Winds of Change: The Global Impact of the Next Generation
A Program of the Ronald H. Brown African Affairs Series
On September 19, 2011, the African American Unity Caucus, African Diaspora for Change, The Africa Society of the National Summit on Africa, and the Give 1 Project conducted a lively dialogue on practical solutions for moving Africa forward.
Given the sweeping changes that have taken place on the continent over the past year and the role of the next generation in that movement, this dialogue came right on time. From employment, finance and civic engagement, to media, technology and entrepreneurship, young professionals from around the world shared fresh insights and innovative ideas that will spur sustainable economic development and long-term prosperity on the continent.
ADC and its partners would like to thank everyone that came out. The feedback has been positive and constructive …
"The program was excellent and educational; in other words, it gave me the understanding of what the next generation is doing." – "Winds of Change" attendee.
"Solution oriented with tangible actions. Talk and education/awareness is great (but) leverage the people in the room to actually make things happen." – "Winds of Change" attendee.
"If policies are the hardware for change, media and communications are the software." – Kobina Aidoo, panelist
Speaking of people in the room. The "Winds of Change" panelists included…
Panelists included:
Constance Ikokwu, Deputy Editor at THISDAY Newspapers, Nigeria’s leading national daily, and author of the recently published "Half a Century" will give her thoughts on the social and political changes that need to happen to move Nigeria forward—and the continent as a whole.
Thione Niang, Political Consultant, Activist, mentor, and community leader, Thione is also heads up The Give One Project, a non-profit global organization dedicated to engaging and empowering young men and women to strive for greater social, economic and political participation in their communities.
After helping start his native Ghana’s first private TV station, Kobina Aidoo, came to America to study. He holds a Masters in Public Policy from Harvard. Kobi’s documentary, The-Neo-African-Americans, has been screened at more than 100 venues worldwide, and has been featured on CNN International, BBC World Service and other media channels. He currently works at the World Bank.
Moderating the panels will be Emira Woods, Director of the Institute of Policy Studies at the Foreign Policy Institute.
Rahama Wright, is a first–generation Ghanaian American, Rahama Wright knew from a young age that she wanted to work in Africa. After graduating from SUNY Geneseo, she began her Peace Corps service as a health Volunteer in Mali. After returning from her Peace Corps service, she relocated to Washington, D.C., where she now runs Shea Yeleen International, supporting Peace Corps Volunteers in organizing shea cooperatives and training women on quality shea production. Last year, she began the process of building the first shea production facility in Dio, where she served as a Volunteer.
We look forward to sharing more details and insights from the dialogue. Stay tuned in the coming days for a video highlight from the event.
PARTNER ORGANIZATIONS
The African American Unity Caucus, (AAUC), established in 2002, is a non-partisan alliance of committed leaders and organizations of African ancestry focused on affecting Africa and the African Diaspora. The mission of the AAUC is to marshal human, material and social capital in order to enhance the overall sustainable development of African people. The AAUC is a program of the Constituency for Africa.
The mission of The Africa Society is to engage and educate Americans about the countries comprising the continent of Africa and to create, through partnerships, a better understanding of its peoples, diverse cultures, histories and economies. (www.africasummit.org)
