On May 12, 2012, PROMPTLY AT 11 a.m. you are cordially invited to the first in a series of Town Hall meetings hosted by the SRDC (Sixth Region Diaspora Caucus) at Balboa Restaurant (1655 Bedford Ave, 11225). http://www.balboarestaurant.com/
This Town Hall meeting will be used to inform the Pan African Community and all People of African Descent about one of the most beneficial opportunities to connect Economically, Socially and Culturally directly with countries on the African continent via the African Union.
The States on the continent of Africa have come together as the African Union. The African Union divides the continent of Africa into Five Regions of North, South, East, West and Central respectively.
In their wisdom the African Union countries, in recognition of the importance of the involvement of people born in Africa and People of African Descent who live in different parts of the world into a Sixth Region.
The constituency of the 6th Region will participate in an African Union ECOSOCC( Economic, Social and Cultural Council) created by the African Union as the vehicle in which the African Diaspora will be granted representation in the affairs of the African Union
The agenda of This Town Hall meeting
1> Discussion of procedures for establishing the representation for the state of New York
2> The discussion and approval of a proposed structure for ongoing operation of New York State affairs of the United States of America participation in the 6th Region including:
- the creation of a elected New York State Community Council of Elders,
- a New York State Community Assembly to function as part of the New York State component of the Sixth Region of the African Union.
- thematic committees and task forces that will be organized to ensuring accountability, support and advisory input from organizations that are willing to demonstrate “unity without uniformity
- to identify Observers, and Representatives of New York State to represent the 6th Region of the African Union.
Balboa Restaurant one of our Social Entrepreneurs has graciously donated his restaurant exclusively to be supportive of this process on May 12, 2012. Therefore we encourage those who attend to avail themselves of the delicious African Diaspora menu. A component of the interpretative implementation of the African Union ECOSOCC (Economic Social and Cultural Council) is to properly represent the African Diaspora diversity. Simultaneous translation will take place in Spanish and French.
Since seats are limited for this first in a series of SRDC Town Halls please RSVP at etf.the.company@gmail.com
Technical assistance is being provided by The Caribbean Research Center at Medgar Evers College, the Flatbush Caton Mart and Evolution Through Fusion Inc.
The following are the Articles of the Statutes of the African Union ECOSOCC that apply to Diaspora participation
Article 4 Membership
1. ECOSOCC shall be composed of one hundred and fifty (150) CSOs which shall include different social and professional groups in Member States of the Union and the African Diaspora, in conformity with Article 5 of these Statutes:
a) Two (2) CSOs from each Member State of the Union;
b) Ten (10) CSOs operating at regional level and eight (8) at continental level;
c) Twenty (20) CSOs from the African Diaspora as defined by the Executive Council, covering the various continents of the world;
d) Six (6) CSOs, in ex-officio capacity, nominated by the Commission based on special considerations, in consultation with Member States;
2. The elections of the members of ECOSOCC at Member State, regional, continental and Diaspora levels shall ensure fifty percent (50%) gender equality provided that fifty percent (50%) of the representatives of the members shall consist of youths between the ages of 18 to 35.
Article 5 Election of Members
1. Competent CSO authorities in each Member State shall establish a consultation process, in accordance with the provisions of Article 6 of these Statutes, for the purpose of determining modalities for election, of two (2) CSOs to the ECOSOCC General Assembly;
2. Regional and continental CSOs shall establish an appropriate consultative process to determine modalities for election, and elect eighteen (18) CSOs to the ECOSOCC General Assembly.
3. African Diaspora organizations shall establish an appropriate process for determining modalities for elections and elect twenty (20) CSOs to the ECOSOCC General Assembly;
4. The Commission shall adopt appropriate criteria for its selecting nominated members to the General Assembly, in consultation with States;
5. The members of ECOSOCC shall have a mandate of four (4) years and may be reelected only once
Article 6 Eligibility Requirements for Membership
The requirements to be fulfilled by CSOs seeking membership are as follows:
1. Be national, regional, continental or African Diaspora CSO, without restriction to undertake regional or international activities.
2. Have objectives and principles that are consistent with the principles and objectives of the Union as set out in Articles 3 & 4 of the Constitutive Act.
3. Registration and status:
a) Be registered in a Member State of the Union and/or;
b) Meet the general conditions of eligibility for the granting of Observer Status to non-governmental organizations;
c) Show a minimum of three (3) years proof of registration as either an African or an African Diaspora CSO prior to the date of submission of application, including proof of operations for those years.
4. Provide annual audit statements by an independent auditing company.
5. Show proof that the ownership and management of the CSO is made up of not less than fifty (50%) of Africans or of African Diaspora.
6. The basic resources of such an Organization shall substantially, at least fifty percent (50%), be derived from contributions of the members of the Organization. Where external voluntary contributions have been received, their amounts and donors shall be faithfully revealed in the application for membership. Any financial or other support or contribution, direct or indirect, from a government to the Organization shall be declared and fully recorded in the financial records of the Organization.
7. Provide information on funding sources in the preceding three (3) years.
8. For regional and continental CSOs, show proof of activities that engage or are operative in at least three (3) Member States of the Union.
