governance and accountability in Nigeria. He is currently sponsoring a young woman whose family are internally displaced persons in Taraba State, Nigeria, from secondary school to completion of her university degree.

IsokenIbieorutomwen is a Mother of four young kids, Actor, Movie Producer, Humanitarian, Activist and a Community leader.

She is the CEO of Nigeria Canadian Resettlement Centre Toronto, a Non for profit Organization founded since December 2006, based in Toronto, the Center assist new immigrants to settle into their host communities in Canada.

She is currently the Canadian Eastern Cultural Ambassador to the Ministry of Arts Culture, Tourism and Diaspora Affairs, Edo State Nigeria.

She is the CEO of ISK PRODUCTION, a full service Movie Production company focused on creating good quality content with outstanding picture while telling our story.

IsokenIbieorutomwen, the President of ISK Productions is a trained actor from the University of Benin over 20 years ago. It has always been Isoken vision to create a one-stop-shop for Actors, producers and anyone in the industry to build a platform that will drive their dreams to the next level.

March 2018 she received an award from Absolutely Fabulous Women for Community Services.

In April 2018, she also received an Award from the Friends of the Creator Foundation in Nigeria during the World Intellectual Property Day (Powering Change: Women in Innovation and Creativity)

Sep 2018, She premiered her Movie called Complicated Lies in Toronto Canada, which enjoyed great turn out and the people were all inspired with the story line, the technicality and the message was well delivered. She is also preparing for her next movie in 2019.

She also received two other Awards in 2016 for Volunteerism from Vigor Awards International and Excellence Award for her contribution and support to Arts from Abedorc Production

She mentored and supported a young girl who attempted suicide due to hardship and gave her hope again.

She raise over 400,000 naira (Nigeria Currency) to pay hospital bill for an orphan boy who was diagnosed of kidney infection.

In 2014, IsokenIbie and two other activist in the community were granted interview by CBC on the missing Chibok girls in Nigeria, they also organised protest in Downtown Toronto to create awareness in Canada and around the world.

Isoken and her daughters collected books and other school supplies to donate to kids to school in Nigeria

She also volunteered with the Federated Health Charity till date through work place.

She create job opportunity through the Service Canada Summer Job for students in her Community through her Organization

She mentors youth through her organization.

Tina Wuelleh Popularly known as Tina Toner. Mother and wife of three. Started her career as a professional Nurse then went into skin care care line. Founder of the Tina Toner skin care line since 2013 till date.

Tina Toner started its vision of creating skin care products due to the gap within the skin care market for those with pigmentation issues and uneven skin tones. She decided  to use her social media platform  and website  to build  thousands  of business  followers  both in usa and around the world. Tina Toner is a family-owned, operated and manufactured product since its inception making it one of the few skin care companies specifically developed for the ethnic community within the United States, and across the world. Tina Toner skin care products is distributed internationally filling this gap for ethnic skin care products. Our chemists and cosmetologists take great pride in carefully studying skin structure to develop the best skin care. Our  products are suitable for people with dark spots, sun discolorations, discolored dry patches such as elbows and knees, or hyper-pigmentation from acne, injury or medication. @

Tina Toner Skin Care  we have dedicated our lives to the preparation and refinement of each of our Skin care products.

We will continue to build on our solid reputation of providing the highest quality beauty products and superior, uninterrupted service to our valued customers worldwide. She is our African Community achievement Award nominee for Community business men/women.

Winstina Taylor is a multitasking, multi-talented, award winning Sierra Leone raised; American trained actress, entrepreneur, philanthropist and humanitarian. Growing up she was always branded a leader and goal getter. She attended Seaton Elementary in Washington DC where she was part of the drama club, sister to sister team helping girl’s become self-empower. At Shaw junior High school she receives many presidential honored awards and was accepted in Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington DC but went to Duval high school in Maryland where she was part of the multicultural drama club team, Step team, soccer, soft ball and went on to Prince George community College to earn her Registered Nurse degree and earned her master’s degree in Nursing education at Walden University. Currently Winstina is pursuing her doctor of nursing degree (DNP).

