ACANA Touches Lives Of Immigrants In Philadelphia
By Moses D. Sandy
March 9, 2008-Philadelphia, PA

The African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA), Chief Executive Officer, Voffee Jarbateh and Pennsylvania State Rep. Ronald Walter in group picture with some members of the Philadelphia African Community at ACANA’s 5TH Annual Award Banquet and Fashion Show

Student Arthur Varney is 16 years old. Young Varney is a 10th grade student at the Mastbaum Area Vocational Technical High School located in Southwest Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Varney is a West African refugee from Liberia; a country devastated by 14 years fratricidal war.

Young Varney resides in Southwest Philadelphia with his parents. The family resettled in the neighborhood in 2004 as refugees. They are among the 14,000 Africans, who have made Philadelphia a second home.

The Philadelphia African Community is made of refugees, asylees, and immigrants. The community accounts for 7 percent of the City’s foreign born population. A greater percentage of the African population resides in Southwest Philadelphia.

Birth of ACANA
Varney is one of the 12 thousand Africans, who as claimed by the African Cultural Alliance of North America (ACANA) Chief Executive Officer(CEO), Voffee Jarbateh have benefited from social, educational, and immigration services provided by the agency since its establishment in 1999.

CEO Jarbateh claimed a group of African professionals mainly Liberian performing artists and social workers in response to the high demand for social services that accompanied the astronomical growth of Philadelphia’s African Community established ACANA. “We created ACANA as a means of addressing the enormous challenges African immigrants, refugees, and asylees as a result of cultural and language barriers encounter in navigating the social systems,” CEO Jarbateh maintained.

ACANA is a 501(c) non-profit and culture competent social service agency. Speaking Saturday, February 23, 2008 at ACANA’s 5th Annual Awards Banquet and Fashion Show held in Philadelphia, CEO Jarbateh said ACANA was dedicated to helping Africans in accessing health and social services in the City.

Mr. Jarbateh named the After School Program operated for African students in Southwest and Northeast Philadelphia and the Refugee and Asylee program as some of ACANA’s services tailored exclusively for African clients.

Varney is one of several African pupils currently enrolled in the After School Program. Speaking to FrontpageAfrica, Varney described the program as beneficial. He noted “Facilitators or tutors at the program help us with our school assignments and the enhancement of our language (English) skill. Moreover, I like the program because it keeps children out of trouble.”

A fifty year old West African, who hails from Guinea and a clientele of ACANA, speaking to FrontPage Africa on the condition of anonymity, praised the leadership and employees of the agency for the selfless services they are rendering their African counterparts. “ACANA, the lady averred, is a place of hope for Africans. The people understand us and they relate to well. That’s a blessing for our community.”

Earlier Pennsylvania State Senator Williams in a key note address at the occasion lauded ACANA and CEO Jarbateh for championing the cause of the African Community. “Voffee, Senator Williams noted, is making history for the African community and we must help him in assisting our African brothers and sisters in meeting their social and educational needs.”

He urged his fellow Americans to work in unison for the common good of their communities regardless of their social, economic, educational, race, and cultural difference because according to him, “America was built on differences.”

Awards
At the event, several individuals including community leaders and local officials received awards for helping ACANA in its quest to meet the social needs of the Philadelphia African Community.

Chester Avenue Business Association President, Josephine Blow snatched the Excellence in Community Services Award while State Rep. Ronald G. Walters received the Excellence in Governmental Services Award. Others were, the United Way of Southeastern Pennsylvania, Community Impact.

Department Program Manager, Camara Jordan and Social Work Administrator, Jascinth Scott-Findley. Mrs. Scott-Findley administers the City of Philadelphia’s Adolescence Violence Reduction Partnership Program (AVRP). Program Manager Jordan walked away with the Excellence in Charitable Contributions Award while Social Work Administrator Scott-Findley received the Excellence in Youth Crime Prevention Award.

CEO Jarbateh in a statement of gratitude described the honorees as some of ACANA’s finest partners in progress. “We continue to make impact on the lives of Africans in this City because of the support we are getting from our founders and these honorees, “CEO Jarbateh asserted.

Fashion Show
Despite Saturday’s inclement weather condition with the temperature in the teens, the local Holiday Inn Hotel where the Annual Award Banquet and Fashion Show were held, was a place to be. The mixture of Africans, African Americans, and people of other ethnic background was impressive. The turn out was huge and the African Cuisine served as dinner was mouth watering. As the attendees dinned and wined, one of Liberia’s notable musicians, Gebah Swaray and the Safari Jazz lit the banquet hall with melodious African

The Dance Ensemble Troupe, which comprises predominantly African American culture artists, was also on hand to grace the occasion. The troupe sang and danced to the rhythm of traditional African songs from West Africa. Appearances by charming young ladies and handsome men as models climaxed the evening. The models wore eye catching garbs made from authentic African fabrics.