The Bronx African Advisory Council’s Third Anniversary
Today marks the 3rd anniversary of the African Advisory Council (AAC) of the Bronx Borough President, Ruben Diaz, Jr. As we celebrate this day of hard work and success, let us reflect on the faithful day of January 13, 2010 when history was made on the steps of the Bronx Court house; a declaration of an advisory council of historic proportion, first of its kind in the city of New York. A council founded out of the need to resolve emerging issues by engaging and empowering New York City’s largest African immigrant community through recommendations on strategies that will improve the quality of life of this growing community.
Since its inception, the council has served and continues to serve as a resource to the African immigrant community by providing access to immigrant specific information, resources as well as opportunities. Through partnership with organizations and city agencies, the council has organized information forum as well as other events showcasing the strength and cultural diversity of the growing African community. It has succeeded for the first time, since 2010, in organizing the African soccer tournament commemorating the Bronx Week every year. A tournament that has brought Africans together from different countries and background in the spirit of good sportsmanship. With the determination for success, the council has created an African solidarity that transcends ethnic and religious boundaries as well as cultivated relationship and enhanced communication and interaction between the borough’s African community and the larger Bronx community. All this wouldn’t have been possible without the support of the Bronx Borough President Ruben Diaz Jr. and his office. We owed to the Borough President’s Office a multitude of gratitude for this opportunity.
The Bronx African Advisory Council
That being said, much appreciation to all the esteemed leaders of the AAC; who I considered the true community heroes for their resilience and vigilance in their advocacy for the African community in both their personal and professional lives. Your commitment has brought hope and opportunity to the African community in many ways. Whether you physically participated in the AAC’s meetings or supported its effort in any way possible, through your personal or professional work, you deserve credit for its success. The knowledge and skill garnered from your daily professional work has been the foundation of success for the AAC. Many thanks and much appreciation to all of our bosses from our respective professional organizations and agencies for allowing us to serve our people in such an extraordinary way.
Reflecting on the past 3 years we have had many challenges and struggles on the issues that affect our communities the most, and I’m of the conviction that the challenges of 2013 are even bigger. But what matters is how we deal with issues; by overlooking our differences and engaging in a spirited and well thoughtful discussion in the context of genuinely finding concrete and lasting resolution to these issues. As we celebrate our 3rd anniversary and open the chapter on 2013, let us be more committed, thoughtful and innovative in our interactions. Let it be said by our children and generation to come that when we were given this opportunity we refused to let it end with us, yes we disagreed but we did not falter or turn our back and with our eyes fixed on the horizon and God’s grace upon us, we carried forth this great opportunity and delivered it safely to the next generation African leaders.
Happy anniversary and may God bless the work of our hands!
Famod Konneh,
Chair, AAC
