HUNTSVILLE, AL – In the local area of Huntsville, Alabama there are very little opportunities for Africans to socialize in an environment that is stress-free, relaxed, and centered around African culture and all of the many dynamics that represent African people- AND is led by fellow Africans.

The local branch of the All African People’s Development and Empowerment Project, (AAPDEP), provided that socializing opportunity on December 11^th, 2015 at Safari Sports Lounge with the social event, Nfiniti Match Speed Dating!

The city was eager and interested with the idea of a new type of social gathering for Africans; with that same excitement came a tid-bit of anxiousness. However, the turnout was amazing!

There were beautiful, single African men and women everywhere! Some wanted to check an item off of their bucket list and others were looking to meet a special someone.

By the end of the night, all involved had a fantastic evening full of surprises with every new date! One speed dater said, “This was so much fun and I can’t wait till the next one!”

Another noted on how relaxed the atmosphere was and how they felt at ease very quickly because it was so comfortable.

There were some that could not make it to the event for various reasons, but showed their unity in a variety of ways and are enthused for the next AAPDEP Event.

In the city of Huntsville, there was so much support for this event because it was truly a novelty idea for the local area.

The location of the event was donated by Safari Sports Lounge because they believe in the mission of AAPDEP and feel that Africans must show support for fellow Africans.

This was a display of the “One Africa, One Nation” philosophy that is so prevalent in everything that AAPDEP and the Uhuru Movement represent.

Through this event, AAPDEP was able to gain valuable contacts that have contributed to the enhancement of the local chapter in Huntsville.

The idea for a Speed Dating Event came from Black Star Industries, an organization within the Uhuru Movement led by Deputy Chair Ona Zene Yeshitela with the economic philosophy of Marcus Garvey: “Building the Economic Foundation for the African Nation”.

Since the first event was such a success, there is a lot of expressed anticipation for the next event and Huntsville AAPDEP is looking forward to hosting the next speed dating event that will be held at the Lotus Lounge on Friday, February 12^th, 2016- just in time for Valentine’s Day activities!

This time there will be even more fun with spoken word, poetry, and music from local artists, including a possible piece from one of the event hosts’, Gracie Berry (@TheeAmazingGrace)!

This event has helped contribute to the fundraising for Zenzele Consignment, which will open in Huntsville on March 26^th, 2016.

The plan for the function of the store was recently presented at the “African People’s Socialist Party’s  (APSP) 2016 Plenary”, where supporters of the Uhuru Movement, and members of the APSP convene and present a report of the previous year and lay out plans for the coming year.

Zenzele Consignment will be a financial institution that will generate resources so that AAPDEP will be able to create and implement various programs, nationally and internationally.

AAPDEP’s main focus is centered around Education, Agriculture and Healthcare. The programs that will be implemented will contribute to changing the conditions that affect African communities in this country and abroad.

If you are interested in contributing to Zenzele Consignment or would like more information, please visit zenzeleconsignment.com.

For more information on Nfiniti Speed Dating, please visit NfinitiSpeedDating.Blogspot.Com or Like their facebook page at facebook.com/NifinitiMatchSpeedDatingHuntsville.

African business just like African people, have a responsibility to share their skills and resources with the people. When African businesses are dedicated to our people and our liberation they need to be highlighted, recognize, and supported. Two of these warrior businesses are Oyin Handmade and Asli Pure. Both of these strong, quality, conscious, businesses have shown great dedication to Africa and African people all over the world. When we approached them, asking for support, there was no hesitation. These two businesses with strong black women in the forefront were the first to donate.

Oyin Handmade www.oyinhandmade.com, based in Baltimore MD, has a vast array of nourishing handmade hair and body care products. Asli Pure www.aslipure.bigcartel.com, based in Washington D.C. provides all natural handmade, soaps body oils, scrubs, and nectars.

Through the generous donation of these two strong businesses AAPDEP is pleased to offer a gift to our supporters, containing a combination of four of their great products. The first 5 people who make a tax deductible donation for $50 or more will receive one of these gift package (see bottom of page). AAPDEP is a non profit organization that is working to strengthen African development wherever African people are in the world. We are currently raising money to open Zenzele consignment in Huntsville Alabama, a non for profit boutique where all profits will go to funding AAPDEP development projects around the world and in the U.S. gofundme.com/aapdepstore

Please join us in saluting these wonderful businesses, and let’s follow their lead in supporting our liberation. In addition to making a donation you can support by visiting these business this holiday season and throughout the year at the following links:
Asli www.aslipure.bigcartel.com and, www.facebook.com/AsliPure and Oyin www.oyinhandmade.com www.facebook.com/oyinhandmade.

