Organization Aimed At Empowering Africans In The United States Set To Launch

By Sylvester Okere
Click for Full Image Size

United People for African Congress[UPAC], will launch early in 2016 as a political, non-profit organization founded to serve as a unified association for Africans in the diasporic United States.

The founders of UPAC identified the need for a united, non-segmented organization that supports, uplifts and empowers all Africans in the United States. The organization’s mission is simultaneously simple and multi-faceted—to create a unique voice to address the issues Africans in the United States are facing in their respective communities, to advocate and lobby on their behalf, to empower them, and to facilitate their visibility in the US.

UPAC aims to unite and serve not only a certain section of Africansin the diaspora, but to regroup all the African communities living in the US. The organization is not setting out with a nebulous mission in mind—it has specific goals it aims to accomplish. One such goal is to aid Africans in reaching the US Congress and other major legislative bodies in the country.

UPAC already has an African database for election participation, which the organization aims to mobilize during elections. The unification of Africans across the US is all the more important during the election process. Through this political mission, UPAC ultimately aimsto create policiesthat will help and positively impact Africans by calling on candidates to articulate their positions on issues salient to the diaspora and mobilizing support for those who are supportive.

About the Founders of UPAC
Sylvester Okere [Founder, President, and Chairman of the Board of UPAC] is an entrepreneur and activist who supports a diverse range of functions pertaining to economic development, political consulting, strategic planning, fundraising, public speaking, community and human rights advocacy. He has also operated in the United Statesfor more than two decades in his capacity as a private security expert/provider between Africa and the United States.

He also led Continental Africans for Obama in 2012 reelection campaign, and serves as the Democratic National Committee African Diaspora Liaison and is Executive Director of the Continental African Leadership Council. Okere is particularly committed to job creation and is said to have made a difference to the lives of thousands of immigrants and under-privileged families by providing them with much needed employment opportunities. Okere has furthermore championed causes related to political activism, immigration, community mobilization, family counseling, cultural education, civic rights and youth empowerment.

Okere’s support network and lists of contacts, involvements and accomplishments are expansive—globally so—and ought to serve the mission and vision of UPAC well. Maimouna Gbor [Vice President and Vice Chair of UPAC], has focused her career on paving the way for African voices to be heard on the international media circuit. As Founder and CEO of Stream Africa, an online media company that promotes Africa by providing current information to the international community, Gbor has—in the last few years—managed to create a platform for African voices to be heard, stories to be told, triumphs to be shared, and talents to be showcased. Her experience in uniting and showcasing Africa as a whole to the world are a vital asset to UPAC’s mission towards the unification and representative autonomy of Africans in the US.

Okere and Gbor are supported by ­ Dr. Hashim El-Tinay​—a diplomat, peace advocate and communications expert—as Secretary General/Spokesperson; ­ Theodore Ngatchou​—a marketing, financial management and information management specialist—as Treasurer; and ­ Jessica Bintou Diomande​—certified CPA, a dedicated humanitarian and human rights activist—as Compliance Director.

Africans in the US are still somewhat disillusioned with the country’s policies and practices that do not serve them, and with discrimination as an issue that has not been entirely eradicated. An organization such as UPAC, if able to unite the diverse voices of Africans across the US in a single, clear call for action, change, and respect, could make a significant and tangible difference. Find out more on UPAC’s website (coming soon) Dr. Sylvester Okere President, and Chairman of the Board of UPAC