Some of her movies are now distributed across Africa through the IROKO TV, dstv Channel, UK nations and many more outlets. Winstina’s drive is a force to be reckon with, and she has proven that African movies can be done, and successfully so, in the USA, and helps crossover the racial and ethnic lines. She has been nominated for several awards in the movie industry as well as for her work as a humanitarian. The ambitious winstina is a busy on the go woman who has her sights set on expanding her business and operations, having launched a successful production company Prime International Productions in an effort to help upcoming actor’s and entertainers to have a local production company to call home. For an educated and successful woman like people of her caliber, Winstina has managed to balance family, work and play, with serious dedication in helping the helpless especially her Sierra Leone community via Immaculate Charities co- own with her mother Rosemarie Sesay that is engage in educating and feeding the poor in Sierra Leone and many other places.  Winstina has taken a serious dedication to her Sierra Leone community in the US and back home.  She has done educational tours to teach about health, communicable diseases, infectious diseases and hygiene to the rural people of Sierra Leone. Winstina and her family are currently paying over 20 student school fees in Sierra Leone and employ more than 50 workers under Immaculate branch in Sierra Leone and a newly open family guest House in Makeni run and mange by her Uncle Robinson essay. Winstina's greatest mission in life is not merely to survive, but to thrive; and to do so with some passion, some compassion, some humor, and some style “simply said by Maya Angelou,  while putting a smile on everyone that comes around her and see no one left behind in poverty or hunger.

AWARDS

Pan African international awards: most outstanding African person of the year 2017

Diaspora Entertainment Awards (D.E.A): Best Producer 2016

LANFA-: BEST ACTRESS 2015

SLAAM: 2014 BEST ACTRESS

The spring of joy “the Gem of Africa” award 2014.

Diaspora nominee best actress NFCA 2014

 GIAMA Diaspora nominee for best actress (2013)

Vigor Awards International 2017- Achievement award

LANFA 2017- Best supporting actress for the movie “Bigamy”

Next Generation Entertainment Awards (NGEA) 2017

Best actress “The Company”

Best movie producer “The Company”

Best movie “The Company”

Best NGO  Immaculate Charity Foundation

AWOL America 2017

Best movie producer “The Company”

Kevin Njabo, a fellow of the African Scientific Institute, holds a Ph.D. in biology from Boston University.

When Kevin Njabo was young his parents’ ambition was to see him become a doctor. They may have been surprised when Kevin fulfilled their ambition not as a medical doctor but with a Ph.D. in Ornithology. Yet it was Kevin’s father, a British trained vet, who first inspired his son’s interest in the natural world, which he taught him to observe and respect and thus become one of the pioneer Ornithologists of Cameroon today.

Kevin Njabo was born in Buea in southwest Cameroon. He attended local primary and secondary schools, specializing in biology and maths. He was always interested in birds in general and this interest was strengthened when he continued to the Universities of Ife and Ibadan, both schools in Nigeria to study biology and ecology. He later earned his BSc and MSc degrees in Nigeria. He was first introduced to practical ornithology by Ron Demey and Marc Languy, who would become his “bird mentors”.

Kevin later worked for several years in helping to establish a new NGO in Cameroon dedicated to the conservation of avifauna as well as wider taxa (the Cameroon Biodiversity Conservation Society formerly, Cameroon Ornithological Club) and played a principal role in surveying the avifauna of Cameroon to identify areas high in endemism and biodiversity so that conservation efforts could be prioritized, developing an impressive knowledge of Cameroon birds in the process.

Kevin’s earned his Ph.D. in May 2006 and his dissertation research examined the systematics and phytogeography of montane forest birds in Cameroon and included both fieldwork in Cameroon and molecular genetic analyses in the laboratory. Between January 2007 and July 2010, Kevin served as a Post-Doctoral Scholar at the University of California, Los Angeles. His main research focus was on Emerging infectious tropical diseases, biodiversity, and health where he worked with a team investigating the effects of deforestation on the prevalence of blood-borne pathogens in African rainforest birds. He also supervised a team on the National Institutes of Health (NIH) research project to study avian flu in Cameroon and Egypt.

Kevin also serves on several professional bodies including the Board of Governors and Vice President/Membership for the Society for Conservation Biology; Council Member of the Pan African Ornithological Congress Committee (PAOCC), 2008-2016, member of the International Association for Impact Assessment, the American Association for the Advancement of Science (AAAS) and member of the International Association for Impact Assessment. He is also a reviewer for the Society for Conservation Biology, Students Awards Abstracts; a Mentor for the SCB Africa Section Communications/Mentoring Program since 2007 and an invited reviewer for Molecular Ecology, Molecular Phylogenetics and Evolution; Ostrich: Journal African of Ornithology, African Journal of Ecology, IBIS, the International Journal of Biodiversity and Conservation, Parasitology and Vector Biology and Parasitology, and Climate Change

