Washington, DC – Today, Mayor Bowser and the Mayor’s Office on African Affairs awarded a combined $106,000 in grant funding to eleven community-based organizations that provide critical services to Washington, DC’s African community. Grants were made in amounts between $4,500 and $20,000.

“We are proud to partner with these community-based organizations that are advancing DC values and helping us build a safer, stronger, and more inclusive Washington, DC,” said Mayor Bowser.

The Fiscal Year 2019 African Community Grant awardees are:

• African Women’s Cancer Awareness Association will provide cancer screenings and awareness.
• Asylum Seekers Assistance Project will equip asylum seekers with the knowledge and skills necessary to achieve economic stability.
• Renaissance Center for Culture and Education to provide culturally tailored after school program on STEM and homework assistance; summer camp and nutrition.
• Life Asset will provide microloans and training to low income African entrepreneurs.
• KanKouran West African Dance Company will produce the 36th Annual African Dance conference, “Visit to Africa.”
• Mary’s Center will provide teens with the skills they need to pursue post-secondary education.
• Hepatitis B Initiative of Washington, DC will provide outreach, screening, education and linkage to health care.
• Multicultural Community Services will provide language services programs to support the language barriers of low-income African immigrants who are seeking employment.
• Washington English Center will provide affordable English language classes, math, writing and job interviewing skills to African Immigrants.
• Torture Abolition and Survivors Support Coalition International to provide career services and assist African born residents in securing job placement
• Ethiopian Community Center, Inc. will provide cultural and linguistically enriched summer programs to Ethiopian children and youth.

The grant funding is aligned with the Bowser Administration’s priorities and is intended to enhance existing community programs focused on workforce and economic development, health and human services, youth engagement and education, and the promotion of African arts, culture, and the humanities. Organizations were selected based on the degree to which they meet these priorities and target their efforts toward underserved African communities. Some current projects include: assisting asylum seekers in developing the skills, knowledge, and confidence necessary to achieve job and economic security; providing microloans and financial literacy training to low income, underemployed, and underbanked African entrepreneurs; and continuing to provide health literacy to African women.