"WHAT'S AT STAKE?" the changing demographics of the African Diaspora

AFRICAN AMERICANTHE 2ND ANNUAL RE-DEFINING AFRICAN AMERICAN: WHAT'S AT STAKE
& THE STATUS OF AFRO LATINO/A COMMUNITIES: AN AGENDA FOR 2007

Groundbreaking symposium re-defines and examines the changing demographics of America
 
Presented by
GALCI, CCCADI and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture

New York, NY, February 26, 2007. The Franklin H. Williams Caribbean Cultural Center African Diaspora Institute (CCCADI), Global Afro Latino and Caribbean Initiative at Hunter College (GALCI) and the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture have collaborated to present a two-day symposium to address the rapid, qualitative change in diversity demographics among African descendants in the United States from Latin America, the Caribbean, and the continent of Africa with a series of significant panels. This forum begins on Friday, March 2, 2007 with the first panel comprised of important global Afro Latino, Caribbean and African American speakers, the 2nd Annual "Re-defining African American: What's at Stake" from 5-8 p.m. at the Ida K. Lang Recital Hall at Hunter College, 695 Park Avenue, featuring keynote speaker, Howard Dodson, Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, and concludes with the panel, "The Status of Afro Latino/a Communities: An Agenda for 2007" on March 3rd from 6:00 PM - 8:00 PM at the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of the New York Public Library, 515 Malcolm X  Blvd. Both events are free to the public.

Founding Director, Marta Morena Vega, Ph.D. of CCCADI, explains, "The Redefining Dialogue of last year was most successful indicating that there needs to be a continuing open dialogue on issues concerning people of African ancestry within the USA and internationally."

The perspectives presented in these two panels explore how the changing demographics in the US play a consistent role as the crucible for bridging the gap between promises and practices and the roles that have literally led to qualitative changes in public policy. The fabric of New York City (known in many circles as the "SECRET" African City) the east coast and the nation has dramatically changed requiring that we examine definitions, implications, philosophy, content and functions of public institutions and resource allocation. The esteemed panelists are activist leaders who have been critical to articulating the needs of African descendants and have contributed to making the lives of their communities "visible" to the global community, a movement that underscores the success and accomplishments of approximately 39 million African Americans and approximately 41 million Latinos that make up the United State's population. Taking a critical look to examine and explore the questions, does the term African American include or exclude within our nation's borders?, or does the term need to be redefined?, and what is the status of these communities? The African descendant women and men featured in these panels have created a legacy of think-tank experiences for better strategic planning, assessment and monitoring of past and current programs to understand what has been effective and plan present and future strategies.  CCCADI, GALCI and the Schomburg Center continue their commitment to make visible the history, culture and welfare of the peoples of African descent in the Caribbean, South and Central America and throughout the Diaspora.

March 2, 2007, 5-8 pm: "Redefining African American: What's at Stake?" 
Ida. K. Lang Recital Hall, Hunter College, CUNY
695 Park Avenue
(69th Street between Lexington Ave. and Park Ave)
New York NY 10021

March 3, 2007, 6-8 pm:The Status of the Afro Latino/a Communities - An Agenda for 2007 Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture
515 Malcolm X Blvd., New York, NY 10037
Enter at 103 W. 135th Street, Archives Reading Room, 2nd floor.

Panels made possible through the generous support of the Ford Foundation and Inter-American Foundation. Free and Open to the Public. For further information please call 212-307-7420, x3006
 

Panelists: 
Howard Dodson, (Keynote)
Chief of the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture of The New York Public Library

Monifa Akinwole-Bandele, Executive Director for Change the Game, former Field Director for Right to Vote and coordinating committee member of the Malcolm X Grassroots Movement.

Manuela Arciniegas, Founder & Director of The Legacy Circle, a social justice cultural arts project dedicated to empowering youth and teaching artists of African descent. 

Mario L. Baeza, Chairman and CEO The Baeza Group, LLC, founder and Executive Chairman V-Me Media, Inc. 

Celeo Alvarez Casildo is currently the president of Comité Consultivo del Sistema de la Integracion Centroamerican(Central  American integration Commitee) and the President of the Organization of the Black Central American Communities Organización Negra Centroamericana(ONECA).

Zaire Dinzey-Flores  Andrew W. Mellon Postdoctoral Fellow on Race, Crime, and Justice, Vera Institute of Justice - main areas of research is in Urban & Community Sociology; Urban Planning; and Race & Ethnic Relations .

Jesús Chucho Garcia has authored over 20 books on Afro-American, African themes and of the Caribbean, especially on the cimarronaje.  He is the general coordinator of the Fundacion Afroamerica

Michael Gomez, Director of the Association for the Study of Worldwide African Diaspora and professor of History, and Middle Eastern and Islamic Studies at New York University

Zulia Mena the founder if the Consejo Colombiano de Mujeres Negras, COMUN,(The Colombian Council of Black Women), and co-founder of the Ethnic Movement of Black Women.