Dr. Kevin Njabo, is Africa Director of the Congo Basin Institute and the progress report is immense. In June 2015, the International Institute for Tropical Agriculture and the University of California signed a partnership agreement and created the Congo Basin Institute (CBI) in the presence of the Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and the Inspector General of the Ministry of Scientific Research and Innovation. The Congo Basin Institute (CBI) is the first integrative, international research and training center in the Congo Basin and serves as a local research hub for African scientists and international collaborators to respond effectively and efficiently to the region’s most pressing concerns. They organize Professional Development Workshops, Socio-Economic Professional Development Workshops, Science and Policy summit etc. In Outreach, The Congo Basin Institute has invested significant time in reaching out to a diverse set of stakeholders in the US. At UCLA, CBI is in the process of developing or strengthening collaborations with the Luskin School of Public Affairs, African Studies Center, the Center for Diverse Leadership in Science, Student Affairs, the David Geffen School of Medicine, the UCLA Blockchain Lab, the Anderson School of Management, the Fielding School of Public Health, and the Graduate School of Education and Information Sciences (GSEIS).

External outreach has also been a focus. CBI’s Africa Director Dr. Kevin Njabo joined African heads of State and a host of other luminaries as an invited speaker at this year’s TED Global annual conference in Arusha, Tanzania.

In August 2017, Kevin gave a TED talk on how to stop Africa’s scientific brain drain at the TEDGlobal Conference held at the Ngurdoto Mountain Lodge in Arusha,

Tanzania https://www.ted.com/…/kevin_njabo_how_we_can_stop_africa_s_…

Daniel Akeni graduated from Ibadan Polytechnic with Diploma in Accounting, a technical degree from Prince George county college, Maryland.

He is Founder and CEO of DARB, Talent Manager, Business Entrepreneur and also a political guru who has contributed in the campaign promotions of many political leaders in Nigeria including the former Nigerian president, Goodluck Jonathan.

Between 2012 and 2015, Mr. Akeni served as a director and secretary to the Yoruba Heritage Cultural group in Sacramento California where he coordinated the 20th year Anniversary for the Heritage.

Mr. Akeni is a promoter and a Youth Empowerment Administrator for the PDP political organization in Nigeria, USA, and Canada. He’s in charge of over 50 youths in the Diamond Cultural Group in Nigeria and a manager to Nigerian Born Hollywood International Star Mr. Michael Adegoke, who is a 5 Times U.S. Show dance Champion, World Dance Finalist, Actor and Show Host.

Currently, Mr. Akeni is a proud owner of Daniel Akeni’s Room & Board with over 30 clients, a Soccer Betting Business, A Poultry & Fishing farm in Lekki and a proud owner of a Transportation/Uber business in Lagos West Africa and a vendor to California Alter Regional Transportation.

Today Daniel Akeni is giving back to many children in Nigeria sponsoring a few Youth Alethic Programs, paying school fees for many children through several organizations and orphanages that he supports financially in Nigeria. Mr. Daniel Akeni is married to Ella Akeni and has 3 boys.

Lucille Crawford-Sarkodie was born in Ghana, West Africa and migrated to the United States at the age of 13. She went to Rosemead High School in the city of Rosemead, CA and graduated in 1994.
After high school, she went off to college and one day on campus, she met a Ghanaian girl by the name of Mary. They became roommates and eventually, she was introduced to the larger Ghanaian community. She became more and more interested in the things of Ghana and decided to wet her feet a little deeper by contesting in the Miss Ghana USA pageant in New York City in 1998. Although she did not win the title, it was such a great experience for her and she decided then that she will do whatever she can to help and support her beloved country Ghana.

After she graduated from college, got married and had children, she had a deep yearning to be more involved in the Ghanaian community because she really wanted her children to learn about her beautiful culture. Since she also had the passion of uniting Ghanaians in Southern California but didn’t know how to do this as California is such a big State,

she involved herself in many community events, spearheaded fundraisers and immersed herself wherever she was needed but this still didn’t seem like she was doing enough.
In 2016, she decided to run for a leadership office with the Ghana Association of Southern California. She won the seat of the secretary in the general election in November of 2016 and hit the ground running!

Since taking office, along with the other executives, have reinstated the Ghana Association to what it used to be by encouraging the community members to join them. She is the project manager for the first African Immigrants Homeownership Fair. The event was a great success and she has been of service to the community. How the love of her people brought her to community service. This is what we are encouraging each and every one of us to do. Be your brother’s keeper and the Guardian of the customs and growth of your community.