Make your donation here

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On October 3rd, AAPDEP-Huntsville began setting up for the One Africa One Nation Cultural Festival at Big Spring Park in Huntsville, Alabama. Preparations had been made by our committee for the Festival to be a day filled with entertainment, music, community, food, and most importantly, culture! This particular Festival involved a three-fold endeavor to display African Culture in all it’s beauty: 1. Entertainment- included were artists, poets, musicians, dancers and various others types of performers from local and surrounding areas to showcase the talent that dwells within our community! 2. Family- The Children’s Village was created specifically with our young audience in mind with activities such as arts and crafts, dancing, games and story-time, all African centered. 3. Vendors-The committee organized vendors to provide merchandise from African-owned businesses that ranged from handmade jewelry, authentic African art, cosmetics and African clothing to delicious foods from the various places across the African Diaspora!

Unfortunately, Mother Nature had other plans, and the weather forced us to cancel the Festival. However, we are excited about the planning of the rescheduled Cultural Festival! We know that with your support and participation we can once again make this a wonderful event for the entire family. We would like to personally thank all of the volunteers, vendors, entertainers and community that chose to participate in the Cultural Festival. We greatly appreciate your support and look forward to collaborating with you in the near future. We will update you accordingly with our future plans and rescheduled date.

For questions and comments regarding the One Africa One Nation Cultural Festival, please email us at OAONHuntsville@gmail.com or visit OAONCultureFest.blogspot.com.

On October 3, 2015, The All African People Development and Empowerment Project (AAPDEP) Huntsville, AL branch is hosting our first annual One Africa One Nation (OAON) Cultural Festival in conjunction with the City of Huntsville Office of Multicultural Affairs (OMA).  The festival will take place downtown in Big Spring Park from 10:00 am – 5 pm.

The day will feature various aspects of African culture including music, dance, art, poetry and more. A children’s village will offer arts and crafts, face painting, story telling, African dance classes and Yoga.

Zenzele Consignment will be one of the many festival vendors and will have a mini fashion show and table with traditional West African and modern African-inspired clothing and jewelry available for sell.

The OAON Cultural Festival is a fundraiser for the many dynamic programs of AAPDEP and is sure to be a day of family and community fun.

All are welcome! Hope to see you in Huntsville on October 3^rd!

The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement (InPDUM) has launched a petition to be presented to the United Nations charging the U.S. government with genocide against African people in the U.S.

The petition states:

“We, the undersigned, charge that the United States government has historically committed the crime of genocide against African people inside its borders, and continues to do so today, often with the complicity of many U.S. citizens.

“It is in the interest of all freedom-loving peoples worldwide to unite with African people, colonized within the borders of the United States, in their struggle for their basic human rights of freedom from state-imposed violence and oppression and for self-determination and liberation with economic and political control over their lives and communities.”

The genocide petition was created based on violations of established conventions of International Law created by the United Nations.

These laws include the United Nations Charter; the Convention on the Prevention and Punishment of the Crime of Genocide; and the International Covenant on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination among others.

This petition uses the findings of the International Tribunal on Reparations for Black People in the U.S. sponsored by the African People’s Socialist Party in Brooklyn, NY on November 13 and 14, 1982.

At that tribunal a panel of expert judges found the U.S. guilty by unanimous vote of the following charges:

1. The crime of genocide against African people in the U.S. as defined by the UN Genocide Convention.
2. Violation of the United Nations Charter as it relates to the U.S. treatment of Africans in the U.S.
3. Violation of the spirit and intent of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination.
4. Violation of the spirit and intent of the International Bill of Human Rights.

The 1982 Reparations Tribunal also found that $4.1 trillion dollars in 1982 currency value was due as reparations to African people from the U.S. government for stolen labor alone.

The petition to the UN lists evidence of the genocide and genocidal policies on part of the U.S. government in every aspect of the lives of African people in this country.

From the 150 million kidnapped African people who were slaughtered in the passage from Africa to the Americas, to the almost daily police murders of African people; from the right of the slave master to life and death over enslaved African people, to the mass incarceration of African people today, the petition compiles a body of documented evidence of the far-ranging genocidal crimes against African people.

Finally the petition makes six demands of the United Nations including a call for recognition by the international community and progressive and friendly states around the world of the U.S. genocide against African people, and the demand for $14 trillion in reparations to African people for genocide and stolen labor inside the U.S. alone.

