About Us

Our History

ACANA was founded in 1999 by a group of African musicians who sought to help establish themselves in the United States as artists. By the early 2000’s however, the organization expanded its goals to include providing social, health and legal services for the African immigrant and refugee community in Philadelphia. This expansion was due in large part to the influx of African refugees fleeing war in various West African countries, including Liberia, Sierra Leone and Ivory Coast. Today, ACANA provides a variety of services that encourage education, community development and integration while still preserving cultural values

Our Mission

The mission of ACANA is to help refugees, immigrant families, and all other residents of Philadelphia access legal, health, and other social services with a special focus on women, children, youth, and the elderly in their resettlement process in Pennsylvania. Additionally, ACANA is committed to fostering community development by driving structural change and transforming communities. We work to empower individuals, strengthen community infrastructure, and implement programs that lead to sustainable, long-term improvements in the quality of life for all residents. ACANA also produces and presents African cultural performances and recording artists to create an awareness of African arts and culture. To this end, we strive to promote the preservation of cultural values and support artists’ efforts to promote their own vocations in their new environment.