This is just a summary of what she has done, Come to AFRIFAMU 2019 and you will hear more.

ABDUL SESAY, Founder of GIVE BACK to the CHILDREN PROJECT, was a refugee from the 10 years war in Sierra Leone whose incredible journey took him from professional soccer player to American College Graduate. In his current position as a youth Soccer coach and a Technology Coordinator at Palos Verdes District School in Palos Verdes Estates, CA,

Abdul decided he wanted to “GIVE BACK” to the children of Sierra Leone whose avenues for education have been severely limited. In many classrooms, 3 students must share a single pen. For Abdul, the goal of GBCP is to ship a container every year filled with computer equipment, school supplies, clothes, and sports equipment.

To date, the Foundation has established a free computer center in the town of Wellington and has sent a 40-foot container of supplies. The war left 1200 primary schools destroyed and more than 300,000 children orphaned.

Abdul goals with his organization are to providing modern educational access to youth in underserved regions, bridging the Digital Divide. Without computers, the Internet or the skills to use them, the youth here are largely disconnected from the rest of the world; and in the era of globalization, this is a recipe for failure

Abdul is giving many children in Sierra Leone access to education

Mamoudou Diane is a Guinean in the DMV area whose degree of loving-kindness has reached out and touched his community. He organizes Galas every year to bring his community together to raise funds used to develop his community in areas that they choose. He organizes events that bring children and parents of the community together. He uses BBQs and park events to teach his community about the essence of togetherness. Through this gatherings, helps pay for tuitions, airfares for some of his community members to go back home, He pays rents for those who have lost their jobs which is considered very noble, he offers scholarship for youths who graduate from high school to encourage them to go to college and strive for a better life etc.

He is blessed with the gift of bringing people together. Known by many as a peacemaker, he uses every opportunity in every gathering to preach peace and unity. Come to AFRIFAMU/ACAA 2019 to hear more about this humble humanitarian whose joy comes from giving to those in need no matter what it takes.

Founder and Creative Director for the Ankara Festivals (AFLA) and Naija Entertainment. Through his years of service to the African community in Los Angeles, Lentini has proven himself a leading advocate for entrepreneurship, cultural pride and volunteerism. Creating jobs and business opportunities, Peter has forged a framework of partnerships that have now sprung an entire network of influential leaders and emerging brands, most of which derive from the entrepreneurial spirit of Africans now living in the US.

Each year, Ankara Fest in Los Angeles showcases about a dozen African designers, provides vending for various African-owned businesses and shares the stage with African music artists. These showcases have supported the efforts of organizations that continue to spread humanitarianism through their business structures including:

The Red Pump Project, founded by Luvie Ajayi (Nigeria) a national nonprofit organization whose mission is to educate women and girls of color about HIV. So far, over 3,500 safer sex kits and products have been distributed to promote health and awareness.

In affiliation with Ankara Fest, Modahnik, owned by designer, Kahindo Mateene (Congo) formed a partnership with Mamafrica, helping to empower women in Congo with job skills while allowing them to take part in the design process.

Royal Dynamite, owned by Cecil Williams, Raphael Saye and Nadia Sasso, has been supported by Ankara Festival through their RD Cares initiative. This program is geared at empowering and supporting school children growing up in marginalized and low income communities around the world by supplying educational care packages throughout Sierra Leone, Tanzania, Dominican Republic, England and the US.

Designer, Kibonen Nfi (Cameroon) partnered and showcased with Ankara Fest, bringing to light her new initiative Made in Camer. The fair-trade production center is based in Bamenda, Cameroon and has sales outlets in New York where products from the center and other local designers are sold.
 
Peter has also taken an active role in improving the lives of underprivileged communities through various charitable work such as feeding the homeless every year with PATH and donating a percentage of AFLA ticket sales to benefit a non-profit organization dedicated to health issues, poverty alleviation, disease eradication, education, and research.

Aligned with his commitment of benevolence, Lentini travels around the world through the TOMS “One-for-One” initiative giving shoes to children in need. This worldwide program also the gift of sight by providing free access to medical treatment, sight-saving surgery and prescription glasses to people living in disadvantaged areas.

As a thought leader in his industry, Peter has been invited to speak at corporate meetings such as the Global Sales Conference for TOMS and at prestigious universities including Yale and Stanford University addressing students, professors, and marketing executives.

