Archive for June, 2009

Somalis in Greeley Make Progress, Still Face Challenges

Photo by deepchi1 Last November we mentioned an article in the Westword that outlined the problems Somali refugees in Greeley have encountered in integrating with the local community and maintaining religious practices while working at the JBS meat packing plant. Over 100 Somalis were fired at the plant last year during labor disputes. In the [...]

Zimfest 2009 Kicks off with an Intercultural Opening Ceremony

The 18th annual Zimbabwean Music Festival officially launched today with an opening ceremony in Boulder’s Central Park. The kick off featured a number of local music and dance groups and a special ceremony led by Aztec dance group Mitotilitzli. Mitotilitzli invited Zimbabweans in attendance to join in the dancing. They offered prayers and blessings for [...]

#thatsafrican – A meme examined

If you aren’t on twitter or missed the #thatsafrican hashtag madness, you might want to start with this post on Afrolicious. It explains a bit of whence came the meme, and offers some samples of how the hashtag was used and misused. … what were we doing? We were telling stories: our stories. Unfortunately, many [...]

First Lady of Ghana to visit Denver for PROJECT C.U.R.E. First Ladies' Luncheon

MetroAfrican’s Isabella Muturi Sauve was honored to be invited to attend the upcoming First Ladies’ Luncheon featuring a keynote address by the First Lady of Ghana, Ernestina Naadu Mills. The luncheon is hosted by Project C.U.R.E. to generate awareness of health issues and raise money to deliver medical supplies and equipment. About the Luncheon Lana [...]

USAID Teams Up with Western Union to Launch African Diaspora Marketplace

Press Release New Business Initiative Seeks Entrepreneurial Ideas from U.S.-based African Diaspora to Spur Economic Opportunity in Homeland FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE June 2, 2009 Press Office: 202-712-4320 Public Information: 202-712-4810 www.usaid.gov DENVER, Colo., WASHINGTON, D.C. June 2, 2009 – The United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and Western Union, a leading global payments network, [...]

Obama taps Boulderite for ambassador to SA

Excerpt from the Denver Post: President Barack Obama on Thursday nominated his friend Don Gips of Boulder as U.S. ambassador to the Republic of South Africa. Gips, 49, is an executive with Internet-services company Level 3 Communications and was a major campaign fundraiser for Obama. He also was the director of presidential personnel on Obama’s [...]

Despite horrific tales, CU student finds hope

Esubalew “Ethan” Johnston was on the cover of the Denver Post this past Sunday in a story written by Kevin Simpson. Simpson recounts Johnston’s journey from Ethiopia to Colorado, the challenges of blindness and international adoption, and Johnston’s love of basketball. Despite only seeing the backboard as a silhouette against the sky, Johnston has developed [...]

Colorado Guardsman trained by Zulus in South African bush

Master Sgt. Robert Seifert, a Colorado Army Guardsman from Special Operation Command – Africa, displays the first fish the survival course team caught on day one. During the three-week course, U.S. Army NCOs were taught to fish using sticks, homemade string and improvised hooks – thankfully catching bigger fish than this, Siefert said. (Photo courtesy [...]