9. CSOs that discriminate on the basis of religion, gender, tribe, ethnic, racial or political basis shall be barred from representation to ECOSOCC;
10. Adherence to a Code of Ethics and Conduct for civil society organizations affiliated to or working with the Union.
KWANZAA UNITY DECLARATION, 2011
AFTER THE PAN AFRICAN UNITY SUMMIT, DECEMBER 16, 2011
We, the undersigned collective leadership, commit ourselves to the items of agreement below. We ask you to join us if you and your organization are (a) committed to building the African Union and to contributing to the unification and development of Africa, (b) committed to assist and participate with the African Diaspora in joining the AU as voting members, and (c) committed to recognize Africa as your motherland and to use your networks to spread the word of the AU-Diaspora process and implementation. In order to accept the AU’s invitation to join it as voting members, we must present a united voice. Our acceptance is already late and does not need to be delayed any longer. Please join us in this effort.
We agree to:
I. Currently go on record in accepting the operational definition by the African Union of the African Diaspora, to wit: “The African Diaspora consists of all peoples of African origin living outside the continent, irrespective of their citizenship and nationality, and who are willing to contribute to the development of the Continent and the building of the African Union.”
Secondly, for purposes of recruitment, clarification and education in North America, and other regions, we agree to recognize Africa as the motherland, and we understand the current AU operational definition to include both the historical Diaspora and the modern Diaspora. At some point in the near future inside the AU we will move to have these two additional components annexed to the official AU definition of the African Diaspora.
II. Abide by these Common Denominator Principles/Practices for Pan African collective work:
1. Principle of Mutual Respect: That mutual respect for colleagues and fellow warriors and reverence and respect for African traditions and heritage will guide our deliberations and work;
2. Principle of Inclusiveness:
That the talent, skills, intelligence and creativity needed to increase African capacity and achieve Pan African unification is not and will not be determined by one’s political affiliation/ideology, gender, religion, language or class;
3. Principle of Unity Without Uniformity:
That African descendants can be unified without uniformity and that forming Pan African partnerships for economic and political networking is necessary for moving forward.
4. Principle of Consistency:
That Diasporans should work consistently and relentlessly to join and fully participate in the African Union as voting members, bringing all available resources, experience, diplomacy and skills to that effort;
5. Principle of African Democracy:
That as members of the African Diaspora, we must work to develop inclusive democratic institutions for implementing the principles and goals of achieving the United States of Africa/Union of African States.
6. Principle of Equivalent Capacity Building:
That the African Diaspora Sixth Region must be developed to a level equivalent to a viable African Regional Economic Community.
III. Gain approval for and to implement, in compliance with the Statues of ECOSOCC’s mandate that representatives should be elected, the Town Hall/Community Council of Elders model that has been developed and utilized in North America and elsewhere within the last five years to elect African Diaspora delegates/representatives for the African Union.
This method advocates the election of 4 members for ECOSOCC from the USA and 1 member from Canada. This body also recommends, using the same or a very similar democratic method, that 3 representatives are elected from Central America, 3 from the Caribbean, 4 from South America/Brazil, 4 from Europe and 1 from the Middle East/Asia, totaling 20 in all. That total of 20 is currently designated by the AU and can only be changed once we are inside the AU as voting members.
IV. To immediately form and establish the North American African Diaspora Unity Council (NAADUC), whose membership will be based on organizations agreeing with the three stipulations noted above in the Introduction. Each member organization will have one vote on all issues, there will be a rotating chairperson for one year elected by the body, with the chair for each succeeding year being the Vice Chair-designate elected at the annual meeting, which will be held in Washington, D.C., unless changed by majority vote. There will also be at least bi-monthly digital meetings, and the Secretariat members for coordination and record keeping will be the AU Ambassador’s designated staff working with the staff of the current year’s chair. Other operational items will be voted upon as needed.
*** All Pan African organizations which attended the AU ambassador’s Unity Summit on December 16, 2011, are automatically included in NAADUC membership, upon written and oral agreement with this letter. All others who choose to join us, based on agreeing with all of the above, please contact paduorganizing@gmail.com.
There will be a NAADUC meeting the last Saturday of January,
2012 in Washington, D.C. to formalize all of the above and move forward in engaging the African Union and the rest of the African Diaspora. NAADUC will be the reference model for others in the African Diaspora.
SIGNED
Dr. Ruth B. Love Dr. David L. Horne PG Senghor Baye
___________________ ___________________
Ruth B. Love David L. Horne Senghor Baye President, RBLEnterp. International Facilitator, SRDC President-General, UNIA-ACL Co-Chair, W. Afr. Ener. Proj. International Facilitator, PADU Member, PADU Berkeley, CA Los Angeles, CA Washington, D.C
Oscar Brathwaite Dr. Chenzira Kahina Opal Young
_____________________ __________________________
Oscar Brathwaite, CABE Dr. Chenzira Kahina, Per Ankh CCOE of RUF/Harvest Institute Founding President, Can Chair and Co-Founder, V.I President/Exec. Secr. Toronto, Canada Virgin Islands Los Angeles, CA
Reginia Rogers Ras Marvin Sidney Francis Martin
______________________ _________________________
Reginia Rogers ,UNIA-LDF Ras Marvin, CBPO Sidney Francis Martin, CABO Lead Counselor People’s Chair President Washington, D.C. Atlanta, GA New York & Bluefields, Nicaragua
Geuka Amefika Rev. Al Washington Nana N. Sankofara
___________________________ ____________________________ __________________________
Geuka Amefika, NBLC Rev. Al Washington, Africa-USA President Nehanda Sankofara, President, Florida Chamber of Commerce Mothers for Africa, the Los Angeles, CA Sekyiaabea Foundation
Anthony Akili Nkrumah
_______________________________
Anthony Akili Nkrumah, Chair The Nkrumah Brotherhood Philadelphia, Penn.
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