With his love, passion, and pride for his culture, Peter Lentini is inspired to purposely and intentionally create possibilities of empowering and supporting a thriving community that can celebrate its astounding diversity through exposure to the African heritage and legacy.

MbayaNdiaye is a brave and courageous woman from West Africa, Senegal.  At a time when her peers were expected to stay home and curb their activities to the limitations of housekeeping duties, she learned a trade and sought to become a difference maker for her family.  Mbaya embraced hair styling as a profession and was able to make a living in the suburbs of her hometown, where poverty and economic instability was the norm.  As a single mother of three children, she worked tirelessly to build a strong base of clientele and was the most renown hair braider in her community.  Clients touted her hairstyle savviness, cherished her charismatic smiles and openness to negotiate the cost of her services to accommodate their needs. She emigrated to America, confident that she wouldn't be without employment.  Sure enough, she was exposed to the countless opportunities upon her arrival to the United States.  While she was hired as a hair braider, customers flocked to her by word of mouth and referrals from previous clients, assured that they wouldn't be disappointed.   She overcame the challenges of cultural shock and language barriers to building strong relationships with the African American community, which had been the bulk of her customers.  Clients appreciated her display of African culture through the garments she wears and the food she shares, very proud of her origin. 

Her experience would spark a sense of entrepreneurship that propelled her desires for becoming self-employed.  Even being illiterate didn't stop her quest for becoming a beauty salon owner.  She opened up shop in San Diego and has been in operation since 1999. Nearly two decades later, we can now recount the numerous contributions and influences that Mbayahas made in her new found community.  Her beauty salon, Touba Hair Braiding, is the most popular in the San Diego area.  With the advent of technology, Mbaya utilizes social media to keep up with the trend by creating a website, a Facebook page, an Instagram account, and Twitter.  She set up a communication platform through which clients can get instant quotes for various braid designs.  

Touba Hair Braiding's most significant competitors used to all be former employees, and they all learned invaluable skills from Mbaya to become shop owners today.   There are some among them whom she brought from Africa, gave sponsorship to and taught the craft.  Many others are African braiders from other states who heard of Touba Hair Braiding and decided to come aboard.  Being foreigners and needing to settle in San Diego, Mbaya gave African workers housing, employment, and guidance for navigating through the U.S. Immigration system to gain U.S. citizenship.  She encourages the young African women, who came here in pursuit of the American dream to go to school and learn the language. She advises them not to limit their potential to hair braiding, but to pursue higher learning and seek to become amongst the elites.  Mbaya contributes to workers' childcare costs to alleviate their financial burden and allow them to take courses and work. Furthermore, she has helped them get consignment for car financing and establish a strong credit history. In regards to her contribution abroad, Mbaya offers monthly remittance to more than five households in Senegal, and she's been doing it ever since she came to America.   

Martin Caspa, RE, CSIT.
(At a glance)

A Cameroonian by birth with a birth place of Victoria and a native of Bali Nyonga, out here with a mission to get it, get back and give back nationally and globally with a focus on Africa. Now serving year thirty six of an emigrant experience and a resident of Southern California USA in all thirty six of those years.

All through my thirty six years in the USA, I have been specially blessed in twenty five of them and still counting-on with a great wife, Licy Tata-Caspa, (a Cameroonian origin), two fantastic California born kids, Amanda Caspa and Miles Caspa.

With a California Check-in date of September 23, 1982 I hit the ground running, leaving behind my immediate family, Godfrey Caspa, (brother), Mammy Emilia Caspa and Ba. Alfred Caspa (now exited) and a Bali Nyonga royal family heritage.

So far I’ve executed per plan, achieving a formal academic training, graduating from an all California university educational standard as a Hybrid product of the California state & University of California system, with a couple of technical degrees as follows; BSc Production specializing in Manufacturing, MSc. Reliability engineering with a specialty in electro-mechanicals and a board certified Senior Industrial Technologist.

With this background training I was able to spend thirty four plus professional years in California, serving in various capacity of a Sr. Global Quality engineer, Sr. Reliability engineer, Advanced Manufacturing engineer, Sr. Manufacturing engineer, in various fortune 500 companies in an industry spread as follows; Xerographic (XEROX) Aerospace (ROCKWELL/BOEING) window treatment systems (Louver drape) Mag-stripe/HID (AMERIACAN MAGNETICS) etc.

Over my corporate service time, I have been professionally very blessed with a few National/Global commercial Firsts in my scope of technical delivery experience as follows: 1st.modem, 1st. cellphone chip, 1st.LCD, 1st. rub head technology, Corporate awards, President’s highest achiever award, superstar team member in Xerox etc. and I said this is it.