The International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement calls on everyone to sign and win others to sign the Genocide Petition.

The petition elicited an immediate powerful response from African people and our allies from around the world. Scores of Africans and our allies have posted moving responses under the petition.

Let’s get one million signatures!

Sign the petition today at: www.Africanschargegenocide.com

Post your reason for signing under the petition and then post the link on your Facebook page.

The strategy for building support and signers for the genocide petition and the process to present the petition to the United Nations will be discussed at the Convention of the International People’s Democratic Uhuru Movement which will be held Sept. 26-27 in Chicago.

To register for the InPDUM Convention go to www.INPDUM.org

On Sunday, August 9th, Daniel Conteh was appointed AAPDEP’s Sierra Leone National Director, a position which places him on the International Executive Committee.

Danielobtained his Teaching Certificate in 2000 from the Freetown Teacher’s College and earned his Higher Teacher Certificate Secondary with a specialization in Agriculture and Community Development in 2007.

In 2008 he pursued a degree at the Evangelical College of Theology in Community Development Studies and graduated in 2011.

Danielhas been instrumental in developing and carrying out AAPDEP’s most recent programs in the country including our Ebola initiative, Project Black Ankh (PBA).

As a part of PBA, Daniel helped to train more than 40 community health workers in the prevention of Ebola Virus Disease and in psychosocial counseling methods.

Daniel recognizes his responsibility to organize the masses of African people in Sierra Leone and around the world and works hard to promote AAPDEP as a vehicle through which Africans can collectivize our skills and resources for African self-reliance and self-determination.

We salute Daniel for his hard work and dedication to the development of Africa and African communities around the world and look forward to his continued contribution to AAPDEP’s success.

Be like Daniel! Contribute your skills to making a better world for African people.

JOIN AAPDEP TODAY!

In June of this year the All African Peoples Development and Empowerment project organized a garden collective in Philadelphia.

The garden collective is a group of about 8-10 different families that have agreed to work cooperatively to grow food, teach and learn from each other, and pool resources both material and human.

Following a model that AAPDEP used to organize families in Huntsville Alabama last year, the Philly Garden Collective planted their first seeds this spring.

There were a variety of different growing techniques that the gardeners used, from indoor containers, outside raised beds, and in the ground planting.

There are also a variety of skill levels involved from first time gardeners to those with over 20 years experience growing food.

After 2 organizing meetings at the home of AAPDEP member Dr. Michelle Strong Fields, the collective pooled their resources and purchased seeds, soil and starter plants.

Next, the collective held a work day where they met and planted containers for people to take home, distributed seeds and plants, and planted one in ground garden.

The collective has been sharing progress and tips through a group text line that they set up.  This has been a good first planting season and our Philly forces have already begun discussing how to progress in the future.  One idea is to establish a community garden.

AAPDEP’s goal is to use the Philly Garden Collective as a tool to organize the African community.  We are in the process of recruiting all of the members of the collective who currently aren’t already to become members of AAPDEP.

We are also working to connect the Philly Garden Collective with the other AAPDEP agriculture work in Houston, Texas, Huntsville, Alabama, and soon in Sierra Leone and Oakland, California.

We have no doubt that the Philly Garden Collective will be a great tool to teach and learn skills, provide healthy food, and organize the African community towards our development.

If you or someone you know is interested in joining or supporting the Philly Garden Collective, please contact Jaleel Nash at 443 844 2545 or via email at agriculture@developmentforafrica.org.

It is August, and this is YOUR month!

Every August starting this year, AAPDEP will take the whole month to focus on our greatest resource, our membership.

Beginning tomorrow, Monday, August 3rd, we will officially launch AAPDEP membership month which will among other things, highlight the tremendous contributions AAPDEP members have made to our people’s struggle for self-reliance and self-determination.

Despite our small size, we have done some really great work and we must use this time to let the world know! We must also use this time to bring others into AAPDEP so that we can expand our programs everywhere we can throughout the African world.

Need to renew your membership? Consider becoming a Development ($60/year) or Empowerment ($120/2year) member this year! And remember, standard membership is just $25 for the year.

Know someone you think would be a great  AAPDEP member? Ask them to join this month!

The member with the most new member referrals will win an AAPDEP T-shirt and $25!

I am proud to be a part of this organization of dedicated Africans who have determined to lead in the development of Africa and African communities around the world.

This August I will be renewing my membership on the Empowerment level. As your comrade and sister, I guess I should say this is OUR month.

Uhuru!!

Aisha Fields, Ph.D.

AAPDEP International Director