Bridged to early retirement 2014 from the corporate world with Xerox _IP as last stop and now counting four years moving forward as a business entrepreneur geared to give back.

After two years of practical & detailed quantified methods of studying the sun, I established excellence in harnessing the sun, creating, developing and establishing “SOLAMATIC since the nineties & POWER ANYWHERE” first as a part time R&D during my professional run around days which later enhanced my confidence to bridge to retirement from the corporate world.

So far I have almost replicated my corporate world performance as indicated by the achievements and awards with USPTO; Patent and registered marks in solar technology, 2015 inventors forum award for most innovative window treatment system,”solamatic” and 2018 California IE-Manufacturers Council E=MC2 “product innovation award,” “solamatic _G-Flex technology”, Power Any Where (aka: CA-PAW). With these few achievements so far, I think I’ve arrived and more than ready to give back to the continent and globally as needed, providing unlimited solutions for alternative energy with focus on solar and emerging Technology.

Martin Caspa, RE, CSIT

Founder, President/CEO _VSI Technologies Inc., AKA: solamatic.com (A registered MADE IN CALIFORNIA company).

Member: IIE, ASRE/QE SME, NAIT, ASES, IEEE, ASME, PMA

2018 Lifetime achievement nominee “Marquis Who’s Who in Science & engineering”.

When we use education as a tool to enhance our well being, it should also be used as a drive to help us organize and establish a community where hospitality is recognized as our biggest gift. Abdoul is a dynamic and skillful young man with experience in Concierge management whose innovative marketing ideas has helped to keep pace in both the community and his corporate world.Abdoul studied Economics at the University of Conakry, holds a BA in Business management from ICS-Ravenhurst, and Project Management at the NYU School of Professional Studies.As the founding member and former president of ACTION GUINEA, he developed strategies and innovative ideas that will be used as a tool to fighting poverty and ignorance in the community. He served in other community organizations forums in the United States and Africa. To give you an idea of his professional life and as a community leader:

Profession:

• Hospitality Management, Marketing & E-commerce Consultant
• Former Director of E-Commerce & Revenue Optimization for the Americas at FastBooking USA
• President of GAD Enterprises & GAD Hospitality Management
• Board Member of Club 87 LLC investment club

As a community leader:

• Former President of the GUINEAN Community of America of New York-New Jersey- Conecticut
• Founding member of ACTION GUINEA, a nonprofit organization. This was inspired by his belief that Education is a Human Right and the main solution for fighting poverty and ignorance worldwide.
• Served in many community Organizations: Union Fouta,

Franco Bonghan Biography

Franco Bonghan serves as Executive President & Managing Partner of Novelty Tax & Accounting LLC, a Houston based Accounting Firm specialized in Corporate Taxes, Tax Litigation, Income and Franchise Taxes. Franco serves as Executive Director of Franco Records, LLC, an independent Record Label based in Houston Texas providing cutting edge Marketing, Promotions and Public Relations. Mr. Bonghan holds a dual Masters in Accounting & Financial Management from Keller Graduate School of Management.

His passion for music gave birth to Bright Light Projects (BLP), an International NGO with a vision to promote and support BLP beneficiaries to become self-reliant and contribute positively to the Development of their communities. BLP operates in the United States, Sierra Leone, Guinea, and Liberia. Franco hails from Kumbo, in the North West Region of Cameroon

Awards/Recognition Include:

• 2017 City of Houston ‘Proclamation’ from  Mayor Sylvester Turner on commitment in advocating for the Poor through sustainable Musical Influence
• 2016  Deedee Entertainment Humanitarian   Award Recipient in Maryland on outstanding Community Stewardship and leadership
• The African Film Festival 2016 Humanitarian Award in Dallas
• 2013 – Citation from the Mayor of Houston Annise Parker for outstanding Media Awareness Campaign on Bright Light Projects’ Houston against Violence Project.
• 2014 – Governor’s Citation from Governor Martin O’ Malley of the State of Maryland on the “Concert for Ebola Relief” (The first Diaspora response to the deadly Ebola crisis in West Africa in 2014)
• 2012 – Dunia Magazine African Leadership Excellence Award on organizing annual Bridging the gap events (An annual round table conversation between Africans & African Americans in Atlanta Georgia)
• 2012 – Cameroon American Community of Houston (CAMCOH) Award for Excellence in Community Leadership and stewardship

Please visit our social media sites for more information:

Website: www.brightlightprojects.org

Instagram: brighlight_projects

Twitter: @TheBrightLightP

Facebook: Bright Light Projects

Email: info@brightlightprojects.org

Simone Niongbo Koivogui Zulu Diol

Simone Zulu is a recently retired preschool teacher via the Palmdale School District, a parent and grandparent, and the former president of the Palmdale Elementary Teachers Association. She was one of the original Head Start teachers in Palmdale, and thus, she is a leading proponent of holistic multi-cultural educational that involves the child and the parent or designated care-giver in the educational process. Simone has served as a mentor teacher, multi-linguists advocate (she is bi-lingual) and as a model of excellence based on her administrative skill as a Head Start site director/head teacher while at Highland High School in Palmdale, California. In 2015 she was awarded ‘2015 Educator of the Year’ by the California Head Start Association, and thus, she was recognized by the Palmdale School District, the City of Palmdale, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors and California State Assembly Member Tom Lackey. She also was the recipient of the California Teachers Association Lois Tinson Human rights Award for Education. She was also one of original members of the Guinean Association of Southern California, responsible for the creation of the Association constitution and bylaws. And, she has been honored by the Guinean Honorary Consulate in Los Angeles for her community service. She was also a founding member and the second President of this multi-cultural group of African from various part of the continent of Africa. The name of this organization was Friends United, a basic social group that was created to foster unity, and collaboration among Africans in United State from various countries in African, and the diaspora, although she has been here for many years, she has never forgotten her homeland. She continues to make a difference in the lives of children in Guinea by sending. school supplies to children in the elementary schools near where she used to reside in Conakry. She has a B.S. in Child Development from California State University at Fresno, a mentor teacher for the State of California, and master teacher, site supervisor and director certifications from the State of California Commission on Teacher Credentialing she wants to continue making a difference in the lives of children in the USA and Africa by advocating for a great public education for all.. She resides in Palmdale, California.

Neveen Dominic is a South Sudanese war survivor who immigrated to Canada as a refugee in 1996. She has over 20 years of knowledge and experience in the fashion and beauty industries. Neveen is the CEO of Neveen Dominic Cosmetics and founder of Beauty Response to Cancer Society. She uses her cosmetics to empower women and help build their self-esteem. With confidence, Neveen believes that anyone can change the world. Every year, Neveen likes to give her cancer clients a moment where they can forget about their illness and enjoy their lives to its fullest. She offers each client free wigs and cosmetics to help them deal with the cosmetic side effects of chemotherapy and radiation. Neveen mentors many South Sudanese people around the world in pursuing their passion and not allowing their past to determine their future.  Her new book "Neveen Dominic" is an autobiography of her life, how she started her company, and how she is using it to empower others. Neveen will be donating proceeds from her book to her charity and to other charities during her book tour in 2018.

The first of ten children, Dr. Patience Abiedu was born in Buea, Cameroon to Late John Ndi Mofor and Dorothy Mofor. Her elementary school education was in both mission and government schools. She attended Presbyterian Secondary School Batibo and CCAST Bambili where she was the Social Prefect and Hall Prefect respectively. During her teenage through pre-adolescent years, she was very active in choir, dance, basketball, volleyball, and soccer.

In 1983, after a brief stint at the University of Yaounde’ Cameroon, she joined her husband Dr. Julius P. Abiedu, then a doctoral student, at UCLA. She graduated from UCLA in 1986 with a B.Sc. in the Biological Sciences. In 1990 she graduated from USC School of pharmacy with a Doctor of Pharmacy degree. She was recruited by SAV-ON Drugs and has since worked for various in-patient and out-patient pharmacies. She currently works with CVS Health and has been with them for over 11 years.

She has held numerous professional and social leadership positions including being a pharmacy manager, a member of the California Pharmacist Association Association’s Committee on  Professional Affairs and session member at Culver City Presbyterian Church. As the President of CAMWAsocal or Chairperson on fundraising, she pioneered two important humanitarian activities; the donation of a CD4 counter to a hospital in Cameroon and the donation of 20 pediatric incubators to hospitals in Cameroon.

As a Board member of Cameroon Group USA (CAMGUSA) she was instrumental in creating Cameroon Youth Group, a forum intended for young Cameroonians to interact and serve their communities. In fact, one of the most popular activities of CYG was their annual ‘feed the homeless’ day at PATH.

Dr. Abiedu considers herself an activist and a philanthropist. She gives to causes she believes in and loves to volunteer whenever she can in order to make a difference. Because of this spirit to give back, she has been recognized over the years by different groups or organizations. In addition to the various recognitions at the different milestones in her career, she has been awarded the following:

2003: Excellence award for leadership attribute and dedication to the child to and from Cameroon by Sacred Heart Ex-student Association, America.

2013: CAMGUSA Appreciation Award in recognition of outstanding leadership and dedication

2013: Parent Volunteer Award by the Council of African American Parents (CAAP)

2014-2015: UCLA Parent Council in recognition of new council member for dedication and commitment to the UCLA community

2016: CAMSOLA (Cameroon Soccer Los Angeles) for selfless service to the youth born of Cameroonian Parents in Los Angeles.

Dr. Patience Abiedu is married Dr. Julius Abiedu and they are both blessed with two beautiful daughters Aji and Ani. She is also blessed with a large family (siblings, aunts, uncles, nieces, nephews, and cousins.) She is very active in her different communities and as a Christian believes that God has a plan for all of us. She also believes that her health is her wealth. In her spare time she loves to read, sing, watch movies and dance.

I am a popular Nigerian Yoruba businessman in Winnipeg Manitoba, a politician, and philanthropist. I started showing entrepreneurial talents at a very young age.

At the age of 2, I had started getting involved in business during my school days as WALYJAH PROMOTION in sponsoring different kinds of Yoruba Movies at different tertiary institutions. I started my professional life as Sales Representative at Oyo brothers Distribution services, Ibadan, Nigeria.
After two years I joined Cornerstone Insurance Company, Lewis Street, Lagos as Executive Officer; before leaving to join Bael International Brokers; a sister company of Supreme Finance and Investment Ltd at Greenic Building Martin Street, Lagos; as Marking Manager.
After some years I joined Oyo State Local Government Commission, where I later rose to the position of Senior Accountant before migrating to Canada.

In addition to my duties throughout the period of my staying in Nigeria. I was the first president of Royal Social Club of Nigeria. Member of Community Relations Committee (PCRC) Force Headquarters. Now President of Pro Solution management Inc (Shipping and Estate Management Expert).
In addition to this; I am the present Vice-president for NAYA (Nigeria Young Adults for Canada); Treasurer Oranmiyan Canada Inc; Member of Nigeria Association of Manitoba; Respective member of Egbe Omo Yoruba in Winnipeg Manitoba; Member of Elder’s forum Al-Haqq prayer Group of Canada 2016; Member of Elder’s forum Islamic Prayer Group 2017; Registered Director for OPU Canada 2016; Member of Board Directors OPU Canada 2017.

However, with blessings from Almighty Allah, I reached out and won admiration across the multifarious ethnic and religious divides in Winnipeg Manitoba.

OTUNBA ADEWALE ADEPOJU is a good Muslim who loves and serves Almighty Allah faithfully. He had described himself as a man full of passion to see lives changed, transformed, and renewed through the word of Allah and his characters. OTUNBA ADEWALE ADEPOJU also focuses on leadership, relationship, and personal development in most of his words and in his characters and very active on social activities. He believes the journey to greatness just begun and wishes to be actively involved, changing the mindset of Africans and World at large. This has led him to involved different community organizations. OTUNBA ADEWALE ADEPOJU is married with children.

I received numerous honors and awards from different organizations, such as:

·      2016 NUMATVILLE AMBASSADOR

·      EGBE OMO YORUBA WINNIPEG MANITOBA 2016 ACHIEVER

·      EGBE OMO YORUBA WINNIPEG MANITOBA 2017 AWARD FOR EXCELLENCE

Originally from Guinea and resides in San Diego, California. Former president; of Guineans in southern California.

 Leaders always focus on the needs of the organization and the situation. Leaders focus on results, on what must be achieved by themselves, by others, and by the company. Great leaders focus on strengths, in them and in others. My ability as a leader to call the shots and make sure that everyone is focused and concentrated on the most valuable use of their time is essential to the excellent performance of the organization.

As an entrepreneur and leader, Mamady has created a platform for the people of his community to come together and exchange ideas through the creation of a cross-community soccer team whereby the residents of California could play games with Guineans of other states.

 While organizing activities to raise funds to help build the community through parties, soccer tournaments and cross-organizational assistance, Mamady goes home to Africa every year to help strengthen the support system of the impoverished and less privileged. He finds joy in mediating for community building. it is an honor to be nominated for the African Community Achievement Award.